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Collaborating with Virtual Assistants in Organizations: Analyzing Social Loafing Tendencies and Responsibility Attribution

Author

Listed:
  • Stefan Stieglitz

    (University of Duisburg-Essen)

  • Milad Mirbabaie

    (Paderborn University)

  • Nicholas R. J. Möllmann

    (University of Duisburg-Essen)

  • Jannik Rzyski

    (University of Duisburg-Essen)

Abstract

Organizations increasingly introduce collaborative technologies in form of virtual assistants (VAs) to save valuable resources, especially when employees are assisted with work-related tasks. However, the effect of VAs on virtual teams and collaboration remains uncertain, particularly whether employees show social loafing (SL) tendencies, i.e., applying less effort for collective tasks compared to working alone. While extant research indicates that VAs collaboratively working in teams exert greater results, less is known about SL in virtual collaboration and how responsibility attribution alters. An online experiment with N = 102 was conducted in which participants were assisted by a VA in solving a task. The results indicate SL tendencies in virtual collaboration with VAs and that participants tend to cede responsibility to the VA. This study makes a first foray and extends the information systems (IS) literature by analyzing SL and responsibility attribution thus updates our knowledge on virtual collaboration with VAs.

Suggested Citation

  • Stefan Stieglitz & Milad Mirbabaie & Nicholas R. J. Möllmann & Jannik Rzyski, 2022. "Collaborating with Virtual Assistants in Organizations: Analyzing Social Loafing Tendencies and Responsibility Attribution," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 745-770, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:infosf:v:24:y:2022:i:3:d:10.1007_s10796-021-10201-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s10796-021-10201-0
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    1. Zerfaß, Ansgar & Stieglitz, Stefan & Clausen, Sünje & Ziegele, Daniel & Berger, Karen, 2023. "Communications Trend Radar 2023. State revival, scarcity management, unimagination, augmented workflows & parallel worlds," Communication Insights 17, Academic Society for Management & Communication – An initiative of the Günter Thiele Foundation, Leipzig.
    2. Babak Abedin & Christian Meske & Iris Junglas & Fethi Rabhi & Hamid R. Motahari-Nezhad, 2022. "Designing and Managing Human-AI Interactions," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 691-697, June.

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