IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/infosf/v24y2022i3d10.1007_s10796-021-10201-0.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10796-021-10201-0
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10796-021-10201-0?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sarv Devaraj & Robert F. Easley & J. Michael Crant, 2008. "Research Note ---How Does Personality Matter? Relating the Five-Factor Model to Technology Acceptance and Use," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 19(1), pages 93-105, March.
    2. Dominik Dellermann & Nikolaus Lipusch & Philipp Ebel & Jan Marco Leimeister, 2019. "Design principles for a hybrid intelligence decision support system for business model validation," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 29(3), pages 423-441, September.
    3. Yan (Mandy) Dang & Yulei (Gavin) Zhang & Susan A. Brown & Hsinchun Chen, 2020. "Examining the impacts of mental workload and task-technology fit on user acceptance of the social media search system," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 697-718, June.
    4. Samar Mouakket & Yuan Sun, 2020. "Investigating the Impact of Personality Traits of Social Network Sites Users on Information Disclosure in China: the Moderating Role of Gender," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 22(6), pages 1305-1321, December.
    5. Stephan Diederich & Alfred Benedikt Brendel & Lutz M. Kolbe, 2020. "Designing Anthropomorphic Enterprise Conversational Agents," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 62(3), pages 193-209, June.
    6. Martin Beer & Frances Slack & Gillian Armitt, 2005. "Collaboration and Teamwork: Immersion and Presence in an Online Learning Environment," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 7(1), pages 27-37, February.
    7. Milad Mirbabaie & Stefan Stieglitz & Nicholas R. J. Frick, 2021. "Hybrid intelligence in hospitals: towards a research agenda for collaboration," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 31(2), pages 365-387, June.
    8. Nicolas Pfeuffer & Alexander Benlian & Henner Gimpel & Oliver Hinz, 2019. "Anthropomorphic Information Systems," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 61(4), pages 523-533, August.
    9. Nicolas Pfeuffer & Alexander Benlian & Henner Gimpel & Oliver Hinz, 2019. "Anthropomorphic Information Systems," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 61(4), pages 523-533, August.
    10. Robert B. Lount & Steffanie L. Wilk, 2014. "Working Harder or Hardly Working? Posting Performance Eliminates Social Loafing and Promotes Social Laboring in Workgroups," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 60(5), pages 1098-1106, May.
    11. Steven Alter, 2020. "Making Sense of Smartness in the Context of Smart Devices and Smart Systems," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 381-393, April.
    12. Kiljae Lee & Kyung Young Lee & Lorn Sheehan, 2020. "Hey Alexa! A Magic Spell of Social Glue?: Sharing a Smart Voice Assistant Speaker and Its Impact on Users’ Perception of Group Harmony," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 563-583, June.
    13. Gukdo Byun & Soojin Lee & Steven J. Karau & Ye Dai, 2020. "Sustaining Collaborative Effort in Work Teams: Exchange Ideology and Employee Social Loafing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-14, August.
    14. Laku Chidambaram & Lai Lai Tung, 2005. "Is Out of Sight, Out of Mind? An Empirical Study of Social Loafing in Technology-Supported Groups," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 16(2), pages 149-168, June.
    15. Peter M. Bednar & Christine Welch, 2020. "Socio-Technical Perspectives on Smart Working: Creating Meaningful and Sustainable Systems," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 281-298, April.
    16. Hira Khan & Maryam Rehmat & Tahira Hassan Butt & Saira Farooqi & Javaria Asim, 2020. "Impact of transformational leadership on work performance, burnout and social loafing: a mediation model," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 6(1), pages 1-13, December.
    17. Anthony Onwuegbuzie & Nancy Leech, 2005. "Taking the “Q” Out of Research: Teaching Research Methodology Courses Without the Divide Between Quantitative and Qualitative Paradigms," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 39(3), pages 267-295, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. 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.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ulrich Gnewuch & Stefan Morana & Marc T. P. Adam & Alexander Maedche, 2022. "Opposing Effects of Response Time in Human–Chatbot Interaction," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 64(6), pages 773-791, December.
    2. Thuy Duong Oesterreich & Eduard Anton & Julian Schuir & Alexander Brehm & Frank Teuteberg, 2023. "How can I help you? Design principles for task-oriented speech dialog systems in customer service," Information Systems and e-Business Management, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 37-79, March.
    3. Milad Mirbabaie & Felix Brünker & Nicholas R. J. Möllmann Frick & Stefan Stieglitz, 2022. "The rise of artificial intelligence – understanding the AI identity threat at the workplace," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 32(1), pages 73-99, March.
    4. Edona Elshan & Naim Zierau & Christian Engel & Andreas Janson & Jan Marco Leimeister, 2022. "Understanding the Design Elements Affecting User Acceptance of Intelligent Agents: Past, Present and Future," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 699-730, June.
    5. Sara Moussawi & Marios Koufaris & Raquel Benbunan-Fich, 2021. "How perceptions of intelligence and anthropomorphism affect adoption of personal intelligent agents," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 31(2), pages 343-364, June.
    6. Ertugrul Uysal & Sascha Alavi & Valéry Bezençon, 2022. "Trojan horse or useful helper? A relationship perspective on artificial intelligence assistants with humanlike features," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 50(6), pages 1153-1175, November.
    7. Mengjun Li & Ayoung Suh, 2022. "Anthropomorphism in AI-enabled technology: A literature review," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 32(4), pages 2245-2275, December.
    8. Feng-Hua Yang & Fang-Jie Shiu, 2023. "Evaluating the Impact of Workplace Friendship on Social Loafing in Long-Term Care Institutions: An Empirical Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-22, May.
    9. Marikyan, Davit & Papagiannidis, Savvas & Rana, Omer F. & Ranjan, Rajiv & Morgan, Graham, 2022. "“Alexa, let’s talk about my productivity”: The impact of digital assistants on work productivity," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 572-584.
    10. Mark Anthony Camilleri & Ciro Troise, 2023. "Live support by chatbots with artificial intelligence: A future research agenda," Service Business, Springer;Pan-Pacific Business Association, vol. 17(1), pages 61-80, March.
    11. Jonas Wanner & Lukas-Valentin Herm & Kai Heinrich & Christian Janiesch, 2022. "The effect of transparency and trust on intelligent system acceptance: Evidence from a user-based study," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 32(4), pages 2079-2102, December.
    12. Thure Georg Weimann & Hannes Schlieter & Alfred Benedikt Brendel, 2022. "Virtual Coaches," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 64(4), pages 515-528, August.
    13. Stephan Diederich & Alfred Benedikt Brendel & Lutz M. Kolbe, 2020. "Designing Anthropomorphic Enterprise Conversational Agents," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 62(3), pages 193-209, June.
    14. Nannan Xi & Juan Chen & Filipe Gama & Marc Riar & Juho Hamari, 2023. "The challenges of entering the metaverse: An experiment on the effect of extended reality on workload," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 25(2), pages 659-680, April.
    15. Philipp Ebel & Matthias Söllner & Jan Marco Leimeister & Kevin Crowston & Gert-Jan Vreede, 2021. "Hybrid intelligence in business networks," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 31(2), pages 313-318, June.
    16. Alexander Maedche & Christine Legner & Alexander Benlian & Benedikt Berger & Henner Gimpel & Thomas Hess & Oliver Hinz & Stefan Morana & Matthias Söllner, 2019. "AI-Based Digital Assistants," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 61(4), pages 535-544, August.
    17. Martin Adam & Michael Wessel & Alexander Benlian, 2021. "AI-based chatbots in customer service and their effects on user compliance," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 31(2), pages 427-445, June.
    18. Amany Elbanna & Yogesh Dwivedi & Deborah Bunker & David Wastell, 0. "The Search for Smartness in Working, Living and Organising: Beyond the ‘Technomagic’," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-6.
    19. Wallbach, Sören, 2020. "Assimilation and Diffusion of Multi-Sided Platforms in Dynamic B2B Networks: Inhibiting Factors and Their Consequences," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 123277, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
    20. Adam, Martin & Wessel, Michael & Benlian, Alexander, 2024. "AI-based chatbots in customer service and their effects on user compliance," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 144613, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:infosf:v:24:y:2022:i:3:d:10.1007_s10796-021-10201-0. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.