Rack CD (Digital Transformation): Influence of Artificial Intelligence | Platform Capitalism | Algorithmic Management | Workers in Digital Organizations

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Why is the Influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) at Work an Important Contemporary Topic?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, natural language processing, and search & retrieval methods (Oxford, n.d.). AI is a subfield of computer science with significant influences from psychology and social science, and this subfield has been active since the 1950s. However, only since the early 2020s has the combination of advanced computer power and maturity of generative AI technologies allowed AI to enter the mainstream of society. Within a couple years, AI has grown from a niche field of study to full integration in the home and in the workplace with new applications coming out on a daily basis.

To say that AI is having a tremendous impact on the workplace is an understatement. The promises of AI include vast increases in productive efficiency, the automated routinization of menial tasks, the abilities to manage and analyze massive amounts of data, and support creative activities through AI-driven image, video, and music generation. Common use tools such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT have grown in number (e.g., Microsoft’s Co-Pilot, Google’s Gemini, and Anthropic’s Claude), as have specialized tools catering to specific purposes (e.g., Scite.ai for academics, DALL-E for high quality images, and Synthesia for videos). As these tools proliferate, managers have been looking to apply them in new ways. Virtually every organizational function could potentially see AI tools applied to them, which brings about concerns on the human dimension of the workplace and whether AI could eventually replace human workers.

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within organizational studies has become increasingly crucial as organizations leverage these technologies to enhance performance and adapt to changing environments. This field encompasses various dimensions, including skill integration, decision-making processes, productivity enhancements, and the reconfiguration of organizational structures.

One significant aspect of AI’s impact on organizations is the dual role of automation and augmentation in management practices. Raisch and Krakowski highlight a paradox where AI drives both the automation of tasks and the augmentation of managerial capabilities, resulting in complex implications for institutional action and change (Raisch & Krakowski, 2021). Such complexities suggest that AI’s integration within organizations requires a comprehensive understanding of how AI technologies intersect with existing systems and practices, thereby blurring traditional organizational boundaries (Raisch & Krakowski, 2021). Moreover, the impact of AI extends beyond internal operations, influencing broader socio-economic dynamics and necessitating adaptive strategies from organizational leaders.

In human resource management (HRM), the systematic implementation of AI capabilities, as articulated in the AI Capability Framework, plays a crucial role in measuring an organization’s readiness to adopt AI technologies. This framework emphasizes the need for alignment in policies, strategies, and cultural readiness within the HR landscape (Agustono et al., 2023). AI technologies can significantly augment HR practices by enhancing efficiency and productivity through data-driven insights, thereby transforming traditional HR functions (Rooshma et al., 2024). Notably, effective integration of AI in HR can optimize talent management and engagement strategies, which are increasingly vital in today’s competitive environments (Alsheibani et al., 2020).

Decision-making processes within organizations also face transformation due to AI’s influence. Dietzmann and Duan point out that the proliferation of data and information overload can adversely affect managerial decision-making quality (Dietzmann & Duan, 2022). This challenge necessitates that organizations develop capabilities to synthesize and make sense of vast amounts of information, highlighting the critical interaction between AI and managerial competencies in achieving high-performance levels. The ability to navigate and leverage AI effectively in decision-making contexts is essential for sustaining long-term organizational benefits (Dietzmann & Duan, 2022).

Furthermore, the ongoing evolution of AI technologies brings about a need for organizations to foster an agile culture that can adapt to rapid changes. Research indicates that AI’s integration can enhance organizational agility, enabling firms to respond more effectively to market dynamics and operational challenges (Alshamsi et al., 2024). This flexibility and responsiveness are pivotal in maintaining competitiveness in an increasingly digital economy.

In addition, accepting and integrating AI technologies within the workforce presents challenges. Employee perceptions and experiences with AI in the workspace play a crucial role in determining the success of AI implementation (Mirbabaie et al., 2021). As companies introduce AI into their operations, understanding the subjective experiences of employees—such as perceived usefulness and ease of use—becomes critical (Kelm & Johann, 2024). These insights suggest that managing the human aspects of AI integration is as important as the technical implementation itself.

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History of AI and the Study of AI at Work

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Relevant Theories and Ongoing Debates

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Some Contemporary Areas of Research

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Related TAOP Episodes, Events, and Notes

125: Institution and Action — Steven Barley

We discuss an important article by Steven Barley on the introduction of new technologies into established organizations. His study of the fielding of CT scanners in two hospitals showed how established organization structures and patterns of behavior influenced actions undertaken by radiologists and the new CT technologists, which in turn changed the structures in the hospital. This study contributed to a greater understanding of the relationships between institutions and action …

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118: Organizational Structures & Digital Technologies – AoM 2024 Symposium

This month we present a recording of a symposium titled “Design Choices: Examining the Interplay of Organizational Structure and Digital Technologies” from the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management. Digital technologies now underpin the very fabric of the workplace; how tasks are assigned, bundled, and monitored partially hinges on the design of such technologies. Four panelists discuss various perspectives on the matter including design thinking, disparities of structures and norms that the same technologies generate among different nations, and the need to formally differentiate design research from design practice …

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96: Informating at Work – Shoshana Zuboff

We discuss Shoshana Zuboff’s “In the Age of the Smart Machine: The Future of Work and Power” that examines several cases of organizations introducing information technologies in the workplace hoping to improve organizational performance, transparency, and collaboration but instead dehumanized the workplace and ushered in new ways of managerial surveillance. In Part 1, we discuss the major themes of the book, her telling of the histories of both blue- and white-collar work, and her incredible case studies …

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51: The Tyranny of Light — Hari Tsoukas

Haridimos Tsoukas’ 1997 article “The Tyranny of Light” was a bold article that challenged conventional wisdom about the oncoming information society. The Internet, personal computers, and the dot-com boom were still new and exciting. But Tsoukas foresaw many dangers — have they come to pass? …

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40: Symposium on the Gig Economy LIVE

The TAOP Symposium on the Gig Economy was a unique, one-day interdisciplinary symposium on the forms and effects of management in the contemporary sharing (a.k.a. gig) economy that took place on 15 December 2017 at the University of Sussex. Blending individual and panel presentations from leading scholars and commentators with group conversations, we wanted to examine the continuities – as well as disruptions – in the ways that work is organised through, and in light of, online platforms …

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22: Human-Machine Reconfigurations – Lucy Suchman

We discuss Lucy Suchman’s book “Human-Machine Reconfigurations: Plans and Situated Action” that studied the interaction of humans with a state-of-art photocopier designed to be more user friendly and more helpful in solving user problems. Yet videos showed that people found it complicated and difficult. Suchman shows that these interaction problems are greatly due to the underpinning assumptions about users’ behavior, more specifically, due to the idea that humans’ actions are based on the following of plans, which she refutes …

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18: Gig Economy, Labor Relations and Algorithmic Management

We discuss an article by Sarah O’Connor exploring the impact of gig economy and algorithmic management on the employees – what their experience is like, how their work is structured, and whether being a gig economy employee is everything it panned out to be. Gig economy, as well as its benefits and limitations, has been subject to much debate in social policy and labour relations …

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Related Resource Pages

Rack CA – Organizational Agility & Adaptability

Curated list of resources regarding matters of organizational agility and adaptability such as proactively addressing changes in the marketplace or in customer / client behaviors …

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Rack CD – Digital Transformation and Future of Work

Curated list of resources regarding matters of digital transformation and technological change in the workplace such as AI, automation, gig economy, and innovation …

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Rack CE – Employee Well-Being & Mental Health

Curated list of resources regarding matters of employee well-being and mental health, their definitions and meanings, various enablers and stressors to well-being, and the application and efficacies of interventions …

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Rack CI – Inequality and Justice

Curated list of resources regarding the study of the presence and efforts to remove discrimination and systemic biases that deny basic human dignity and respect to individuals and foster more productive work climates …

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Rack CL – Leadership in the 21st Century

Curated list of resources regarding the contemporary issues of leaders and leadership in the private and public sectors. Includes crisis leadership, ethical leadership, authenticity, and other concerns …

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Rack CR — Resource Management

Curated list of resources regarding the effective and efficient use of resources in organizations — raw materials, people, finance, technologies, and information. Each type of resource is a research area on its own, but together they represent a broad range of challenging management decisions …

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Rack CS – Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Curated list of resources regarding sustainability and corporate social responsibility such as sustainable business practices, responses to climate change, sociomateriality, and ethical considerations …

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Rack CW – Meaningful Work

Curated list of resources regarding present-day attitudes toward work and work-life balance. Includes discussing traditional vs. contemporary work models, employee well-being, and member commitment to the organization …

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References

Anthropic. (2025). What is the study of the impacts of artificial intelligence about in organization studies; Please explain in more detail the origins of study of the impacts of artificial intelligence in the workplace; Please explain the theoretical debates and critiques in more detail, and which contemporary scholars are making significant contributions to each debate; What are contemporary areas of research into the influence of artificial intelligence at work and efforts to enhance its benefits and mitigate its risks. Claude.ai 4.0 Sonnet (June 2025 version) [Large Language Model].

Google (2025). What is the history of artificial intelligence; What is the study of the impacts of artificial intelligence about in organization studies; Please explain in more detail the origins of study of the impacts of artificial intelligence in the workplace; Please explain the theoretical debates and critiques in more detail, and which contemporary scholars are making significant contributions to each debate; What are contemporary areas of research into the influence of artificial intelligence at work and efforts to enhance its benefits and mitigate its risks. Gemini 2.5 Flash (June 2025 version) [Large Language Model].

Scite. (2025). What is the study of the impacts of artificial intelligence about in organization studies; Please explain in more detail the origins of study of the impacts of artificial intelligence in the workplace; Please explain the theoretical debates and critiques in more detail, and which contemporary scholars are making significant contributions to each debate; What are contemporary areas of research into the influence of artificial intelligence at work and efforts to enhance its benefits and mitigate its risks. Scite (June 2025 version) [Large Language Model].

The inclusion of external links is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily constitute endorsement by TAOP or any of its members.

Jump to: Importance | Background | Theories & Debates | Research Areas | TAOP Episodes | References

Rack CD (Digital Transformation): Influence of Artificial Intelligence | Platform Capitalism | Algorithmic Management | Workers in Digital Organizations

Aisle C (Topics and Issues): Agility and Adaptability (CA) | Digital Technologies (CD) | Employee Well-Being (CE) | Inequality & Justice (CI) | 21st Century Leadership (CL) | Resource Management (CR) | Sustainability (CS) | Meaningful Work (CW)

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