How Does Intelligent System Knowledge Empowerment Yield Payoffs: Uncovering the Adaptation Mechanisms and Contingency Role of Work Experience

Liwei Chen, J.J. Po-An Hsieh, and Arun Rai, "How does Intelligent System Empowerment Yield Payoff: Uncovering the Adaptive Mechanisms and the Contingency Role of Work Experience " Information Systems Research (A*), (Forthcoming).

49 Pages Posted: 7 Dec 2021

See all articles by Liwei Chen

Liwei Chen

University of Cincinnati - Department of Information Systems

JJ Po-An Hsieh

Georgia State University, Robinson College of Business, Computer Information Systems Department

Arun Rai

Georgia State University - J. Mack Robinson College of Business

Date Written: October 12, 2021

Abstract

Intelligent systems are transforming the nature of work as humans and machines collectively perform tasks in novel ways. While intelligent systems empower employees with algorithm-generated knowledge, they require employees to adapt how they work to enhance their job performance. We draw upon the coping-adaptation framework as the overarching theoretical lens to explain how employees’ perceptions of IntelSys knowledge as an empowering external coping resource affect the mechanisms through which they adapt to IntelSys-induced changes to their work, as well as how their internal coping resources regulate their adaptation. Our coping-adaptation explanation of intelligence augmentation integrates (i) the empowering role of external coping resources, specifically IntelSys knowledge, captured as intelligent system knowledge empowerment (ISK-Emp), (ii) the benefit-maximizing adaptation mechanism (through infusion use enhancement) and the disturbance-minimizing adaptation mechanism (through role conflict reduction) that channel the impact of ISK-Emp on job performance, and (iii) the regulating role of internal resources, specifically, employees’ work experience, in influencing the importance of the adaptation mechanisms for the employee. We conduct studies in three distinct settings in which different intelligent systems were implemented to support employees’ knowledge work. Our findings show that ISK-Emp increases job performance through each of the two adaptation mechanisms. The benefit-maximization mechanism (via enhanced infusion use) plays a more important role for novice employees than for experienced employees, whereas the disturbance-minimization mechanism (via reduced role conflict) has higher importance for experienced employees than for novice employees. Our work provides insights into the critical role of adaptation mechanisms in linking ISKEmp with performance outcomes and into the relative importance of the adaptation mechanisms through which job performance payoffs are realized by novice and experienced employees.

Keywords: Intelligence augmentation, Coping-adaptation framework, Intelligent system knowledge empowerment, Infusion use, Role conflict, Job performance

Suggested Citation

Chen, Liwei and Hsieh, JJ Po-An and Rai, Arun, How Does Intelligent System Knowledge Empowerment Yield Payoffs: Uncovering the Adaptation Mechanisms and Contingency Role of Work Experience (October 12, 2021). Liwei Chen, J.J. Po-An Hsieh, and Arun Rai, "How does Intelligent System Empowerment Yield Payoff: Uncovering the Adaptive Mechanisms and the Contingency Role of Work Experience " Information Systems Research (A*), (Forthcoming)., Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3941183

Liwei Chen

University of Cincinnati - Department of Information Systems ( email )

606 Carl H. Lindner Hall 2925 Campus Green Drive
PO Box 210211
Cincinnati, OH 45221-0211
United States

JJ Po-An Hsieh (Contact Author)

Georgia State University, Robinson College of Business, Computer Information Systems Department ( email )

Atlanta, GA 30302
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.jjhsieh.com

Arun Rai

Georgia State University - J. Mack Robinson College of Business ( email )

P.O. Box 4050
Atlanta, GA 30303-3083
United States

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