Paper Type

Complete

Abstract

While existing research on Human-AI collaboration provides valuable insights into roles and configurations, it offers limited understanding of enacted delegation to AI across different task contexts. This qualitative study examines managerial delegation to Generative AI within Manager-AI Agency Dyads, drawing on context-dependent delegation theory. Based on a multiple-case study of 16 craft-based SMEs in Germany, we analyze how implementation, cognitive, and communicative function components are allocated between managers and AI systems. The findings identify three configurations – Execution, Sparring, and Representation – that differ in delegation triggers, contextual embedding, and function allocation. These results provide a configurational framework of AI delegation and demonstrate that SME managers deploy AI in a context-dependent manner to support task execution, extend reasoning, and scale communication under resource constraints.

Paper Number

1914

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Aug 15th, 12:00 AM

Manager-AI Agency Dyads in Skilled Crafts: Evolution of Agency Levels

While existing research on Human-AI collaboration provides valuable insights into roles and configurations, it offers limited understanding of enacted delegation to AI across different task contexts. This qualitative study examines managerial delegation to Generative AI within Manager-AI Agency Dyads, drawing on context-dependent delegation theory. Based on a multiple-case study of 16 craft-based SMEs in Germany, we analyze how implementation, cognitive, and communicative function components are allocated between managers and AI systems. The findings identify three configurations – Execution, Sparring, and Representation – that differ in delegation triggers, contextual embedding, and function allocation. These results provide a configurational framework of AI delegation and demonstrate that SME managers deploy AI in a context-dependent manner to support task execution, extend reasoning, and scale communication under resource constraints.

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