Paper Number

1241

Paper Type

Short

Description

Organizations’ introduction of algorithmic technologies fundamentally affects employees’ work processes, tasks, and responsibilities in organizations. Employees often find their professional identities threatened by the introduction of IT (a phenomenon labeled as IT Identity Threat). While prior studies have examined which mechanisms employees use to deal with such a perceived threat, it remains unclear how an IT Identity Threat affects employees’ work attitude in response to advanced IT such as algorithmic technologies. Employees’ work attitude is a recognized antecedent to workers’ well-being or performance. Based on a mixed-method study in the banking industry, our study reveals that an IT Identity Threat negatively affects employees’ work engagement. Further, our study uncovers how this effect comes about by showing that an IT Identity Threat decreases employees’ perceived autonomy and experienced responsibility for their work outcomes. Overall, both factors contribute to a negative relationship between an IT Identity Threat and employees’ work engagement.

Comments

04-Work

Share

COinS
 
Dec 12th, 12:00 AM

Algorithmic Technologies as Threat to Who We Are: The Effect an IT Identity Threat has on Employees' Work Engagement

Organizations’ introduction of algorithmic technologies fundamentally affects employees’ work processes, tasks, and responsibilities in organizations. Employees often find their professional identities threatened by the introduction of IT (a phenomenon labeled as IT Identity Threat). While prior studies have examined which mechanisms employees use to deal with such a perceived threat, it remains unclear how an IT Identity Threat affects employees’ work attitude in response to advanced IT such as algorithmic technologies. Employees’ work attitude is a recognized antecedent to workers’ well-being or performance. Based on a mixed-method study in the banking industry, our study reveals that an IT Identity Threat negatively affects employees’ work engagement. Further, our study uncovers how this effect comes about by showing that an IT Identity Threat decreases employees’ perceived autonomy and experienced responsibility for their work outcomes. Overall, both factors contribute to a negative relationship between an IT Identity Threat and employees’ work engagement.

When commenting on articles, please be friendly, welcoming, respectful and abide by the AIS eLibrary Discussion Thread Code of Conduct posted here.