Paper Number
ICIS2025-1972
Paper Type
Complete
Abstract
Task allocation in peer production is critical for the creation of high-quality knowledge artifacts. Literature suggests that task allocation is self-organized, emerging from human interactions. As bots are increasingly used in peer production to perform tasks and interact with humans, they may also influence how tasks are allocated. To understand how bots may shape task allocation, we conduct a social network analysis using relational event modeling to examine activities of bots and humans on Wikipedia. We find that while bot activity is related to an overall increase in human contribution, it negatively moderates existing task allocation mechanisms, including contributor-artifact inertia and artifact popularity. The findings suggest that bot contributions may constitute a new task allocation mechanism, weakening the selforganized processes that emerged from human interactions. This means bots do not just perform assigned tasks or influence individuals but may generate ripple effects and redefine fundamental organizing processes in peer production.
Recommended Citation
Yan, Bei; Sun, Jingyi; Zheng, Lei (Nico); Ren, Ruqin; and Lindberg, Aron, "Ripples in the Water: How Bots Shape Task Allocation in Peer Production" (2025). ICIS 2025 Proceedings. 22.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/icis2025/hti/hti/22
Ripples in the Water: How Bots Shape Task Allocation in Peer Production
Task allocation in peer production is critical for the creation of high-quality knowledge artifacts. Literature suggests that task allocation is self-organized, emerging from human interactions. As bots are increasingly used in peer production to perform tasks and interact with humans, they may also influence how tasks are allocated. To understand how bots may shape task allocation, we conduct a social network analysis using relational event modeling to examine activities of bots and humans on Wikipedia. We find that while bot activity is related to an overall increase in human contribution, it negatively moderates existing task allocation mechanisms, including contributor-artifact inertia and artifact popularity. The findings suggest that bot contributions may constitute a new task allocation mechanism, weakening the selforganized processes that emerged from human interactions. This means bots do not just perform assigned tasks or influence individuals but may generate ripple effects and redefine fundamental organizing processes in peer production.
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