Social interactions in human-computer teams
Technology has become an integral part of our jobs and workplaces, with ever more functions - once performed by humans - becoming automated (Hancock, 2014). Where computers in clerical work were once mainly used by human workers for simple calculations and typewriting, nowadays, we find sophisticated decision support systems that assist human workers with analyses and interpretations of complex data, e.g., stock rates, business development, epidemiologic or demographic trends. With computers being allocated increasingly complex tasks, they have become modelled and perceived more and more as ‘partners’ than as ‘tools’.
Thus, with technological progress, the paradigmatic conception of computers as interaction entities has moved up the hierarchy from being perceived in a subordinate role (‘tool’) to a more equal role (‘partner’ or ‘teammate’). Yet, technological progress has not stopped and has brought about and will increasingly bring about situations in which computers do not only assist humans with specific allocated tasks, but in which computers will lead humans, i.e., guide them through their working day, allocate tasks, set the working pace, etc. Therefore, it is necessary for research in Cognitive Ergonomics and Work and Organizational Psychology to consider computers one hierarchy level higher and endorse the paradigm of ‘computers as leaders’.
Such new paradigms considering computers as teammates or as leaders raise a multitude of research questions that require empirical consideration: Can theories from human-human leadership also be applied in computer-human leadership (e.g. regarding different leadership styles)? How can followership, trust, work satisfaction and work performance be established in computer-human leadership? Has social support provided by a computer teammate the same positive effect compared to a human colleague?
Bachelor and Master Theses conducted on this topic
- Blanc Annelaure (2018). L’influence de l’identité (intelligence artificielle ou humain) lors d’un support social dans une situation de stress (The influence of identity (artificial or human intelligence) during social support in a stressful situation).