What did you study?
I studied employees’ experiences of working with robots. I examined how emotions and stress associated with robots emerge and how workplace power relations shape these experiences. My article-based dissertation draws on a qualitative online questionnaire and interviews.
What were the results of your research? What is the main finding?
Robots often change employees’ opportunities to influence their work, as well as what kinds of expertise is valued and whose expertise counts. Knowing how to work with robots can create a new specialist role. Even when a robot makes the work easier, it can limit employees’ control over how work is done. For example, employees may need to coordinate their movement or work pace with the robot or deal with the consequences of its errors. Robots can evoke enthusiasm and attachment, but also frustration and concern about one’s position at work. Perceptions of reduced control or of the value of one’s expertise reflect changing workplace power relations.
Stress can emerge when a robot’s demands exceed an employee’s resources. Work arrangements and access to knowledge and support also shape employees’ perceptions of their resources. These, too, are tied to workplace power relations.
How can the results be applied? What new knowledge does this research provide?
The research highlights the link between stress associated with robots and workplace power relations. The findings can inform work design, training and safety practices. When introducing robots, organizations should consider the demands places on employees, who has access to knowledge and support, and how employees can influence their work. Open discussion of robots’ roles and employees’ experiences may reduce uncertainty and strengthen their sense of control.
Dissertation event
YTM Anna Lampi defends their doctoral dissertation in Information Systems Science "Robots at work: Organizational power relations, technostress, and affective responses". Opponent is Associate Professor Aleksandre Asatiani (University of Gothenburg) and Custos is Professor Markus Salo.
The language of the event is English. The event can be followed in hall C1 (main building) or online.
