Start Date
October 2024
End Date
October 2024
Location
Beacom Hall Room 129
Submission Type
Panel Proposal
Track
Leadership and Management
Abstract
Wasted time and effort has been, and continues to be, a long-standing concern not just for managers but also for workers as well. Over one hundred years ago, Frank Gilbreth (1911/1953) argued that, “There is no waste of any kind in the world that equals the waste from needless, illdirected, and ineffective motions” (p. 149). Despite advances in technology over the past century, workers’ perceptions of wasteful effort, i.e., illegitimate tasks, have continued to persist (Ding & Kuvaas, 2023; Semmer et al., 2010). Today, with the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) into different arenas, both academic and work-related, how might AI impact workers’ perception of illegitimate tasks? Research has assessed the impact of AI on work productivity (Al Naqbi, Bahroun, & Ahmed, 2024); however, less research has investigated the consequences of technological advances in AI on workers’ attitudes.
The purpose of this panel discussion is to explore the impact of AI on workers’ (broadly defined – students and/or employees) perceptions of tasks as legitimate (necessary) or illegitimate (unnecessary). We propose that this panel discussion is of interest because the growing impact of AI on workers is significant. The International Monetary Fund estimates AI will affect approximately 40% of the worldwide labor market and 60% of the labor market in advanced economies characterized by a higher percentage of jobs based on cognitive tasks (Cazzaniga et al., 2024). In addition, much attention is focused on the impact of AI on productivity gains in some jobs and the potential elimination of other jobs (Cazzaniga et al., 2024), resulting in a focus on skills that workers need to be competitive in future labor markets. This panel adds to this discussion by offering some initial insight into the potential for AI to also influence workers’ perceptions of the legitimacy of assigned tasks.
The panel discussion will begin with established scholars from various fields who will share their expertise on AI and its potential impact on perceptions of legitimate/illegitimate tasks. Then participants will be invited to an interactive brainstorming session with panelists where small group breakout sessions will be used to stimulate reflection on this topic, share ideas, and propose actionable steps either for workplaces and/or for possible future research. Finally, the closing discussion will summarize the small group brainstorming sessions and provide an opportunity for suggestions regarding next steps.
Included in
Industrial and Organizational Psychology Commons, Organizational Behavior and Theory Commons
Will Assignments be Perceived as a Waste of Time? The Impact of AI on Perceptions of Illegitimate Tasks
Beacom Hall Room 129
Wasted time and effort has been, and continues to be, a long-standing concern not just for managers but also for workers as well. Over one hundred years ago, Frank Gilbreth (1911/1953) argued that, “There is no waste of any kind in the world that equals the waste from needless, illdirected, and ineffective motions” (p. 149). Despite advances in technology over the past century, workers’ perceptions of wasteful effort, i.e., illegitimate tasks, have continued to persist (Ding & Kuvaas, 2023; Semmer et al., 2010). Today, with the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) into different arenas, both academic and work-related, how might AI impact workers’ perception of illegitimate tasks? Research has assessed the impact of AI on work productivity (Al Naqbi, Bahroun, & Ahmed, 2024); however, less research has investigated the consequences of technological advances in AI on workers’ attitudes.
The purpose of this panel discussion is to explore the impact of AI on workers’ (broadly defined – students and/or employees) perceptions of tasks as legitimate (necessary) or illegitimate (unnecessary). We propose that this panel discussion is of interest because the growing impact of AI on workers is significant. The International Monetary Fund estimates AI will affect approximately 40% of the worldwide labor market and 60% of the labor market in advanced economies characterized by a higher percentage of jobs based on cognitive tasks (Cazzaniga et al., 2024). In addition, much attention is focused on the impact of AI on productivity gains in some jobs and the potential elimination of other jobs (Cazzaniga et al., 2024), resulting in a focus on skills that workers need to be competitive in future labor markets. This panel adds to this discussion by offering some initial insight into the potential for AI to also influence workers’ perceptions of the legitimacy of assigned tasks.
The panel discussion will begin with established scholars from various fields who will share their expertise on AI and its potential impact on perceptions of legitimate/illegitimate tasks. Then participants will be invited to an interactive brainstorming session with panelists where small group breakout sessions will be used to stimulate reflection on this topic, share ideas, and propose actionable steps either for workplaces and/or for possible future research. Finally, the closing discussion will summarize the small group brainstorming sessions and provide an opportunity for suggestions regarding next steps.
