Work - Volume 72, issue 4

Authors: Hartwein, Carla | Rimbeck, Marlen | Reil, Hannes | Stumpf-Wollersheim, Jutta | Leyer, Michael

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Despite the great potential that technical solutions, based on the Internet of Things (IoT), offer for companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), companies are hesitant to implement such solutions. Reasons for this lie in the resulting far-reaching change, which particularly affects working activities and communication between employees and IoT objects in their environment. OBJECTIVE: Our objective is to investigate (1) how the implementation of an IoT solution, consisting of multiple objects, might be integrated into daily working activities; (2) what reactions might occur at the individual level; and (3) what structural conditions should be established at …the organizational level. METHODS: We applied a scenario-based design. Specifically, we conducted interviews to develop personas and scenarios describing human–machine interactions during implementation of the IoT solution in an initial phase. RESULTS: Regarding changing work activities, we identified three structural conditions that facilitate the implementation of IoT in SMEs: (1) the development of a support unit that bundles communication and training activities as well as internal and external knowledge; (2) the planning of an appropriate testing and adoption phase that enables participation and feedback; and (3) the creation of an incentive structure that includes social reward, empowerment, and recognition. CONCLUSION: IoT gives employees enhanced access to resources, information, and feedback, supporting an efficient way of working. To successfully implement IoT solutions, companies, especially SMEs, must actively address organizational change and empower their employees to manage technological innovations at an early stage. Show more

Keywords: Internet of Things, working activities, scenario-based design

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-211242

Citation: Work, vol. 72, no. 4, pp. 1611-1627, 2022

Authors: Schumacher, Jan-Philip | Depenbusch, Sarah | Straatmann, Tammo | Bender, Elena | Schaper, Niclas | Hamborg, Kai-Christoph

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Challenged by digital transformation, organizations increasingly integrate information and communication technologies into work designs. Often focal points of such digital reengineering initiatives are technical and economic aspects. Yet, as integration of new technologies affects how employee work and interact, there is a need to evaluate human-centered criteria (human-factor evaluation), optimally by involving employees as situational experts. OBJECTIVE: The present study develops an integrative and persona-based evaluation approach of human-centered criteria for application in participative digital (re-)design of work to support the joint optimization of the technical and social system. METHODS: Drawing on methods from usability …evaluation, a persona-based approach is developed to facilitate comprehension and application of human-centered evaluation by employees. To that end, human-centered criteria from existing evaluation models are systemized with specific reference to digital transformation of work processes. The developed approach is tested in pilot runs of three German small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). RESULTS: The initial overview shows a divergence of specific human-centered criteria at the detailed level. Simultaneously, a high convergence is found for overarching dimensions and categories. The Integrative Socio-Digital Evaluation Model (ISDEM) is developed to balance complexity and abstraction of criteria. The derived persona-based approach (persISDEM) shows a good applicability in the pilot runs. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides an amendment to existing work design approaches with an emphasis on employee participation, enabling organizations to foster employees’ comprehension and motivation to engage in evaluations of digital (re-)design of work and to create motivating and healthy jobs for successful digital transformation. Show more

Keywords: Work design, work process, persona, perspective-based inspection, participation

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-211248

Citation: Work, vol. 72, no. 4, pp. 1629-1654, 2022

Authors: Stöckl, Andreas | Struck, Olaf

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Working via databases has become an integral and necessary part of work in businesses. The availability of knowledge and information from any location contributes to better networking and more transparency in companies and enables collaborative work regardless of the location. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020/21, physical distancing and digital work have become imperative for a greater number of people. This, in turn, can severely restrict both formal and informal means of communication, which can lead to rising cognitive job demands and decreasing productivity at work. Against this background, the question of whether and to what …extent digital databases are able to guarantee effective task fulfilment without parallel communication has acquired new relevance. OBJECTIVE: The relationship between informal communication via four communication channels and a) the efficiency of work via databases and b) their necessity for the quality of work are investigated. METHODS: Employee surveys are evaluated in the form of cross-sectional data from three medium-sized German companies using econometric regression analyses. RESULTS: A clear relationship is revealed between informal communication and the effectiveness of work via databases as well as their necessity for work quality. The level of this relationship, however, varies depending on the type and purpose of informal communication. CONCLUSION: This article highlights the necessity of informal communication for digital collaborative work and hence has significant implications for business practice. Show more

Keywords: Databases, informal communication, collaborative work, efficiency, digitalization

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-211246

Citation: Work, vol. 72, no. 4, pp. 1655-1671, 2022

Authors: Roth, Philip

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Informal Knowledge Sharing Interactions (IKSI) are particularly valuable for innovation projects if they connect partners who are categorically, socially and formally distant from each other. Then the chances are higher that partners possess non-redundant knowledge and can thus open up new perspectives. By improving their knowledge supply, IKSI enhance the success, job satisfaction and well-being of employees in knowledge-intensive industries. So far, however, it is unclear how such interactions between heterogeneous partners emerge. OBJECTIVE: The paper examines the formation of IKSI and develops the argument that serendipitous IKSI are more likely than planned IKSI to connect heterogeneous …partners and open up new perspectives. METHODS: The paper develops the argument in detail and empirically grounded by drawing together the unconnected literatures on the formation and impact of IKSI. Furthermore, the argument is empirically tested using 132 IKSI from developers collected with event-based diaries. RESULTS: In line with the conceptual work, the empirical analysis shows that serendipitous IKSI are more likely than planned ones to open up new perspectives. CONCLUSION: Serendipitous IKSI are of particular significance and require appropriate promotion in order to enhance innovative capability. The increasing virtualization of work is creating opportunities and challenges in this regard. Show more

Keywords: Innovation, communication, informal interaction, boundary spanning, knowledge sharing

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-211275

Citation: Work, vol. 72, no. 4, pp. 1673-1687, 2022

Authors: Karwehl, Laura Johanna | Frischkorn, Jonas | Walter, Lothar | Kauffeld, Simone

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Semantic analyses of patents have been used for years to unlock technical knowledge. Nevertheless, information retrievable from patents remains widely unconsidered when making strategic decisions, when recruiting candidates or deciding which qualifications to offer to employees in technological fields. OBJECTIVES: This paper provides an approach to evaluate whether competencies and competence demands in technological fields can be derived from patents and if this process can be automated to a certain extent. METHODS: A sample of significant patents is analyzed with regard to comprised competence data via semantic structures like n-gram and Subject-–Action–Object …(SAO) analysis. The retrieved data is cleansed and matched semantically to inventor competencies from social career networks and checked for similarities. RESULTS: A social career network profile analysis of significant inventors revealed a total of 570 competencies that were matched with the results of the n-gram and SAO analysis. Overall, 15%of the extracted social career network competence data were covered through extracted n-grams (87 out of 570 terms), while the SAO analysis showed a match rate of 18.8%, covering 107 terms. CONCLUSIONS: The outlined approach suggests a partly automatable process of promising character to identify technological competence demands in patents. Show more

Keywords: Semantic patent analysis, competence foresight, human resource analytics

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-211262

Citation: Work, vol. 72, no. 4, pp. 1689-1708, 2022

Authors: Karwehl, Laura Johanna | Kauffeld, Simone

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Digitalization and technological progress lead to an increasingly fast development of promising fields for action and new technologies whereas the time required to qualify employees for new activities and work content has remained largely the same. Organizations have to establish anticipative competence measures to secure their competitiveness. OBJECTIVES: Those developments suggest that a new approach to develop human resource development strategies is required. METHODS: This article describes the results of a competence survey that was developed in an interdisciplinary approach between organizational psychology and futurology and conducted in the field of automotive …Human-Machine Interaction (HMI) research. The content of the questionnaire is based on a series of expert interviews focusing and a data-driven approach that scanned significant patents for competence demand data. RESULTS: The conducted ANOVAs show that both sources for data retrieval create relevant items even though experts from the conceptual field rate data-based items significantly less relevant than the other participants. Moreover, interview-based items lead to significantly more relevant ratings in methodological fields while data-driven items were rated significantly more relevant for the technological area. CONCLUSIONS: Even though there are some uncertainties to examine, the displayed approach seems promising for the derivation of more detailed and enriched future competency demands in technological fields. Show more

Keywords: Strategic competence management, competence foresight, future of work, HR analytics

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-211261

Citation: Work, vol. 72, no. 4, pp. 1709-1725, 2022

Authors: Weigel, Andreas | Baumgart, Thorben Lukas | Zeuge, Anna | Sauter, Louisa Maria | Niehaves, Bjoern | Huchler, Norbert | Heinlein, Michael | Wittal, Regina | Staiger, Benjamin

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The virtual and real worlds of work are increasingly merging through digital transformation. This also applies to products and services. Virtual Reality (VR) with all its learning opportunities is a promising technology to improve workflows and enable transparency between different departments and organizations. This transparency is particularly important when it comes to preventing potentially dangerous work situations. OBJECTIVE: We investigate weaknesses in competence transfer processes between computer-aided designers and service employees connected in a hybrid value chain. On the one hand, designers receive only little feedback, hence are missing necessary evaluation to adjust their designs to empirical …specifications. On the other hand, service employees, therefore, work with sometimes impractical machine designs which makes their work on-site unergonomic, dangerous, and more difficult. METHODS: We present a design science-driven, empirical approach to provide enhanced competence transfer with the help of VR. Thereby, we evaluate a self-developed VR demonstrator with an iterative approach consisting of 60 qualitative interviews. RESULTS: The developed VR demonstrator supports interorganizational sharing of (tacit) knowledge by enabling designers to take the service perspective and ensuring collaboration across organizational boundaries. By intentionally using VR technology as an interruption to the work, the design can be viewed from a service perspective and evaluated for occupational safety and health issues. CONCLUSIONS: The work process improvements achieved by the VR demonstrator enable early consideration of design issues that are particularly relevant to safety, thus ensuring greater occupational safety and health protection in the processes for service employees. Show more

Keywords: Design science research, perspective taking, tacit knowledge transfer, interruption, collaboration

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-211244

Citation: Work, vol. 72, no. 4, pp. 1727-1743, 2022

Authors: Tietz, Stephanie | Werner, Katja

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The importance of virtual work is growing. Especially in knowledge-intensive, dynamic and international sectors, virtual teams have become an ubiquitous work form, promising more flexibility and higher performance. To solve complex problems they have to share and assimilate knowledge, but it is difficult in virtual contexts to overcome social distance and to avoid communication issues. Knowledge sharing in virtual teams may be more prone to errors and take more time. OBJECTIVE: Current studies mainly consider a one-sided perspective, either focusing on technical or human influencing factors for effective knowledge sharing in virtual teams, but not on …the interaction between these. This study addresses that gap by exploring success-critical factors for knowledge sharing by using the socio-technical systems-approach. METHODS: The database of the study consists of 26 in-depth interviews. The interviews were partially structured and based on the Critical Incident Technique. Using a deductive categorization scheme consisting of four main categories and 21 subcategories, the frequencies and overlaps of influencing factors on successful knowledge sharing in virtual teams were examined. RESULTS: Each critical incident reported included factors from all four main categories (technology, structure, people and task) with specific frequencies and connections. Structural influencing factors as well as technological factors are mentioned particularly frequently together. CONCLUSION: The results of the study underline the importance of an integrated socio-technical view on knowledge sharing in virtual teams. Technical and social factors need to be considered simultaneously. The findings can be used for designing and optimizing knowledge sharing processes in virtual teams. Show more

Keywords: Distributed teams, knowledge transfer, knowledge management, socio-technical systems, collaborative work, COVID-19

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-211241

Citation: Work, vol. 72, no. 4, pp. 1745-1763, 2022

Authors: Straatmann, Tammo | Schumacher, Jan-Philip | Koßmann, Cosima | Poehler, Ludger | Teuteberg, Frank | Mueller, Karsten | Hamborg, Kai-Christoph

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The participative design of work processes is hampered by as-yet unresolved challenges. A root cause is seen in high information-pass-on-barriers. Virtual Reality (VR) may have a significant potential to overcome these challenges. Yet, there is no systematic understanding of which advantages provided by VR can support the participative design of work processes. OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to assess the potential of VR to support the participative design of work processes by conducting an integrative literature review identifying the advantages of VR in general work contexts and mapping them to known challenges in participative design of work …processes. METHODS: The integrative literature review was conducted based on 268 sources of which 52 were considered for an in-depth analysis of the advantages offered by VR. RESULTS: The resulting conceptual framework consisted of 13 characteristic-related advantages (e.g., immersion, interactivity, flexibility) and 10 effect-related advantages (e.g., attractivity, involvement, cost efficiency) which readily address known challenges in the participative design of work processes. CONCLUSION: Mapping the advantages of VR to the challenges in participative design of work processes revealed a substantial potential of VR to overcome high information-pass-on-barriers. As such, employing VR in work process design initiatives represents a fruitful avenue for the promotion of prevention and employee health. Show more

Keywords: Virtual environment, participation, process design, process modeling, literature review

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-211260

Citation: Work, vol. 72, no. 4, pp. 1765-1788, 2022