Examining entangled power and performativity in robot-related work

Abstract

Power holds significance in Information Systems (IS) research, yet there is limited understanding of how the introduction and proliferation of novel technologies like robots reshape organizational power dynamics. This paper aims to address this gap by examining how power relations are enacted in robot-related work. Specifically, we employ a sociomaterial approach to performativity to analyze the entanglement of power with performativity in robot-utilizing organizations. Drawing on 23 semi-structured interviews with individuals experienced in robot-related work, we explore how robots and the robot-related work are produced through inclusions and exclusions in material-discursive practices. Our findings delineate shifts in organizational power relations and illustrate the impact of robot utilization on organizational processes. Thus, our study contributes to the IS literature by enriching our understanding of power dynamics and offering insights valuable to organizations employing physical robots.