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Cobotic service teams and power dynamics: Understanding and mitigating unintended consequences of human-robot collaboration in healthcare services

Author

Listed:
  • Ilana Shanks

    (Stonybrook University)

  • Maura L. Scott

    (Arizona State University
    BI Norwegian Business School)

  • Martin Mende

    (Arizona State University)

  • Jenny Doorn

    (University of Groningen)

  • Dhruv Grewal

    (Babson College
    University of Bath
    Tecnológico de Monterrey)

Abstract

In cobotic service teams, employees and robots collaborate to serve customers. As cobotic teams become more prevalent, a key question arises: How do consumers respond to cobotic teams, as a function of the roles shared by employees and robots (robots in superordinate roles as team leaders and humans in subordinate roles as assistants, or vice versa)? Six studies, conducted in different healthcare settings, show that consumers respond less favorably to robot-led (vs. human-led) teams. In delineating the process underlying these responses, the authors demonstrate that consumers ascribe less power to robot (vs. human) team leaders, which increases consumer anxiety and drives downstream responses through serial mediation. Further examining the power dynamics in cobotic service encounters, the authors identify boundary conditions that help mitigate negative consumer responses (increasing consumers’ power by letting them choose the robot in the service team, leveraging consumers’ power distance beliefs, and reinforcing the robot’s performance capabilities).

Suggested Citation

  • Ilana Shanks & Maura L. Scott & Martin Mende & Jenny Doorn & Dhruv Grewal, 2025. "Cobotic service teams and power dynamics: Understanding and mitigating unintended consequences of human-robot collaboration in healthcare services," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 53(2), pages 463-489, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:joamsc:v:53:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s11747-024-01004-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s11747-024-01004-1
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