When Humans Using the IT Artifact Becomes IT Using the Human Artifact

Abstract

Following Lee & Demetis [20]

Mastering Software Robot Development Projects: Understanding the Association between System Attributes & Design Practices

“…Cognition hereby describes the ability to process numbers and text, to learn and to improve decision-making with an increasing amount of data [4]. Differences between both systems can be understood based on the system requirements or attributes of robots conceptualized by Demetis and Lee (2017), such as the transformation process (of inputs into outputs), self-reference and the system/environment distinction. Demetis and Lee (2017) focus their analysis on the usage of autonomous technologies such as robotic systems whereas in this paper the focus lays on their development.…”

“…Differences between both systems can be understood based on the system requirements or attributes of robots conceptualized by Demetis and Lee (2017), such as the transformation process (of inputs into outputs), self-reference and the system/environment distinction. Demetis and Lee (2017) focus their analysis on the usage of autonomous technologies such as robotic systems whereas in this paper the focus lays on their development. One system difference between robots is that RPA robots transform structured input into structured output [21], whereas chatbots transform unstructured input into unstructured output, i.e.…”

“…to the transformation of an input into a technologized decision or output through "a complex nexus of technological interactions" [4, p.5751]. Human cognitive understanding is thereby replaced by technologized understanding which describes the acceptance or rejection of certain information, whereupon an algorithm-based computational response -a so-called technologized decision -is determined [5]. Another difference is that unlike RPA robots, chatbots can continuously improve their capabilities through training [12,17] which reflects the system attribute self-reference.…”

“…Another difference is that unlike RPA robots, chatbots can continuously improve their capabilities through training [12,17] which reflects the system attribute self-reference. Self-reference refers to the process that helps a system collect information about itself, which in turn can help to change its way of functioning and to reproduce itself [5]. A further difference is that chatbots interact directly with humans [17], while RPA robots interact with other systems not requiring direct human interaction [2,21,24].…”

“…A robot can be any machine replacing work performed by humans [24] while gathering information and following instructions to execute tasks [22]. So far, it has been analyzed to what extent such robotic systems behave and interact with their respective environment [5], which kind of processes can be automated, and which factors make the introduction and use of such systems successful [24]. However, it has not yet been analyzed in detail to what extent the actual development of different robotic systems poses unique challenges and how these challenges can be adequately addressed.…”