- Project number: F 2504
- Institution: Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA)
- Status: Completed Project
Description:
The world of work is undergoing a digital transformation, with varying consequences for different groups of employees. Almost one-third of all employees assume responsibility for others, lead larger or smaller units, or manage teams, projects, or processes. Digitalisation makes new forms of structuring and organisation possible. This project therefore examined the influence of digitisation on employees in leadership and management positions.
Different datasets from the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin, BAuA) show that digitisation is comparatively advanced among most managers and that they use mobile work devices significantly more frequently than non-managers. In addition, so-called trend technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) or big data, already play a role in the everyday work of leaders and managers.
Further analyses and the review of the current scientific discourse reveal two main topics for additional analyses: Leadership and management with AI and virtual leadership/ management. Different AI applications already exist in many companies (e.g., in (shift) planning, rating/controlling, recruitment and onboarding, learning & development, or the use of chat bots). These applications substitute management activities rather than leadership activities. Although opportunities and risks in the use of AI in the context of leading and managing could be identified, concrete effects of AI on, for example, managerial health have so far been little researched. In contrast, a subsequent literature review identified a variety of new or special requirements for virtual leadership and management. In addition, resources such as social and structural support, social integration, and room for decision-making were identified that can help managers cope with the demands of virtual leadership and management.
The project was part of the priority program "Safety and Health in the Digital World of Work" of the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
