What if your Manager was a Robot: How Anthropomorphization of Algorithmic Managers Influences Employee Conspiracy Beliefs

Nolten, Roef (2025) What if your Manager was a Robot: How Anthropomorphization of Algorithmic Managers Influences Employee Conspiracy Beliefs. Bachelor thesis, Psychology.

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Abstract

Organizations increasingly rely on artificial intelligence and robotic systems for management, shifting away from traditional leadership. Research shows that when organizations anthropomorphize algorithmic management, employees may subscribe to certain perceptions of an organization’s intentions and transparency in their goals, especially when employees’ goals are thwarted and the manager’s promises are breached. When a leader’s intentions are not clear and they breach especially relationally important promises, employees may start to believe in conspiracy beliefs about their organization. The relationship between anthropomorphism of algorithmic managers and organizational conspiracy beliefs is explored, as well as the moderating effect of managers failing to deliver on two types of promises: relational and transactional. Using a 2 (anthropomorphism of algorithmic manager: high vs. low) x2 (type of failed promises (relational vs. transactional) experimental design (N = 258), participants were randomly exposed to an anthropomorphized versus non-anthropomorphized algorithmic manager, who had failed to fulfill their relational versus transactional promises. Results indicate that anthropomorphism of algorithmic managers does not significantly influence employee organizational conspiracy beliefs, while the type of failed promises does not significantly moderate this relationship. Possible explanations for the lack of significant results and future directions are discussed. Practical implications suggest that while the relationships are not significant, organizations should not ignore these factors.

Item Type:	Thesis (Bachelor)
Supervisor name:	Fousiani, K.
Degree programme:	Psychology
Differentiation route:	None [Bachelor Psychology]
Date Deposited:	14 Jan 2025 11:06
Last Modified:	14 Jan 2025 11:06
URI:	http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/4499

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