Browsing by Author "Blaurock, Marah"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3

Robotic role theory: an integrative review of human–robot service interaction to advance role theory in the age of social robots
(2022-06-21) Blaurock, Marah; Caic, Martina; Okan, Mehmet; Henkel, Alexander P.
A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
Purpose Social robots increasingly adopt service roles in the marketplace. While service research is beginning to unravel the implications for theory and practice, other scientific disciplines have amassed a wealth of empirical data of robots assuming such service roles. The purpose of this paper is to synthesize these findings from a role theory perspective with the aim of advancing role theory for human–robot service interaction (HRSI). Design/methodology/approach A systematic review of more than 10,000 articles revealed 149 empirical HRSI-related papers across scientific disciplines. The respective articles are analyzed employing qualitative content analysis through the lens of role theory. Findings This review develops an organizing structure of the HRSI literature across disciplines, delineates implications for role theory development in the age of social robots, and advances robotic role theory by providing an overarching framework and corresponding propositions. Finally, this review introduces avenues for future research. Originality/value This study pioneers a comprehensive review of empirical HRSI literature across disciplines adopting the lens of role theory. The study structures the body of HRSI literature, adapts traditional and derives novel propositions for role theory (i.e. robotic role theory), and delineates promising future research opportunities.
Robotic transformative service research: Deploying social robots for consumer well-being during COVID-19 and beyond
(2020-08-15) Henkel, Alexander P.; Caic, Martina; Blaurock, Marah; Okan, Mehmet
A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
Purpose: Besides the direct physical health consequences, through social isolation COVID-19 affects a considerably larger share of consumers with deleterious effects for their psychological well-being. Two vulnerable consumer groups are particularly affected: older adults and children. The purpose of the underlying paper is to take a transformative research perspective on how social robots can be deployed for advancing the well-being of these vulnerable consumers and to spur robotic transformative service research (RTSR). Design/methodology/approach: This paper follows a conceptual approach that integrates findings from various domains: service research, social robotics, social psychology and medicine. Findings: Two key findings advanced in this paper are (1) a typology of robotic transformative service (i.e. entertainer, social enabler, mentor and friend) as a function of consumers' state of social isolation, well-being focus and robot capabilities and (2) a future research agenda for RTSR. Practical implications: This paper guides service consumers and providers and robot developers in identifying and developing the most appropriate social robot type for advancing the well-being of vulnerable consumers in social isolation. Originality/value: This study is the first to integrate social robotics and transformative service research by developing a typology of social robots as a guiding framework for assessing the status quo of transformative robotic service on the basis of which it advances a future research agenda for RTSR. It further complements the underdeveloped body of service research with a focus on eudaimonic consumer well-being.
A transdisciplinary review and framework of consumer interactions with embodied social robots: Design, delegate, deploy
(2022-09) Blaurock, Marah; Caic, Martina; Okan, Mehmet; Henkel, Alexander P.
A2 Katsausartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
Social robots are gradually entering the organizational frontline, and research is beginning to unveil the implications for consumer–firm interactions. While empirical studies on human–robot service interaction (HRSI) are scarce in business literature, other scientific fields have generated an abundance of empirical findings that can inform consumer research on successfully integrating embodied social robots in consumer-facing services. In this light, a systematic literature review was conducted across scientific fields, screening over 13,500 research articles. Through a thorough review process, 199 service-relevant empirical research articles were identified. Emanating from these data, an organizing meta-framework is advanced (D3: design, delegate, and deploy). Leveraging this D3 framework, a comprehensive overview of several dimensions of the literature is provided, and key insights for each framework dimension are presented. Based on this overview, implications for whether, how, and when to integrate social robots in practice and a comprehensive future research agenda are developed.