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Robotic transformative service research: Deploying social robots for consumer well-being during COVID-19 and beyond
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en
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18
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Journal of Service Management, Volume 31, issue 6, pp. 1131-1148
Abstract
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.
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Henkel, A P, Caic, M, Blaurock, M & Okan, M 2020, 'Robotic transformative service research : Deploying social robots for consumer well-being during COVID-19 and beyond', Journal of Service Management, vol. 31, no. 6, pp. 1131-1148. https://doi.org/10.1108/JOSM-05-2020-0145