Human-robot teams: an Input-Mediator-Output-Input perspective on a new work paradigm

Ruth Stock-Homburg, Lea Heitlinger, Franziska Doris Wolf, Jochen Wirtz and Marco Raphael Hiepler

Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) from Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL)

Abstract: In Human Resource Management (HRM), team performanceis a central concern. For HRM, the integration of emergingtechnologies such as robots represents a novel way to lever-age team performance. As organizations begin to integraterobots into work teams, HRM practitioners face the chal-lenge of managing human-robot collaboration, including thecomplex team dynamics that arise. Yet, systematic guidancefor HRM on how to integrate robotic assistants into teamsremains scarce. Addressing this gap, we provide real-worldinsights based on an online experiment and an eight-weeklongitudinal field study. Our findings are synthesized in anInput-Mediator-Output-Input (IMOI) model of human-robotteams. We show that robot acceptance is shaped by therobot’s human-likeness in appearance – preferring androidrobots over humanoid robots – and by the alignmentbetween expected and experienced robot competence.Furthermore, human team members prefer robots that offerhigh assistance while exhibiting reactive (rather than proac-tive) behavior. Over time, human-robot teams show highereffectiveness than human-only teams, particularly in laterproject phases. These findings suggest that integratingrobotic assistants into teams can enhance long-term teamperformance. We provide recommendations relevant forHRM on fostering robot acceptance and team effectivenessin human-robot teams, contributing to the growing field ofhuman-robot collaboration in the workplace.

Date: 2026-10-22
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Published in The International Journal of Human Resource Management (2026-10-22)

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