Kicking the robots: the roles of transformational leadership and fear on service robot risk awareness and robot abuse relationship

Abstract

Purpose

Service robots are increasingly prevalent in the hospitality industry. While studies have explored the concept of service robot risk awareness (SRRA) – an employee’s perception of service robots posing a threat to human labor – the impact of SRRA on robot abuse and its emotional mechanism through which it affects employees remains unclear. This research leverages emotional appraisal theory to investigate the mediating role of fear of robots in the relationship between SRRA and robot abuse. Additionally, considering the influential role of leadership in shaping emotional appraisal, this study aims to examine the moderating impact of transformational leadership.

Design/methodology/approach

To test the proposed model, time-lagged survey data were collected from 283 employees working under 54 leaders in 18 hotels in China. The model was analyzed using multilevel modeling in Mplus 7.3.

Findings

At the individual level, SRRA indirectly increases robot abuse through the mediation of fear of robots. However, there is a cross-level moderation: the indirect relationship is alleviated when leaders exhibit high levels of transformational leadership.

Originality/value

This study pioneers the concept of robot abuse in hospitality and tourism settings. It extends emotional appraisal theory by highlighting the significant mediating role played by fear of robots. Furthermore, demonstrating how transformational leadership can mitigate the effects of SRRA offers valuable insights for leadership selection and training to facilitate the successful implementation of service robots.

研究目的

服务机器人在酒店业中日益普及。虽然研究已探讨了服务机器人风险意识（SRRA）的概念——即员工对服务机器人构成对人力劳动的威胁感知, 但SRRA对辱虐机器人及其对员工的情绪机制的影响仍不清楚。本研究利用情绪评估理论调查了恐惧对SRRA与机器人滥用之间关系的中介作用。此外, 考虑到领导在塑造情绪评估中的重要作用, 本研究还考察了变革型领导力的调节影响。

研究方法

为了测试提出的模型, 收集了来自中国18家酒店中54位领导下的283名员工的时滞调查数据。该模型使用Mplus 7.3中的多层建模进行分析。

研究发现

在个体水平上, SRRA通过恐惧对机器人的中介作用间接增加了辱虐机器人。然而, 研究发现跨层次调节变量：当领导展现出较高水平的变革型领导力时, 间接关系得到缓解。

研究创新

本研究首创了服务在酒店和旅游领域的辱虐机器人行为概念。它通过突出恐惧对机器人的重要中介作用, 扩展了情绪评估理论。此外, 展示了变革型领导如何缓解SRRA的影响, 为领导选聘和培训提供了有价值的见解, 促进了服务机器人的成功实施。

Citation

Shum, C., Min, H.(K)., Sun, J., Yu, H.(C). and He, Z. (2024), "Kicking the robots: the roles of transformational leadership and fear on service robot risk awareness and robot abuse relationship", Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTT-12-2023-0414