Enhancing Productivity in Operations and Supply chains: a task-based view of advanced technologies
ProjectThis project aims to uncover the effect of advanced automation and digital technologies, including robotics and AI-based systems, on productivity in
operations and supply chain management (O&SCM) processes across major Italian sectors. Building on the task-based theory (Acemoglu and Restrepo,
2019), we will explore how such technologies can reshape the tasks performed within these processes, following three different patterns, i.e. automation,
augmentation and task creation, each potentially associated with different productivity and employment outcomes depending on organizational and
technological complementarities.
By bridging the gap between the macroeconomic perspective inherent in task-based theory and the micro-foundational approach of management studies,
we will address the following research questions: 1) how advanced automation and digital technologies affect the configuration of tasks within O&SCM
processes; 2) which factors enable superior productivity gains from task reconfiguration; 3) to what extent productivity gains, achieved through the adoption
of advanced automation and digital technologies in O&SCM processes, are associated with superior wages and employment levels.
The empirical study will focus on O&SCM processes, namely procurement, production, physical distribution, and reverse logistics. The research design will
involve the adoption of a mixed-method research approach, involving multiple case-studies, an extensive survey among firms and an econometric analysis.
Bridging the gap between economics and managerial studies, this research project contributes to theory development in the field of applied economics by
providing micro-foundational evidence of the task-based theory. Describing different trajectories of technology adoption projects at the O&SCM level, this
study identifies the mechanisms and patterns of human-machine interaction and task creation that enable superior productivity and operational performance.
From the O&SCM perspective, this study reframes the discussion on technology adoption at a process level, positioning this topic as a strategic decision of
the firm to be addressed with a configurational approach, requiring alignment among technology, organizational design, task structure and new business
models. Furthermore, it leads to the development of a taxonomy of O&SCM tasks, enabling the systematic identification of automated, augmented and
newly created tasks in different operational contexts.
This study will generate actionable insights for firms and policymakers concerning the design of human-machine systems and task configurations aimed at
enhancing productivity gains, wages and employment levels.
operations and supply chain management (O&SCM) processes across major Italian sectors. Building on the task-based theory (Acemoglu and Restrepo,
2019), we will explore how such technologies can reshape the tasks performed within these processes, following three different patterns, i.e. automation,
augmentation and task creation, each potentially associated with different productivity and employment outcomes depending on organizational and
technological complementarities.
By bridging the gap between the macroeconomic perspective inherent in task-based theory and the micro-foundational approach of management studies,
we will address the following research questions: 1) how advanced automation and digital technologies affect the configuration of tasks within O&SCM
processes; 2) which factors enable superior productivity gains from task reconfiguration; 3) to what extent productivity gains, achieved through the adoption
of advanced automation and digital technologies in O&SCM processes, are associated with superior wages and employment levels.
The empirical study will focus on O&SCM processes, namely procurement, production, physical distribution, and reverse logistics. The research design will
involve the adoption of a mixed-method research approach, involving multiple case-studies, an extensive survey among firms and an econometric analysis.
Bridging the gap between economics and managerial studies, this research project contributes to theory development in the field of applied economics by
providing micro-foundational evidence of the task-based theory. Describing different trajectories of technology adoption projects at the O&SCM level, this
study identifies the mechanisms and patterns of human-machine interaction and task creation that enable superior productivity and operational performance.
From the O&SCM perspective, this study reframes the discussion on technology adoption at a process level, positioning this topic as a strategic decision of
the firm to be addressed with a configurational approach, requiring alignment among technology, organizational design, task structure and new business
models. Furthermore, it leads to the development of a taxonomy of O&SCM tasks, enabling the systematic identification of automated, augmented and
newly created tasks in different operational contexts.
This study will generate actionable insights for firms and policymakers concerning the design of human-machine systems and task configurations aimed at
enhancing productivity gains, wages and employment levels.