Research Examines Replacing Workers With Robots

Study finds companies could risk losing competitive edge by over-automating, but human-robot collaboration can boost value creation

Jan. 27, 2026 at 8:07pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

New research involving the Binghamton University School of Management found that companies could risk losing their competitive edge by leaning too heavily on replacing human workers with robots, since competitors could easily follow suit. Instead, researchers determined businesses could generate more value by focusing on human-robot collaboration, amplifying their existing human capital into hard-to-imitate resources.

Why it matters

As robots and automation continue to reshape the American workplace, this study provides insights on how companies can best leverage these technologies to boost productivity and efficiency without undermining employee morale and loyalty.

The details

The study examined the issue from two viewpoints: a substitute view, where robots replace human workers, and a complementary view, where humans and robots collaborate. Both can enhance an organization's desired outcomes in efficiency and productivity, but those who adopt a complementary view were more likely to foster a greater and more positive sense of commitment among human employees. The researchers cited examples of successful human-robot collaboration, such as R&D teams working with robots to analyze complex datasets and hospital staff using surgical robots to perform delicate medical procedures.

  • The study was published in January 2026 in the Journal of Organizational Behavior.
  • Last year, the New York Times reported that Amazon's robotics team aimed to automate 75% of the company's operations, replacing more than half a million human jobs.

The players

Binghamton University School of Management

The academic institution where the research was conducted.

Chou-Yu (Joey) Tsai

SOM Osterhout associate professor of entrepreneurship and co-author of the study.

Rory Eckardt

SOM Associate Dean for Faculty Research and co-author of the study.

Shelley Dionne

SOM Dean and co-author of the study.

Amazon

A company that has been reported to aim to automate 75% of its operations, replacing more than half a million human jobs.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Simply put, deploying robots in a collaborative manner with humans can alter social dynamics in ways that encourage unit members to feel, act and think together.”

— Chou-Yu (Joey) Tsai, SOM Osterhout associate professor of entrepreneurship

“The most successful organizations will find a way to extract the best value from these technologies to achieve their unique goals.”

— Chou-Yu (Joey) Tsai, SOM Osterhout associate professor of entrepreneurship

“Discussion of AI and robots often centers on adoption speed, workplace disruption and job displacement. Our paper shifts attention to complementary integration by considering when these technologies strengthen teamwork and coordination, improve the work environment, and support value creation and competitive advantage.”

— Rory Eckardt, SOM Associate Dean for Faculty Research

“When I began my research career in leadership and organization science, I could have never predicted that technology would advance to the point where we're researching the impact of robots on leadership development and organization effectiveness. But now it informs how we think about the future of workforce development and employee performance, no matter what type of organization we consider.”

— Shelley Dionne, SOM Dean

What’s next

The researchers plan to continue studying the impact of human-robot collaboration on organizational dynamics and value creation.

The takeaway

This study highlights the importance of finding the right balance between automation and human capital, as companies that focus too heavily on replacing workers with robots risk losing their competitive edge. The key is to leverage human-robot collaboration in a way that amplifies the strengths of both and creates additional value for the organization.