This track on ‘Artificial Intelligence, Bureaucracy, and Organizations’ will offer new theoretical and empirical knowledge related to the interplay of artificial intelligence (AI) on the one hand, and bureaucracy and organizations on the other. Bureaucracy, as an institutionalized organizational form, is often viewed from a Weberian perspective consisting of characteristics such as hierarchical decision-making processes, rationalization, and merit-based (Weber et al., 1947). As an institutionalised form of hierarchical organization, bureaucracy is often criticized due to the shared belief that it “kills initiative [and] crushes creativity” (Jacques, 1991). Calls for the end of bureaucratic organization are only increasing in number in the current digital society (Pinchot & Pinchot, 1994). Yet, bureaucracy has shown itself to be remarkably persistent and still remains the major structural form of organizations today (du Gay, 2020; Kabel et al., 2022). In the context of rapid developments of AI systems, interest in the impact of AI on bureaucracy and organizations is growing. Will AI fundamentally disrupt or change our organizations? If yes, how will this transformation take place? If not, why not? In the current academic literature, Artificial Intelligence exists in a semi-paradoxical state where it is viewed both as a hyper-rationalized tool with the potential to strengthen bureaucratic characteristics (Newman et al., 2022), but also as a tool that may weaken bureaucratic characteristics thereby leading to new radically transform organizational structures (Benbya et al., 2020). Is artificial intelligence likely to strengthen, or weaken bureaucratic organizations? How will the adoption of AI systems amplify or disrupt core characteristics of bureaucracy? If organizations move beyond the traditional bureaucratic structure, what new forms of organizing may emerge? Such questions are especially interesting for the public sector and governmental organizations. As AI systems like ChatGPT and GPT4 are presently disrupting organizations and society, the topic of the track responds to the urgent need for insights for practitioners and scholars in the Data & Policy community. The insights generated from this track will be highly relevant.

We invite submissions that are directly related to the overarching theme of the track, and especially encourage submissions from scholars in underrepresented communities and geographic locations. Submissions can be from any, discipline, theoretical, or philosophical perspective. We particularly encourage manuscripts that aim to significantly advance our current theoretical and empirical understanding on the relationship between artificial intelligence, bureaucracy, and organizations. Papers submitted could, for example, deal with any of the following topics of interest:

• The relationship between artificial intelligence and Weberian bureaucracy as an institutionalized organizational form
• The relationship between artificial intelligence and bureaucratic characteristics, such as rationalization and hierarchical decision-making
• The transformative potential of artificial intelligence for organizations Empirical and theoretical explorations on how organizations are being transformed by artificial intelligence
• Emerging paradigms and exemplary use cases of artificial intelligence by public sector organizations
• The relevance of institutional dynamics and phenomena (e.g., legitimacy, logics, etc) in the organizational development or use of AI systems
• Novel conceptual contributions on the relationship between artificial intelligence, bureaucracy, and organizations
• The effect of artificial intelligence on organizational structure, design, strategy or decision making

References:

• Benbya, H., Davenport, T. H., & Pachidi, S. (2020). Artificial intelligence in organizations: Current state and future opportunities. MIS Quarterly Executive, 19(4).
• Du Gay, P. (2000). In praise of bureaucracy: Weber-organization-ethics. In Praise of Bureaucracy, 1- 176.
• Jaques, E. (1991). In praise of hierarchy. Markets, hierarchies and networks: The coordination of social life, 108, 118.
• Kattel, R., Drechsler, W., & Karo, E. (2022). How to Make an Entrepreneurial State: Why Innovation Needs Bureaucracy. Yale University Press.
• Newman, J., Mintrom, M., & O’Neill, D. (2022). Digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and bureaucratic transformation. Futures, 136, 102886.
• Pinchot, G., & Pinchot, E. (1994). The end of bureaucracy & the rise of the intelligent organization.
• Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc., 155 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA 94104-4109.
• Weber, M., Parsons, T., & Henderson, A.M.. The Theory of Social and Economic Organization. Glencoe, Illinois: Free & Falcon’s Wing, 1947. Print.