互联网连接性降低自主性的机制与后效

Constant connectivity attenuates autonomy: Mechanism and consequences

万物可互联了,时间却稀缺了,情感也耗竭了。把这三种现实工作中的趋势关联起来的关键概念是自主性:员工不能自主控制工作时间引发时间稀缺和情感耗竭。过往研究认为,在一般情景中,互联网连接性会增加自主性。但是,当处于一种不对称的权力依赖关系中时,互联网连接性反而会降低自主性。借助权力依赖理论,相对依赖性和家长式领导监控氛围是逆转互联网连接性增强自主性的关键条件。通过引入权力依赖理论,从一个新颖的视角探讨互联网连接性降低自主性的作用机制及其后效,所构建的理论模型挑战了以往文献中互联网连接性增加自主性的主流理论观点,也为互联网连接性环境下的自主性问题构建了一个新的理论基础。

The development of the Internet era has led to the three major changes: the interconnectedness of all things, the scarcity of time, and the exhaustion of emotions. A key concept that connects these three growing trends is autonomy. When employees fail to control their own time at work, they experience the scarcity of time and emotional exhaustion. Previous research has found that constant Internet connectivity increases an individual’s autonomy in general scenarios. However, when employees are in a state of unbalanced power-dependency, constant Internet connectivity might decrease autonomy. Based on the power-dependency theory, follower’s asymmetric dependence and paternalistic authoritarian leadership are required in these unbalanced relationships. This project aims at exploring from a new perspective when and why constant Internet connectivity reduces autonomy and what the corresponding consequences are. The theoretical model challenges the prevailing notion that Internet connectivity increases autonomy, and it constructs a new theoretical basis for understanding employees’ autonomy in the context of Internet connectivity.