D2.2 Human-Technology Skills Complementarity Conceptual Framework II

In this report we present an updated framework for Human-Technology Skills Complementarity. We do so by moving beyond “technology vs. skills” framings and by instead showing how Human-Technology Skills Complementarity is produced (or not) through the alignment of intended and actual affordances across task, role, team, department, and organisational levels. In the TechConnect-project, 12 case studies have been performed. Each case centres around a particular advanced digital technology used by different groups of professionals in health care contexts. Drawing on an analysis of the cases studied, this report shows how affordance gaps emerge on various levels, and how these cascade and transform across levels. To manage these, and align intended and actual affordances, bridging work is performed in daily, organisational life. Depending on if this work is successful or not, Human-Technology complementarity might be low or high. An important conclusion is that gaps that occur between intended and actual affordances are not necessarily solvable on the level where they first occurred. This points to the need to take a systems perspective on the implementation, adoption and use of advanced technologies.