Abstract:

The wave of intelligence has injected new impetus for China to transform from a manufacturing power to a manufacturing powerhouse and for the intelligent transformation of enterprises. However, at the same time, knowledge workers in the manufacturing industry face the challenge of reshaping the labor process with artificial intelligence. Previous studies mainly used labor process theory to analyze the impact of technological progress on the labor of “blue-collar workers” in manufacturing, while related research on knowledge workers in manufacturing is still in the conceptual discussion stage. Therefore, this study innovatively proposes the dynamic concept of technical hollowing out under the background of artificial intelligence to reflect the impact of the development and application of artificial intelligence technology on the labor process of knowledge workers in the manufacturing industry.

This study constructs a theoretical study on the technical hollowing out of knowledge workers from three perspectives of sensemaking: cognition, behavior, and ability. This study has three research purposes: First, to explore the definition and dimensional structure of technical hollowing out from the perspective of “cognition-behavior-ability” sensemaking, and intends to extract two dimensions: executive skill hollowing and conceptual skill hollowing, technical hollowing out measurement scale was developed based on; second, based on the “cognition-behavior” interaction chain, we construct a two-stage model of “executive skill hollowing out” and “conceptual skill hollowing out” for the technical hollowing out of knowledge workers, and further explore the catalytic role of situational factors at the enterprise and employee levels; third, based on the capability-building perspective, the impact of technical hollowing out on knowledge workers’ dual innovation behavior and sustainable career development is explored. We intend to use case study methods to explore the definition, dimensional structure, measurement scale, and generation process of technological hollowing out. In addition, we use empirical research methods to analyze the impact mechanism of technological hollowing out on the multi-dimensional development of employees. Based on the above conception, this study attempts to construct a relatively systematic and complete theoretical framework of technological hollowing out through three closely related and hierarchical parts.

This study takes knowledge workers in the manufacturing industry as the research object, expands the subject boundaries of existing AI in reshaping the labor process of workers, and grasps the research frontier of technological hollowing out of knowledge workers. The dynamic concept of technological hollowing out was innovatively proposed, and its dimensional structure and measurement scale were analyzed, deepening the dynamic research of technological hollowing out under the background of AI. At the same time, combining the sensemaking and labor process perspectives, the “double separation” model of employee skills and core science and technology is integrated based on the AI background, forming a theoretical model for the generation of technological hollowing out, which provides a new theoretical perspective for revealing the mechanism of AI’s reshaping of the labor process of knowledge workers. It makes up for the deficiency of labor process theory that focuses on the labor control of “blue-collar workers” from a static perspective. From the perspective of ability building in sensemaking, this study uses empirical analysis methods to reveal the impact path and boundary conditions of technical hollowing out on employees’ dual innovation behavior and sustainable career development by acting on their technological absorptive ability. It provides more evidence for a deeper understanding of the process of employees’ dual innovation behavior and sustainable career development. Also, it provides a new theoretical perspective for the cultivation and motivation of innovative and sustainable talents in the background of intelligent manufacturing. Moreover, the research conclusions can also provide practical inspiration for establishing harmonious and stable labor relations, as well as realizing long-term development and shared prosperity of enterprises and employees during the intelligent transformation of China’s manufacturing industry.

Key words: technical hollowing out, artificial intelligence, knowledge workers, sensemaking theory