The double-edged sword effects of STARA use on employee performance and well-being: a meta-analysis based on job demands-resources (JD-R) model

Purpose In the digital era, smart technology, artificial intelligence, robotics and algorithms (STARA) are widely used in the workplace, capturing the attention of numerous researchers. Although prior research has demonstrated that STARA use can enhance employee outcomes, an emerging body of evidence reveals adverse associations, yielding fragmented and inconclusive findings. To reconcile these discrepancies, the present study systematically examines the dual pathways through which STARA use influences employee performance and well-being and further investigates the boundary conditions that may shape the strength and direction of these effects. Design/methodology/approach We conducted meta-analytic structural equation modeling to test a theoretical framework grounded in the job demands-resources (JD-R) model, in which STARA use is proposed to influence employee performance and well-being through job insecurity and self-efficacy. To identify potential boundary conditions, we conducted subgroup analyses and meta-regressions to examine the moderating effect of STARA type, macro technological environment (i.e. Internet use percentage and R&D expenditure) and methodological characteristics (i.e. study setting, study design, publication status, publication quality and publication year). Findings Utilizing data from 176 empirical studies (196 independent samples), our results demonstrate that STARA use has indirect effects on employee performance and well-being via two distinct pathways: it undermines these outcomes through heightened job insecurity while simultaneously enhancing them through increased self-efficacy. Furthermore, moderator analyses reveal that the type of STARA, the macro technological environment (Internet use percentage) and methodological factors (study design and publication year) influence the strength of the relationship between STARA use and employee work outcomes. Originality/value Overall, our findings provide robust support for our theoretical framework and offer nuanced insights into the complex implications of STARA use in organizational contexts. These findings may stimulate further inquiry and offer valuable guidance for both scholars and practitioners navigating the evolving landscape of workplace technology.