Intentional Forgetting in Socio-Digital Work Systems
System Characteristics and User-related Psychological Consequences on Emotion, Cognition, and Behavior
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30844/aistes.v4i1.16Keywords:
Intentional Forgetting, unlearning of routines, transactive memory systemsAbstract
Future work environments offer numerous technical applications to manage increasing amounts of information for organizations, teams, and individuals. Psychological concepts of intentional forgetting (IF) can be applied to improve the performance of work systems or to extend cognitive capacities of humans in technical systems. Different IF mechanisms have been suggested for assisting technology-aided IF, such as: (1) filtering of irrelevant or distressful information (e.g., by suppressing, deleting, or selecting), (2) delegating tasks from human to digital agents, changing roles, and reorganizing socio-digital work systems, or (3) systematic (re-)placement of retrieval cues or triggers to generate or suppress behavior. Due to these different underlying IF mechanisms, the implementation of IF at individual, team, and organizational level will differ substantially between work areas or systems. In order to gain a better understanding of how socio-digital applications of IF impact human behavior and reactions, it is necessary to (a) differentiate between relevant characteristics of socio-digital IF systems and (b) gain an understanding of how these characteristics impact users’ attitudes and performance. Thus, the present paper aims to classify and compare these characteristics of different applications of IF and introduces variables and methods to study psychological effects on users’ behavior, experience, and affective reactions.
References
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DeChurch, L.A., Mesmer-Magnus, J.R.: The cognitive underpinnings of effective teamwork: a meta-analysis. J. Appl. Psychol. 95, 32–52 (2010).
Ellwart, T., Konradt, U., Rack, O.: Team mental models of expertise location: Validation of a field survey measure. Small Gr. Res. 45, 119–153 (2014).
Zajac, S., Gregory, M.E., Bedwell, W.L., Kramer, W.S., Salas, E.: The cognitive underpinnings of adaptive team performance in ill-defined task situations: A closer look at team cognition. Organ. Psychol. Rev. 4, 49–73 (2014).
Fiol, C.M., O’Connor, E.J.: Unlearning established organizational routines–Part II. Learn. Organ. 24, 82–92 (2017).
Huber, G.P.: Organizational learning: The contributing processes and the literatures. Organ. Sci. 2, 88–115 (1991).
Tsang, E.W.K., Zahra, S.A.: Organizational unlearning. Hum. Relations. 61, 1435–1462 (2008).
Hollingshead, A.B.: Retrieval processes in transactive memory systems. J. Pers. Soc. Psychol. 74, 659 (1998).
Frings, C., Dengel, A., Niedernée, C., Tempel, T.: Managed Forgetting. Sustaining Grass-roots Organizational Memories: Foundations and methods of Managed Forgetting for Knowledge Workers [Scholarly project].
Niessen, C., Schmid, U.: Dare2Del . Internal and external IF – Empirical studies and development of an assist system for IF of digital information [Scholarly project].
Hertel, G., Becker, J.: Trustful Forgetting: Motivational and emotional influences on intentional forgetting in organizations [Scholarly project].
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Anderson, M.C.: Rethinking interference theory: Executive control and the mechanisms of forgetting. J. Mem. Lang. 49, 415–445 (2003).
Hinsz, V.B., Tindale, R.S., Vollrath, D.A.: The emerging conceptualization of groups as information processors. Psychol. Bull. 121, 43 (1997).
Mathieu, J., Maynard, M.T., Rapp, T., Gilson, L.: Team effectiveness 1997-2007: A review of recent advancements and a glimpse into the future. J. Manage. 34, 410–476 (2008).
Maus, H., Jilek, C., Schwarz, S.: Remembering and forgetting for personal preservation. In: Personal Multimedia Preservation: Remembering or Forgetting Images and Video. pp. 233–277. Springer (2018).
Siebers, M., Schmid, U., Göbel, K., Niessen, C.: A Psychonic Approach to the Design of a Cognitive Companion Supporting Intentional Forgetting. In: 6. Workshop Kognitive Systeme: Mensch, Teams, Systeme und Automaten (2017).
Beierle, C., Kern-Isberner, G.: Methoden wissensbasierter Systeme. Springer (2003).
Lang, J.W.B., Bliese, P.D.: General mental ability and two types of adaptation to unforeseen change: Applying discontinuous growth models to the task-change paradigm. J. Appl. Psychol. 94, 411 (2009).
LePine, J.A., Colquitt, J.A., Erez, A.: Adaptability to changing task contexts: Effects of general cognitive ability, conscientiousness, and openness to experience. Pers. Psychol. 53, 563–593 (2000).
Doomen, J.: Information Inflation. J. Infor. Ethics. 18, 10 (2009).
Easterby-Smith, M., Lyles, M.A.: In praise of organizational forgetting. J. Manag. Inq. 20, 311–316 (2011).
Eppler, M.J., Mengis, J.: The concept of information overload: A review of literature from organization science, accounting, marketing, MIS, and related disciplines. Inf. Soc. 20, 325–344 (2004).
Bjork, R.A.: Positive forgetting: The noninterference of items intentionally forgotten. (1970).
Becker, J., Beverungen, D., Knackstedt, R., Müller, O.: Pricing of Value Bundles-A Multi-Perspective Decision Support Approach. Enterp. Model. Inf. Syst. Archit. Int. J. Vol. 6, Nr. 2. (2011).
Meeßen, S.M., Thielsch, M.T., Hertel, G.: Trust in management information systems (MIS): A theoretical model. Manuscr. Submitt. Publ. (2018).
Thielsch, M.T., Meeßen, S.M., Hertel, G.: Trust and distrust in information systems at the workplace. PeerJ. 6, e5483 (2018).
Hertel, G., Meeßen, S.M., Riehle, D., Thielsch, M.T., Nohe, C., Becker, J.: Directed forgetting in organizations: The positive effects of decision support systems on mental resources and well-being. Manuscr. Submitt. Publ. (2018).
Daft, R.L., Weick, K.E.: Toward a model of organizations as interpretation systems. Acad. Manag. Rev. 9, 284–295 (1984).
Walsh, J.P., Ungson, G.R.: Organizational memory. Acad. Manag. Rev. 16, 57–91 (1991).
Gersick, C.J.G., Hackman, J.R.: Habitual routines in task-performing groups. Organ. Behav. Hum. Decis. Process. 47, 65–97 (1990).
Pentland, B.T., Hærem, T.: Organizational routines as patterns of action: Implications for organizational behavior. Annu. Rev. Organ. Psychol. Organ. Behav. 2, 465–487 (2015).
de Holan, P.M., Phillips, N.: Remembrance of things past? The dynamics of organizational forgetting. Manage. Sci. 50, 1603–1613 (2004).
de Holan, P.M., Phillips, N., Lawrence, T.B.: Managing organizational forgetting. MIT Sloan Manag. Rev. 45, 45 (2004).
Miller, K.D., Pentland, B.T., Choi, S.: Dynamics of performing and remembering organizational routines. J. Manag. Stud. 49, 1536–1558 (2012).
Fiol, C.M., O’Connor, E.J.: Unlearning established organizational routines - Part I. Learn. Organ. 24, 13–29 (2017).
Cohen, M.D., Bacdayan, P.: Organizational routines are stored as procedural memory: Evidence from a laboratory study. Organ. Sci. 5, 554–568 (1994).
Gronlund, S.D., Kimball, D.R.: Remembering and Forgetting: From the Laboratory Looking Out. In: Individual and Team Skill Decay. pp. 38–76. Routledge (2013).
Nairne, J.S., Pandeirada, J.N.S.: Forgetting. In: Roediger, H.L. (ed.) Learning and Memory: A Comprehensive Reference. pp. 179–194. Elsevier, Oxford (2008).
Kluge, A., Schüffler, A.S., Thim, C., Vladova, G., Gronau, N.: Putting Intentional Organisational Forgetting to an Empirical Test: Using Experimental Designs to Measure Forgetting of Organisational Routines. In: Proceedings of the IFKAD Conference. pp. 245–267. , Technical University of Delft (2018).
Oinas-Kukkonen, H., Harjumaa, M.: Persuasive systems design: key issues, process model and system features. In: Routledge Handbook of Policy Design. pp. 105–123. Routledge (2018).
Carden, L., Wood, W.: Habit formation and change. Curr. Opin. Behav. Sci. 20, 117–122 (2018).
Wood, W., Rünger, D.: Psychology of habit. Annu. Rev. Psychol. 67, 289–314 (2016).
Adriaanse, M.A., Gollwitzer, P.M., De Ridder, D.T.D., De Wit, J.B.F., Kroese, F.M.: Breaking habits with implementation intentions: A test of underlying processes. Personal. Soc. Psychol. Bull. 37, 502–513 (2011).
Gollwitzer, P.M.: Implementation intentions: strong effects of simple plans. Am. Psychol. 54, 493 (1999).
Quinn, J.M., Pascoe, A., Wood, W., Neal, D.T.: Can’t control yourself? Monitor those bad habits. Personal. Soc. Psychol. Bull. 36, 499–511 (2010).
Gardner, B.: A review and analysis of the use of ‘habit’in understanding, predicting and influencing health-related behaviour. Health Psychol. Rev. 9, 277–295 (2015).
Breuer, C., Hüffmeier, J., Hertel, G.: Does trust matter more in virtual teams? A meta-analysis of trust and team effectiveness considering virtuality and documentation as moderators. J. Appl. Psychol. 101, 1151 (2016).
Endsley, M.R.: Designing for situation awareness: An approach to user-centered design. CRC press (2016).
Ellwart, T., Kluge, A.: Psychological Perspectives on Intentional Forgetting. An Overview of Concepts and Literature. Manuscr. Submitt. Publ. (2018).
Kluge, A., Gronau, N.: Intentional Forgetting in Organizations: The Importance of Eliminating Retrieval Cues for Implementing New Routines. Front. Psychol. 9, 51 (2018).
Venkatesh, V., Bala, H.: Technology Acceptance Model 3 and a Research Agenda on Interventions. Decis. Sci. 39, 273–315 (2008).
Golding, J.M., MacLeod, C.M.: Intentional forgetting: Interdisciplinary approaches. Psychology Press (2013).
Macleod, M.D., Bjork, R.A., Bjork, E.L.: Types and Consequences of Forgetting: Intended and Unintended. In: Memory and Society. pp. 144–168. Psychology Press (2013).
Anderson, M.C., Hanslmayr, S.: Neural mechanisms of motivated forgetting. Trends Cogn. Sci. 18, 279–292 (2014).
Brand, M., Markowitsch, H.J.: Forgetting: A historical perspective. In: Forgetting. pp. 37–48. Psychology Press (2010).
Roediger III, H.L., Weinstein, Y., Agarwal, P.K.: Forgetting: preliminary considerations. In: Forgetting. pp. 15–36. Psychology Press (2010).
DeChurch, L.A., Mesmer-Magnus, J.R.: The cognitive underpinnings of effective teamwork: a meta-analysis. J. Appl. Psychol. 95, 32–52 (2010).
Ellwart, T., Konradt, U., Rack, O.: Team mental models of expertise location: Validation of a field survey measure. Small Gr. Res. 45, 119–153 (2014).
Zajac, S., Gregory, M.E., Bedwell, W.L., Kramer, W.S., Salas, E.: The cognitive underpinnings of adaptive team performance in ill-defined task situations: A closer look at team cognition. Organ. Psychol. Rev. 4, 49–73 (2014).
Fiol, C.M., O’Connor, E.J.: Unlearning established organizational routines–Part II. Learn. Organ. 24, 82–92 (2017).
Huber, G.P.: Organizational learning: The contributing processes and the literatures. Organ. Sci. 2, 88–115 (1991).
Tsang, E.W.K., Zahra, S.A.: Organizational unlearning. Hum. Relations. 61, 1435–1462 (2008).
Hollingshead, A.B.: Retrieval processes in transactive memory systems. J. Pers. Soc. Psychol. 74, 659 (1998).
Frings, C., Dengel, A., Niedernée, C., Tempel, T.: Managed Forgetting. Sustaining Grass-roots Organizational Memories: Foundations and methods of Managed Forgetting for Knowledge Workers [Scholarly project].
Niessen, C., Schmid, U.: Dare2Del . Internal and external IF – Empirical studies and development of an assist system for IF of digital information [Scholarly project].
Hertel, G., Becker, J.: Trustful Forgetting: Motivational and emotional influences on intentional forgetting in organizations [Scholarly project].
Ellwart, T., Antoni, C.H., Timm, I.J.: Adaptive forgetting by emergent knowledge structures in socio-technical systems [Scholarly project], http://www.spp1921.de:8442/projekte/p1.html.de.
Kluge, A., Gronau, N.: IF, Routines & Retrieval Cues [Scholarly project].
Sonnentag, S., Weyers, B.: iVAA. IF of everyday work behavior: Assessment, formalization, and integration into interactive systems [Scholarly project].
Mcknight, D.H., Carter, M., Thatcher, J.B., Clay, P.F.: Trust in a specific technology: An investigation of its components and measures. ACM Trans. Manag. Inf. Syst. 2, 12 (2011).
Ragu-Nathan, T.S., Tarafdar, M., Ragu-Nathan, B.S., Tu, Q.: Consequences of Technostress for End Users in Organizatios: Conceptual Development and Empirical Validation. Inf. Syst. Res. 19, 417–433 (2008).
Venkatesh, V., Thong, J.Y.L., Xu, X.: Unified theory of acceptance and use of technology: A synthesis and the road ahead. J. Assoc. Inf. Syst. 17, 328–376 (2016).
Schaefer, K.E., Chen, J.Y.C., Szalma, J.L., Hancock, P.A.: A meta-analysis of factors influencing the development of trust in automation: Implications for understanding autonomy in future systems. Hum. Factors. 58, 377–400 (2016).
Venkatesh, V., Davis, F.D.: A theoretical extension of the technology acceptance model: Four longitudinal field studies. Manage. Sci. 46, 186–204 (2000).
Parasuraman, R., Sheridan, T.B., Wickens, C.D.: A model for types and levels of human interaction with automation. IEEE Trans. Syst. man, Cybern. A Syst. Humans. 30, 286–297 (2000).
Anderson, M.C.: Rethinking interference theory: Executive control and the mechanisms of forgetting. J. Mem. Lang. 49, 415–445 (2003).
Hinsz, V.B., Tindale, R.S., Vollrath, D.A.: The emerging conceptualization of groups as information processors. Psychol. Bull. 121, 43 (1997).
Mathieu, J., Maynard, M.T., Rapp, T., Gilson, L.: Team effectiveness 1997-2007: A review of recent advancements and a glimpse into the future. J. Manage. 34, 410–476 (2008).
Maus, H., Jilek, C., Schwarz, S.: Remembering and forgetting for personal preservation. In: Personal Multimedia Preservation: Remembering or Forgetting Images and Video. pp. 233–277. Springer (2018).
Siebers, M., Schmid, U., Göbel, K., Niessen, C.: A Psychonic Approach to the Design of a Cognitive Companion Supporting Intentional Forgetting. In: 6. Workshop Kognitive Systeme: Mensch, Teams, Systeme und Automaten (2017).
Beierle, C., Kern-Isberner, G.: Methoden wissensbasierter Systeme. Springer (2003).
Lang, J.W.B., Bliese, P.D.: General mental ability and two types of adaptation to unforeseen change: Applying discontinuous growth models to the task-change paradigm. J. Appl. Psychol. 94, 411 (2009).
LePine, J.A., Colquitt, J.A., Erez, A.: Adaptability to changing task contexts: Effects of general cognitive ability, conscientiousness, and openness to experience. Pers. Psychol. 53, 563–593 (2000).
Doomen, J.: Information Inflation. J. Infor. Ethics. 18, 10 (2009).
Easterby-Smith, M., Lyles, M.A.: In praise of organizational forgetting. J. Manag. Inq. 20, 311–316 (2011).
Eppler, M.J., Mengis, J.: The concept of information overload: A review of literature from organization science, accounting, marketing, MIS, and related disciplines. Inf. Soc. 20, 325–344 (2004).
Bjork, R.A.: Positive forgetting: The noninterference of items intentionally forgotten. (1970).
Becker, J., Beverungen, D., Knackstedt, R., Müller, O.: Pricing of Value Bundles-A Multi-Perspective Decision Support Approach. Enterp. Model. Inf. Syst. Archit. Int. J. Vol. 6, Nr. 2. (2011).
Meeßen, S.M., Thielsch, M.T., Hertel, G.: Trust in management information systems (MIS): A theoretical model. Manuscr. Submitt. Publ. (2018).
Thielsch, M.T., Meeßen, S.M., Hertel, G.: Trust and distrust in information systems at the workplace. PeerJ. 6, e5483 (2018).
Hertel, G., Meeßen, S.M., Riehle, D., Thielsch, M.T., Nohe, C., Becker, J.: Directed forgetting in organizations: The positive effects of decision support systems on mental resources and well-being. Manuscr. Submitt. Publ. (2018).
Daft, R.L., Weick, K.E.: Toward a model of organizations as interpretation systems. Acad. Manag. Rev. 9, 284–295 (1984).
Walsh, J.P., Ungson, G.R.: Organizational memory. Acad. Manag. Rev. 16, 57–91 (1991).
Gersick, C.J.G., Hackman, J.R.: Habitual routines in task-performing groups. Organ. Behav. Hum. Decis. Process. 47, 65–97 (1990).
Pentland, B.T., Hærem, T.: Organizational routines as patterns of action: Implications for organizational behavior. Annu. Rev. Organ. Psychol. Organ. Behav. 2, 465–487 (2015).
de Holan, P.M., Phillips, N.: Remembrance of things past? The dynamics of organizational forgetting. Manage. Sci. 50, 1603–1613 (2004).
de Holan, P.M., Phillips, N., Lawrence, T.B.: Managing organizational forgetting. MIT Sloan Manag. Rev. 45, 45 (2004).
Miller, K.D., Pentland, B.T., Choi, S.: Dynamics of performing and remembering organizational routines. J. Manag. Stud. 49, 1536–1558 (2012).
Fiol, C.M., O’Connor, E.J.: Unlearning established organizational routines - Part I. Learn. Organ. 24, 13–29 (2017).
Cohen, M.D., Bacdayan, P.: Organizational routines are stored as procedural memory: Evidence from a laboratory study. Organ. Sci. 5, 554–568 (1994).
Gronlund, S.D., Kimball, D.R.: Remembering and Forgetting: From the Laboratory Looking Out. In: Individual and Team Skill Decay. pp. 38–76. Routledge (2013).
Nairne, J.S., Pandeirada, J.N.S.: Forgetting. In: Roediger, H.L. (ed.) Learning and Memory: A Comprehensive Reference. pp. 179–194. Elsevier, Oxford (2008).
Kluge, A., Schüffler, A.S., Thim, C., Vladova, G., Gronau, N.: Putting Intentional Organisational Forgetting to an Empirical Test: Using Experimental Designs to Measure Forgetting of Organisational Routines. In: Proceedings of the IFKAD Conference. pp. 245–267. , Technical University of Delft (2018).
Oinas-Kukkonen, H., Harjumaa, M.: Persuasive systems design: key issues, process model and system features. In: Routledge Handbook of Policy Design. pp. 105–123. Routledge (2018).
Carden, L., Wood, W.: Habit formation and change. Curr. Opin. Behav. Sci. 20, 117–122 (2018).
Wood, W., Rünger, D.: Psychology of habit. Annu. Rev. Psychol. 67, 289–314 (2016).
Adriaanse, M.A., Gollwitzer, P.M., De Ridder, D.T.D., De Wit, J.B.F., Kroese, F.M.: Breaking habits with implementation intentions: A test of underlying processes. Personal. Soc. Psychol. Bull. 37, 502–513 (2011).
Gollwitzer, P.M.: Implementation intentions: strong effects of simple plans. Am. Psychol. 54, 493 (1999).
Quinn, J.M., Pascoe, A., Wood, W., Neal, D.T.: Can’t control yourself? Monitor those bad habits. Personal. Soc. Psychol. Bull. 36, 499–511 (2010).
Gardner, B.: A review and analysis of the use of ‘habit’in understanding, predicting and influencing health-related behaviour. Health Psychol. Rev. 9, 277–295 (2015).
Breuer, C., Hüffmeier, J., Hertel, G.: Does trust matter more in virtual teams? A meta-analysis of trust and team effectiveness considering virtuality and documentation as moderators. J. Appl. Psychol. 101, 1151 (2016).
Endsley, M.R.: Designing for situation awareness: An approach to user-centered design. CRC press (2016).
Published
2019-05-08
How to Cite
[1]
Ellwart, T., Ulfert, A.-S., Antoni, C.H., Becker, J., Frings, C., Göbel, K., Hertel, G., Kluge, A., Meeßen, S.M., Niessen, C., Nohe, C., Riehle, D.M., Runge, Y., Schmid, U., Schüffler, A., Siebers, M., Sonnentag, S., Tempel, T., Thielsch, M.T. and Wehrt, W. 2019. Intentional Forgetting in Socio-Digital Work Systems: System Characteristics and User-related Psychological Consequences on Emotion, Cognition, and Behavior. AIS Transactions on Enterprise Systems. 4, 1 (May 2019). DOI:https://doi.org/10.30844/aistes.v4i1.16.
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