Title: The influence of perceived transparency on the acceptance of work task automation: an example of recruiting chatbots in Germany

Authors: Judith Drebert; Sid Suntrayuth; Stephan Böhm

Addresses: ICO NIDA International College, National Institute of Development and Administration, 118 Moo3, Serithai Road, Klong-Chan, Bangkapi, Bangkok 10240, Thailand ' ICO NIDA International College, National Institute of Development and Administration, 118 Moo3, Serithai Road, Klong-Chan, Bangkapi, Bangkok 10240, Thailand ' CAEBUS Center of Advanced E-Business Studies, RheinMain University of Applied Sciences, Unter den Eichen 5, 65195 Wiesbaden, Germany

Abstract: This study aims to identify factors influencing recruiters' acceptance of chatbots deployed in their work processes as an example of work task automation technologies. The technology acceptance model (TAM3) was focused and adapted to fit this research context. The developed model examines the effects of the TAM3 aspects of perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, subjective norms, job relevance, output quality, self-efficacy, technology anxiety, chatbot experience, age, and perceived system transparency as newly introduced variables influencing the acceptance of recruiting chatbots. An online survey was conducted, yielding data from 250 recruiters from German companies, which was analysed via PLS-SEM modelling. The findings confirm that all the examined variables except age are significant. Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, subjective norms, job relevance, output quality, self-efficacy, chatbot anxiety, chatbot experience, and the proposed additional perceived system transparency have a significant effect on the behavioural intention to utilise a recruiting chatbot.

Keywords: automation; technology acceptance; TAM; TAM3; acceptance determinants; perceived system transparency; PST; chatbot; recruiting; recruiting chatbot; PLS-SEM; Germany.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHRDM.2023.129330

International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management, 2023 Vol.23 No.1, pp.45 - 72

Received: 26 Oct 2021
Received in revised form: 09 Aug 2022
Accepted: 05 Sep 2022
Published online: 06 Mar 2023 *

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