Human Capital Innovations

Work in Progress: Deep Dive

Business EN ↓ 249 episodes

Work in Progress: Deep Dive is your behind-the-scenes look at the evolving workplace through the lens of cutting-edge research and real-world insights. Join two dynamic cohosts as they dive into Dr. Jonathan H. Westover's latest articles and research, unpacking the big ideas shaping HR, leadership, change management, and work redesign today. Each episode blends thoughtful analysis with lively conversation, breaking down complex workplace trends into practical takeaways you can actually use. Whether you're a leader navigating organizational change, an HR professional reimagining talent strategy...

Author

Human Capital Innovations

Category

Business

Podcast website

art19.com

Latest episode

Jul 10, 2026

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Episodes

A Conversation about the Strategic Shift: AI-Enabled Insourcing and Corporate Capability Building 21.05.2026

This research explores a strategic shift in corporate operations, where organizations are increasingly insourcing functions like legal services, marketing, and software development. By leveraging artificial intelligence, small internal teams can now achieve the high-volume output previously only possible through external agencies or vendors. This transition allows companies to capture productivity...

A Conversation about Bridging the Transfer Gap Through Social Support and Networks 20.05.2026

Despite significant investments in workplace training, a stubborn gap often prevents employees from applying new skills to their daily tasks. Recent research suggests that the most effective way to close this gap is to view training transfer and knowledge sharing as parallel social processes rather than individual burdens. Success depends heavily on social support, as active encouragement from sup...

A Conversation about the Centaur Organization: Designing Human–AI Symbiosis 18.05.2026

This research advocates for a symbiotic relationship between humans and artificial intelligence, moving away from the common trend of using technology solely for labor replacement. By examining the complementary strengths of both parties, the author proposes the "centaur organization" where AI handles computational complexity while humans manage ambiguity and ethical judgment. The research outline...

A Conversation about Moving Beyond the Demographic Cliff: Strategic Higher Education Transformation 18.05.2026

This research examines the structural transformation currently reshaping United States higher education as institutions navigate a significant demographic cliff. Driven by a declining birth rate and eroding public confidence, many colleges face severe financial strain and are moving away from the traditional model of offering a comprehensive menu of programs. To survive, schools are implementing s...

A Conversation about the Control Tax: Designing for Judgment Over Oversight 17.05.2026

This research explores the concept of the control tax, which represents the hidden organizational costs incurred when leaders stifle high-performing talent through excessive oversight and micro-management. By prioritizing surveillance and strict approvals over autonomy, companies inadvertently trigger disengagement and the loss of their most capable employees. The research argues that trust is not...

A Conversation about the Human-Centered Algorithm: Leadership and Dignity in the Digital Age 16.05.2026

This research explores the rise of algorithmic leadership, a management style where computational systems and AI perform roles traditionally held by human managers. While these systems offer immense operational efficiency and scalability, they often lead to dehumanization by treating workers as data points and eroding their professional autonomy. To counter these negative effects, the research pro...

A Conversation about Human-Centered AI: Strategic Imperatives for Algorithmic Workforce Fairness 15.05.2026

This research explores the strategic necessity of human-centered AI in modern workplaces to ensure organizational fairness and maintain employee trust. As algorithms increasingly manage high-stakes decisions like hiring and promotions, the researcg argues that companies must prioritize transparency, explainability, and human oversight to mitigate bias and anxiety. The research emphasizes that a wo...

A Conversation about Ethical AI in Recruitment: Mitigating Algorithmic Bias 14.05.2026

This research explores the ethical complexities and strategic implementation of artificial intelligence within modern recruitment processes. While these technologies offer enhanced efficiency and standardized evaluations, they frequently inherit and amplify historical biases found in original training data. The research argues that true fairness cannot be achieved through technical adjustments alo...

A Conversation about Human-Centric AI and Employment Equity 14.05.2026

This research explores the integration of human-centric artificial intelligence within the workplace, focusing on how design and governance influence employment equity. While AI can improve efficiency in recruitment and evaluation, the research warns that algorithmic bias and opaque decision-making risk damaging employee trust and morale. Organizations can foster a sense of procedural justice by i...

A Conversation about Leading Algorithmic Authority: Ethical AI Governance as Legitimacy Infrastructure 13.05.2026

This research explores the transition of artificial intelligence from a mere operational tool into a foundational source of algorithmic authority that dictates critical life outcomes. The research argues that ethical AI governance must move beyond simple compliance checklists to become a robust legitimacy infrastructure integrated into leadership strategy. This approach emphasizes procedural justi...

A Conversation about the Global Lens of Authentic Leadership 12.05.2026

This article explores the complex relationship between authentic leadership and cultural diversity, arguing that the effectiveness of "being oneself" depends heavily on local values. While self-awareness and transparency generally foster trust and engagement, these behaviors can be misinterpreted as weakness or unprofessionalism in cultures that prioritize hierarchy or collective harmony. To resol...

A Conversation about the New Frontier of Workplace Emotional Surveillance 11.05.2026

This research examines the rise of emotional surveillance, where businesses use artificial intelligence to analyze employee moods, facial expressions, and vocal tones in real time. While proponents claim these tools boost productivity and mental health, the research highlights significant risks, including algorithmic bias, the erosion of workplace privacy, and psychological stress. The research su...

A Conversation about the Hidden Costs of Anthropomorphizing Artificial Intelligence at Work 11.05.2026

This research explores the negative organizational impacts of treating artificial intelligence as a formal teammate or employee rather than a productivity tool. While giving AI agents names and positions on an organizational chart may seem like a helpful way to normalize technology, it often leads to diffused accountability and a significant decline in error detection. Managers working alongside "...

A Conversation about Legitimizing Algorithmic Authority: AI Governance in Volatile Environments 11.05.2026

This research examines the shift of artificial intelligence from a mere tool to a primary decision-making infrastructure that profoundly impacts human lives. The research argues that traditional ethical frameworks often fail because they incorrectly assume social and technical stability. Instead, the research proposes a leadership-centered model focused on Sensing, Stabilizing, and Legitimizing to...

A Conversation about Cultivating Human-AI Fit for Adaptive Performance in Knowledge Work 09.05.2026

This research explores the concept of human-AI fit, focusing on how organizations can align generative artificial intelligence with the cognitive habits and professional judgment of knowledge workers. It argues that successful integration requires moving beyond simple automation toward adaptive performance, where users and machines engage in a continuous process of mutual adaptation. The research...

A Conversation about Managing the Machines: Organizational Design for Multi-Agent AI 08.05.2026

This research explores how management theory and organizational design provide a necessary framework for governing multi-agent AI systems. While technical metaphors focus on software architecture, the author argues that these systems actually face human-like organizational pathologies, such as ambiguous authority and coordination breakdowns. By applying concepts like&...

A Conversation about the Asymmetric Power of Algorithmic Moral Influence 07.05.2026

Research indicates that artificial intelligence exerts a unique directional influence on human ethics, successfully encouraging prosocial behaviors while failing to promote antisocial actions. Unlike cognitive tasks where people often defer blindly to technology, individuals seem to use algorithmic advice as a permission structure that reinforces existing po...

A Conversation about Redefining HRM: From Human Capital to Human Experience 06.05.2026

This research explores the fundamental shift in Human Resource Management from a traditional focus on human capital to a holistic emphasis on the human experience. Driven by the rapid integration of artificial intelligence, this transformation allows organizations to move beyond simple productivity metrics toward prioritizing employee wellbeing, purpose, and enga...

A Conversation about the The LLM Fallacy: Navigating the Illusion of AI Competence 05.05.2026

This research explores the LLM fallacy, a cognitive error where individuals mistake the high-quality output of generative AI for their own independent expertise. This illusion of competence creates significant organizational risks, as traditional performance metrics fail to distinguish between AI-assisted results and genuine human skill. The research details how the seamlessnes...

A Conversation about the Agentic Edge: Mastering AI and Human Collaboration 04.05.2026

The provided text explores how autonomous AI agents are fundamentally restructuring the modern workplace by moving beyond simple content generation to executing complex, multi-step tasks. Early adopters are achieving significant competitive advantages, including massive productivity gains of over thirty hours per worker each week, while simultaneously fostering innovation and t...

A Conversation about the Scholar-Practitioner Pipeline: Bridging the HRD Research-Practice Gap 04.05.2026

This research explores the persistent disconnect between academic research and real-world application within the field of Human Resource Development (HRD). This systemic gap arises from misaligned incentives, where scholars prioritize theoretical novelty for tenure while practitioners require actionable, accessible solutions for immediate organizational challenges. Th...

A Conversation about the Cognitive Compass: Navigating Performance and Human Sustainability 03.05.2026

This research explores the critical challenge of managing high cognitive demands in the modern workplace to ensure human sustainability. It emphasizes that when environmental cues align with assigned goals, organizations can boost productivity without exhausting employees' mental resources. Conversely, misalignment between objectives and surroundings creates...

A Conversation about Designing Evidence-Based Organizational Interventions for Workplace Wellbeing 01.05.2026

This research evaluates organizational-level interventions designed to enhance employee wellbeing by modifying the psychosocial work environment. Research indicates that strategies providing workers with greater control over their schedules and influence over work organization are particularly effective at reducing burnout and improving work-life balance. Co...

A Conversation about the AI Competitive Trap: Addressing Market Failure and Automation Externality 30.04.2026

This research explores the economic risks of rapid AI adoption, specifically focusing on a market failure where firms automate beyond optimal levels. The research argues that competitive pressure forces companies into an automation arms race, as individual firms prioritize cost savings while ignoring the collective loss of consumer purchasing power. While strategies like&n...

A Conversation about Navigating the AI Transition: A Multidimensional Workforce Framework 29.04.2026

This research explores a multidimensional framework for assessing how artificial intelligence will reshape the labor market, moving beyond simple technical exposure. The research argue that predicting employment shifts requires evaluating human necessity, demand elasticity, and actual usage patterns alongside theoretical AI capabilities. While early data shows mi...

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