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New technology and in-store service encounters: An analysis of coping practices and work experiences among frontline employees

Bäckström, Kristina LU (2023) In International Review of Retail Distribution & Consumer Research 33(5). p.494-518
Abstract
The digital transformation is rapidly changing in-store service settings. This paper explores how frontline employees experience and cope with technology-related challenges. Based on a qualitative approach and the use of observations and interviews, this research advances our understanding of how such coping is performed in retail stores and how it contributes to defining employees’ work experiences. The paper shows that employees engage in multiple coping practices; involving different forms of problem-solving, but also more proactive coping activities through which employees reconstruct their work. Moreover, the findings improve our understanding of how coping activities contribute to shaping retail work; thus illustrating how employees’... (More)
The digital transformation is rapidly changing in-store service settings. This paper explores how frontline employees experience and cope with technology-related challenges. Based on a qualitative approach and the use of observations and interviews, this research advances our understanding of how such coping is performed in retail stores and how it contributes to defining employees’ work experiences. The paper shows that employees engage in multiple coping practices; involving different forms of problem-solving, but also more proactive coping activities through which employees reconstruct their work. Moreover, the findings improve our understanding of how coping activities contribute to shaping retail work; thus illustrating how employees’ in-store work practices are altered as they cope with new technology. The paper demonstrates that the organizational support that employees receive (e.g. available IT support, opportunities to learn from co-workers) is crucial to how technology-related coping is performed and experienced. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
retail digitalization, frontline employees, work experience, coping, job crafting
in
International Review of Retail Distribution & Consumer Research
volume
33
issue
5
pages
494 - 518
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:85175193046
ISSN
0959-3969
DOI
10.1080/09593969.2023.2271191
project
Service Studies Consumption
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
44657bee-39f0-47e2-914e-a4fd06a7d19d
date added to LUP
2023-11-30 09:07:38
date last changed
2024-01-10 09:20:52
@article{44657bee-39f0-47e2-914e-a4fd06a7d19d,
  abstract     = {{The digital transformation is rapidly changing in-store service settings. This paper explores how frontline employees experience and cope with technology-related challenges. Based on a qualitative approach and the use of observations and interviews, this research advances our understanding of how such coping is performed in retail stores and how it contributes to defining employees’ work experiences. The paper shows that employees engage in multiple coping practices; involving different forms of problem-solving, but also more proactive coping activities through which employees reconstruct their work. Moreover, the findings improve our understanding of how coping activities contribute to shaping retail work; thus illustrating how employees’ in-store work practices are altered as they cope with new technology. The paper demonstrates that the organizational support that employees receive (e.g. available IT support, opportunities to learn from co-workers) is crucial to how technology-related coping is performed and experienced.}},
  author       = {{Bäckström, Kristina}},
  issn         = {{0959-3969}},
  keywords     = {{retail digitalization; frontline employees; work experience; coping; job crafting}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{10}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{494--518}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{International Review of Retail Distribution & Consumer Research}},
  title        = {{New technology and in-store service encounters: An analysis of coping practices and work experiences among frontline employees}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09593969.2023.2271191}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/09593969.2023.2271191}},
  volume       = {{33}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}