The Automation of Management Decisions: A Systematic Review and Research Agenda of the Factors Influencing the Decision to Increase the Level of Automation

Driven by promises of better and quicker decision-making, research on applications of technologies such as artificial intelligence in automating management decisions is increasing. However, the factors influencing the decision to increase the level of automation of a given management decision have remained a sidenote in the literature. In this systematic literature review, we organize these factors from the fragmented and heterogeneous research landscape concerned with automating management decisions. Using a systematically derived sample of research, we categorize and distill a multitude of factors into four themes: goals, foundations, design considerations, and application. We propose positive influences of six factors and a negative influence of one, namely costs, on the decision to increase the level of automation of a management decision. Finally, based on these propositions, we derive an agenda to guide future research.