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‘Cognitive and Emotional Overload: The dark side of Information Technologies, new book by Anne Rutkowski

Published: 13th December 2018 Last updated: 16th April 2019

In a new Routledge publication, Anne Rutkowski (TiSEM) and Carol Sanders (Association of Information Systems) take an in-depth view at IT's under-studied dark side and its dire consequences for individuals, organizations, and society. With theoretical underpinnings from the fields of cognitive psychology, management, and information systems, and supported by case studies, the idea of brain overload is defined and explored.

Discussing the negative consequences of technology on work substitution, technologically induced work-family conflicts, and organizational design as well as the initiatives to combat these, the authors go on to propose measurement approaches for capturing the IT-related overload. Aiming to better equip humans for dealing with new technologies, the book concludes by asking how IT processes may aid rather than hinder our cognitive functioning.

Book synopsis
We live in a world of limitless information. With technology advancing at an astonishingly fast pace, we are challenged to adapt to robotics and automated systems that threaten to replace us. Both at home and at work, an endless range of devices and Information Technology (IT) systems place demands upon our attention that human beings have never experienced before, but are our brains capable of processing it all?

Author information
Anne-Françoise Rutkowski is Professor in Management of Information at Tilburg University. Her research interests include information overload, decision-making, emotion, and the materiality of algorithms. Her background is in psychology. Her research has been published in Decision Support Systems, IEEE Computer, IEEE Software, Journal of Surgical Endoscopy, and MIS Quarterly.

Carol S. Saunders has received the LEO Award from the Association of Information Systems (AIS) and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Organizational Communication & Information Systems Division of the Academy of Management. She served or is serving on numerous editorial boards, including a three-year term as Editor-in-Chief of MIS Quarterly. Her articles appear in top-ranked management, information systems, computer science, and communication journals. She currently is the AIS Vice President of Publications.

Publication details
 Anne Rutkowski & Carol Saunders: Emotional and Cognitive Overload. The Dark Side of Information Technology, Routledge 2018, 170 p., ISBN 9781138053359