How does smart technology, artificial intelligence, automation, robotics, and algorithms (STAARA) awareness affect hotel employees’ career perceptions? A disruptive innovation theory perspective

ABSTRACT The extensive implementation of smart technology, artificial intelligence, automation, robotics, and algorithms (STAARA) in hospitality services has accelerated the need to understand their potential influence on hotel employees’ career perceptions. This study conducted two scenario-based experiments based on disruptive innovation theory and the Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) model to examine how STAARA awareness shapes hotel employees’ job insecurity and mobility. In addition, this study investigated career progression as a counterstrategy to attenuate the substitution effect of STAARA. Study 1 demonstrated that hotel employees’ negative (vs. positive) awareness of STAARA leads to higher job insecurity and mobility. Furthermore, according to Study 2, for hotel employees with low-level career progression, negative (vs. positive) awareness of STAARA induces higher job insecurity and mobility. However, among employees with high-level career progression, there were no significant differences, which means that high-level career progression attenuates the impact of STAARA. This study also considers theoretical and practical influences.