The principal–agent problem amid digital transformation

Despite the widespread use of digital technologies, the economic nature and essence of digital transformation remain understudied. The article examines the aspects of the principal–agent problem amid digital transformation, which implies replacing a person or analogue machines with digital technolog...

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Main Authors: Evgeny V. Popov, Viktoriya L. Simonova, Vitaly V. Cherepanov
Format: Article
Language:Russian
Published: Ural State University of Economics 2022-07-01
Series:Управленец
Subjects:
Online Access:https://upravlenets.usue.ru/en/issues-2022/1022
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author Evgeny V. Popov
Viktoriya L. Simonova
Vitaly V. Cherepanov
author_facet Evgeny V. Popov
Viktoriya L. Simonova
Vitaly V. Cherepanov
author_sort Evgeny V. Popov
collection DOAJ
description Despite the widespread use of digital technologies, the economic nature and essence of digital transformation remain understudied. The article examines the aspects of the principal–agent problem amid digital transformation, which implies replacing a person or analogue machines with digital technologies. Transformation is needed to gain additional economic advantages or improve the flexibility of the organization’s activities within the concept of Industry 4.0. The research demonstrates that the underlying economic reason for digital transformation is to solve the problem of information asymmetry and overcome the principal–agent conflict through the use of digital technologies. The concept of digital transformation and the principles of the principal–agent theory constitute the methodological basis of the study. Among the research methods were generalization, the inductive method of knowledge formation, and the assessment of the conclusions’ completeness with the involvement of theorists and practitioners in the field under consideration. The study allowed broadening the understanding of the principal–agent theory: establishing the roles of a human agent and a machine agent, as well as highlighting the essential economic aspects of digital transformation. The results obtained can be used to create digital transformation methodologies and research on the organization of labour in this field.
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spelling doaj.art-f30c6745fddc49cb9e4656e17086868a2022-12-22T04:02:42ZrusUral State University of EconomicsУправленец2218-50032686-79232022-07-0113321510.29141/2218-5003-2022-13-3-1 The principal–agent problem amid digital transformationEvgeny V. Popov0Viktoriya L. Simonova1Vitaly V. Cherepanov2Ural Institute of Management (RANEPA), Ekaterinburg, RussiaUral Institute of Management (RANEPA), Ekaterinburg, RussiaUral Institute of Management (RANEPA), Ekaterinburg, RussiaDespite the widespread use of digital technologies, the economic nature and essence of digital transformation remain understudied. The article examines the aspects of the principal–agent problem amid digital transformation, which implies replacing a person or analogue machines with digital technologies. Transformation is needed to gain additional economic advantages or improve the flexibility of the organization’s activities within the concept of Industry 4.0. The research demonstrates that the underlying economic reason for digital transformation is to solve the problem of information asymmetry and overcome the principal–agent conflict through the use of digital technologies. The concept of digital transformation and the principles of the principal–agent theory constitute the methodological basis of the study. Among the research methods were generalization, the inductive method of knowledge formation, and the assessment of the conclusions’ completeness with the involvement of theorists and practitioners in the field under consideration. The study allowed broadening the understanding of the principal–agent theory: establishing the roles of a human agent and a machine agent, as well as highlighting the essential economic aspects of digital transformation. The results obtained can be used to create digital transformation methodologies and research on the organization of labour in this field.https://upravlenets.usue.ru/en/issues-2022/1022digital transformationprincipal–agent problemmachine agenthuman agentdigital agentphysical agentinformation asymmetryprincipal–agent conflictdigital twin
spellingShingle Evgeny V. Popov
Viktoriya L. Simonova
Vitaly V. Cherepanov
The principal–agent problem amid digital transformation
Управленец
digital transformation
principal–agent problem
machine agent
human agent
digital agent
physical agent
information asymmetry
principal–agent conflict
digital twin
title The principal–agent problem amid digital transformation
title_full The principal–agent problem amid digital transformation
title_fullStr The principal–agent problem amid digital transformation
title_full_unstemmed The principal–agent problem amid digital transformation
title_short The principal–agent problem amid digital transformation
title_sort principal agent problem amid digital transformation
topic digital transformation
principal–agent problem
machine agent
human agent
digital agent
physical agent
information asymmetry
principal–agent conflict
digital twin
url https://upravlenets.usue.ru/en/issues-2022/1022
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