Understanding the Hidden Cost of Turnover in the Age of AI
In an editorial published in the journal Management & Data Science, Romain Zerbib, researcher and lecturer at ICD Business School, explores a still largely overlooked but strategic issue for organisations: the erosion of collective understanding in highly automated environments.
The Cognitive Cost: a Blind Spot of Automation
In his article When Departures Weaken Automation: the New Cost of Turnover, Romain Zerbib highlights a frequently underestimated phenomenon. As artificial intelligence and automated systems increasingly structure organisational processes, each departure may lead to the loss of the underlying logic behind their design. Systems continue to operate, but the reasons behind choices, thresholds and trade-offs gradually fade, weakening organisations’ ability to fully understand their own decisions.
A Reflection at the Heart of Contemporary Management Challenges
Drawing on concrete situations and academic references, this editorial questions organisations’ ability to maintain cognitive continuity despite employee turnover. It highlights the key role played by profiles capable of articulating data, rules and decisions, as well as the shared responsibility of managers and HR professionals in preserving this strategic memory. This reflection is particularly relevant at a time when automation has become a cornerstone of organisational governance.
Research as a Driver of Student Learning
This publication illustrates ICD Business School’s strong commitment to research connected to real business challenges. The work of its researcher-lecturers directly feeds into teaching, helps students develop a critical perspective on digital tools, and prepares them to navigate the complexity of contemporary organisations. Publishing such analyses in specialised academic journals represents a significant asset for the education of future managers.
Conclusion
By exploring the cognitive cost of turnover in the age of automation, Romain Zerbib’s editorial reminds us that sustainable performance relies as much on technology as on collective understanding. This conviction is fully shared by ICD Business School, which places research at the heart of pedagogy and student employability.
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