"Computer Says No": Algorithmic Decision Support and Organisational Responsibility

TL;DR

This paper explores how organizations can assign responsibility for decisions made with algorithmic decision support systems, offering guidelines and a digital tool to aid accountability in organizational settings.

Contribution

It addresses the gap in research on organizational responsibility for ADS and provides practical tools for responsibility mapping in organizations.

Findings

Identifies key issues of responsibility and accountability in ADS use.

Proposes guidelines for responsibility attribution in organizations.

Develops a digital tool to assist practitioners in responsibility mapping.

Abstract

Algorithmic decision support is increasingly used in a whole array of different contexts and structures in various areas of society, influencing many people's lives. Its use raises questions, among others, about accountability, transparency and responsibility. While there is substantial research on the issue of algorithmic systems and responsibility in general, there is little to no prior research on organisational responsibility and its attribution. Our article aims to fill that gap; we give a brief overview of the central issues connected to ADS, responsibility and decision-making in organisational contexts and identify open questions and research gaps. Furthermore, we describe a set of guidelines and a complementary digital tool to assist practitioners in mapping responsibility when introducing ADS within their organisational context.