Abstract
Despite the growing embeddedness of information systems (IS) in organisational contexts and everyday life, our understanding of how humans develop reliance on these systems remains limited. To address this gap, this paper conducts a systematic literature review and provides a synthesis of the IS literature on technological reliance and over-reliance. Reliance is defined as a relationship in which technology becomes costly to replace in accomplishing specific tasks, while over-reliance emerges when mindlessness develops within such relationships. We propose a theoretical framework that organises technological reliance across four key elements: technology, task, people, and organisational structure, and conceptualises reliance along two dimensions: dependence on technology and human control over outcomes. Finally, we discuss the dynamic interactions among the evolving roles and responsibilities of IT systems and users, path dependence, skill dynamics, and the “will to optimisation” as a catalyst in transitional dynamics, as well as the potential consequences of over-reliance.