Eivor Oborn

Royal Holloway University of London, Imperial College London

Papers

Total Citations

463

H-Index

About

Eivor Oborn is a leading scholar at the intersection of digital innovation, organizational change, and professional work, with a particular focus on health care. Her research illuminates how emerging technologies—especially robotics—reconfigure occupational boundaries, expertise, and service delivery. In her highly influential work, "Reconfiguring Boundary Relations: Robotic Innovations in Pharmacy Work" (416 citations), Oborn reveals how robotic systems reshape the roles and relationships of pharmacists, technicians, and assistants, challenging traditional hierarchies and professional jurisdictions. This foundational study demonstrates her ability to blend sociological theory with empirical insight into technology adoption. Her related work on robots and service innovation in health care (43 citations) critically synthesizes the literature to show how social and technical elements co-evolve, while her earlier study on dispensing technology (4 citations) traces the restructuring of hospital pharmacy work. Oborn’s contributions are vital for understanding how digital innovations transform expert work, collaboration, and organizational dynamics—offering essential lessons for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers navigating the future of work in technology-intensive settings.