Leslie P. Willcocks
Papers
15
Total Citations
1,081
H-Index
13
About
Leslie P. Willcocks is a world-leading authority on the future of work, digital labor, and the strategic management of automation. As Professor of Work, Technology, and Globalisation at the London School of Economics, he has fundamentally shaped how organizations understand and implement Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and cognitive technologies. His landmark research, including the widely-cited “Robo-Apocalypse Cancelled?” (over 200 citations), debunks the hype surrounding AI-driven job displacement, arguing instead for a future where humans and robots collaborate. Through in-depth case studies of early adopters like Telefónica O2 and Xchanging, Willcocks demonstrated that RPA can deliver exceptional returns on investment—often exceeding 200%—while making jobs more interesting. His work provides actionable frameworks for mitigating automation risks and scaling these technologies globally. With multiple papers exceeding 100 citations and a series of definitive books co-authored with Mary Lacity, Willcocks has established himself as the preeminent scholar guiding both academic thought and corporate practice through the automation revolution.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Robo-Apocalypse cancelled? Reframing the automation and future of work debate206 citations · 2020
- 2
- 3The IT function and robotic process automation127 citations · 2015
- 4Service automation robots and the future of work124 citations · 2016
- 5A New Approach to Automating Services120 citations · 2018
- 6Robotic Process Automation at Telefónica O2.67 citations · 2015
- 7Robotic process automation at Xchanging54 citations · 2015
- 8Robotic process and cognitive automation: the next phase54 citations · 2018
- 9
- 10Robotic process automation and risk mitigation: the definitive guide39 citations · 2017