The Doorman Fallacy and Artificial Intelligence: Why Automating the Role of a Human May Not Be as Easy as Management Thinks
Managers often feel pressure to replace human effort with faster, cheaper mechanisms. The impulse is understandable, but the Doorman Fallacy warns against a narrow view of value. Automating a task that seems straightforward can miss layers of contribution.
This article explains why automating a human role isn’t as simple as it appears. It highlights how surface tasks mask deeper value, including tacit knowledge, social signals, and contextual judgment. The aim is to help you see real value beyond initial automation gains.
We’ll explore how human presence shapes security, recognition, and guest experience. You’ll learn to distinguish tangible outputs from hidden value and to map where automation truly adds value without erasing essential contributions. The discussion draws on insights from The Doorman Fallacy and related ideas about tacit value, surface value, and the costs of misjudging automation.
