Yifan X. Miller
I study how organizations design and manage AI and automation systems— why some succeed while others underperform or create unexpected cost down the line — and what that means for organizational leaders to design, staff, and manage around new technology.
Based on embedded fieldwork inside robotics labs, cross-disciplinary science teams, and community-centered technology projects, my research identifies the coordination and support work that automation and systems depend on but left unaccounted.
I hold a Ph.D. in Organizational Communication and Technology from University of Texas at Austin. I translate these findings into practical guidance for organizational leaders shaping how new technology gets built and adopted.
UPDATES:
June, 2026: Check out my new article "Who’s actually running that robot?" (Boston Globe)
This article points out that technological innovation is not nearly as promising as social media headlines may lead you to believe. Through the lens of a humanoid robotics team, it discusses labor and important organizational implications of designing and implementing advanced technologies.
Explore My Work
Below is a list of selected areas of work, navigate in the top menu bar for the full range of my work
Technology Management
The Human Infrastructure of Automation
What a robotics lab's hidden labor reveals about innovation strategy and design practice
This work applies field-based inquiry to close the gap between what a new technology promises and what it takes to actually build, launch, and sustain it.
Organizational Design
The Hidden Work of Innovation
In this area, I conduct organizational diagnostics that uncover how cross-functional teams actually coordinate and collaborate, connecting people, processes, and organizational dynamics to outcomes that traditional metrics often miss.
Human-Centered Design & UX Research
Flood Management: A Community Co-Creation Approach
Public decisions about infrastructure and resource allocation are increasingly driven by data. However, communities that lack the resources or tools to generate and communicate data about their experiences can become invisible in decision-making processes.
This work uses embedded field research to transform community data into a flood map that communicated local experiences and needs to external stakeholders
Communication Training & Development
The Communication Side of Burnout
For training and development, I help leaders and organizations navigate complexity by translating research into practical strategies, tools, and learning experiences. Areas of focus include leadership development, strategic communication, crisis and disaster management, and effective human-AI collaboration.
