{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,5]],"date-time":"2026-06-05T12:53:49Z","timestamp":1780664029870,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":65,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,30]],"date-time":"2026-01-30T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1769731200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Systems"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Based on Conservation of Resources (COR) theory and a socio-technical systems perspective, this study examines how technology-enacted abusive supervision (TAS) influences employees\u2019 counterproductive work behavior (CWB) in digitalized organizational contexts. Conceptualizing TAS as a system-embedded form of digitally mediated control, we argue that technology-amplified supervisory power constitutes a persistent resource threat that reshapes employees\u2019 behavioral regulation strategies. Using three-wave time-lagged survey data from 428 employees working in digital-intensive enterprises in China, we develop and test a moderated mediation model. The results indicate that TAS is positively associated with CWB, with defensive silence serving as a critical mediating mechanism. Although defensive silence may temporarily reduce interpersonal risk, it disrupts feedback and resource replenishment processes, leading to cumulative resource depletion and a higher likelihood of counterproductive behavior over time. Moreover, power distance significantly moderates this indirect effect, such that the mediating role of defensive silence is stronger among employees with higher-power-distance orientations. By integrating leadership research, COR theory, cultural value orientations, and a socio-technical systems perspective, this study advances our understanding of covert resistance and behavioral risk in technology-driven work systems and offers important implications for digital governance and sustainable organizational performance.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/systems14020145","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,30]],"date-time":"2026-01-30T08:19:38Z","timestamp":1769761178000},"page":"145","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["When Digital Power Backfires: A Systems Perspective on Technology-Enacted Abusive Supervision, Defensive Silence, and Counterproductive Work Behavior"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Hong","family":"Chen","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Global Business, Seokyeong University, Seoul 02717, Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-6442-368X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Zhaoqi","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Global Business, Seokyeong University, Seoul 02717, Republic of Korea"},{"name":"Department of Business, Gachon University, Seongnam 13120, Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,30]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4349","DOI":"10.3390\/su13084349","article-title":"Exploring the roles of self-efficacy and technical support in the relationship between techno-stress and counter-productivity","volume":"13","author":"Kim","year":"2021","journal-title":"Sustainability"},{"key":"ref_2","first-page":"35","article-title":"Counterproductive use of technology at work: Information & communications technologies and cyberdeviancy","volume":"20","author":"Weatherbee","year":"2010","journal-title":"Hum. 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