An Employee Focused Holistic Model for Ai Adoption in Smes Through Digital Transformation

Abstract

Recognizing the increasingly vital role of Artificial Intelligence (AI), this study explores the unique challenges from digital transformation to AI adoption within Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). Addressing the limitations of existing Digital Maturity Models and AI Maturity Models which often lack SME-specific perspectives, this paper presents an employee focused holistic AI model for SMEs (EAIMM). The model is rooted in the context of digital transformation and leverages technology acceptance and organizational change theories to identify the critical dimensions of AI adoption. Importantly, it integrates both acceptance and resistance models to capture the significant influence of individual perspectives in SMEs. In them, the significance of each employee is emphasized and directly affects organization´s success. The model emphasizes six key dimensions – Technology, Organization, Environment, People, Culture, and Strategy – to provide a balanced and nuanced understanding of technological adoption. The model presented here offers a practical tool for SMEs to strategically plan their AI adoption journey, considering both technical and human-centric factors.

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Digital Transformation, Digital Maturity Model, Technology Adoption, Organizational Change, AI Maturity Model