A Complex Leadership Perspective on Generative AI Adoption in SMEs: The Interplay of TAM, TMT, and RBV

Although Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is one of the strategic choices for digital transformation in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), its adoption remains constrained by leadership decision-making that must balance strategic aspirations with resource limitations and organizati...

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Authors: Penarroya-Farell, Montserrat, Vaziri, Maryam, Soto Rivera, Sasha Katalina, Miralles, Francesc
Format: article
Publication Date:2025
Country:España
Institution:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repository:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:20.500.14342/5971
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14342/5971
https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci15120494
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:GenAI
SMEs
Leadership behavior
Technology adoption
Strategic alignnment
Complexity theory
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62
65
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spelling A Complex Leadership Perspective on Generative AI Adoption in SMEs: The Interplay of TAM, TMT, and RBVPenarroya-Farell, MontserratVaziri, MaryamSoto Rivera, Sasha KatalinaMiralles, FrancescGenAISMEsLeadership behaviorTechnology adoptionStrategic alignnmentComplexity theory0046265Although Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is one of the strategic choices for digital transformation in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), its adoption remains constrained by leadership decision-making that must balance strategic aspirations with resource limitations and organizational inertia. Organizational leadership must face the dynamic and complex characteristics of digital transformation in the knowledge era. Drawing on Complexity Theory and integrating the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Temporal Motivation Theory (TMT), and the Resource-Based View (RBV), this study proposes a conceptual framework reflecting distinct strategic leadership orientations. Following a qualitative approach based on semi-structured interviews with SME leaders and an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) this conceptual framework contributes by reframing GenAI adoption as a complex, nonlinear process rather than a straightforward diffusion model, that includes four strategic profiles (Strategic Adopters, Aspiring Adopters, Opportunistic Adopters, and Operational Stabilizers) that affect a dynamic relationship between three key adoption dimensions: intention, motivation, and resource allocation. SME leaders can benefit from a delimitation of their strategic and operational goals while overcoming adoption barriers.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionMDPIUniversitat Ramon Llull. La Salle2025info:eu-repo/semantics/article23 p.http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14342/5971https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci15120494reponame:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunyainstname:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)InglésAdministrative Sciences, 2025. 15 (12)© L'autor/aAttribution 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:recercat.cat:20.500.14342/59712026-05-29T05:05:01Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv A Complex Leadership Perspective on Generative AI Adoption in SMEs: The Interplay of TAM, TMT, and RBV
title A Complex Leadership Perspective on Generative AI Adoption in SMEs: The Interplay of TAM, TMT, and RBV
spellingShingle A Complex Leadership Perspective on Generative AI Adoption in SMEs: The Interplay of TAM, TMT, and RBV
Penarroya-Farell, Montserrat
GenAI
SMEs
Leadership behavior
Technology adoption
Strategic alignnment
Complexity theory
004
62
65
title_short A Complex Leadership Perspective on Generative AI Adoption in SMEs: The Interplay of TAM, TMT, and RBV
title_full A Complex Leadership Perspective on Generative AI Adoption in SMEs: The Interplay of TAM, TMT, and RBV
title_fullStr A Complex Leadership Perspective on Generative AI Adoption in SMEs: The Interplay of TAM, TMT, and RBV
title_full_unstemmed A Complex Leadership Perspective on Generative AI Adoption in SMEs: The Interplay of TAM, TMT, and RBV
title_sort A Complex Leadership Perspective on Generative AI Adoption in SMEs: The Interplay of TAM, TMT, and RBV
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Penarroya-Farell, Montserrat
Vaziri, Maryam
Soto Rivera, Sasha Katalina
Miralles, Francesc
author Penarroya-Farell, Montserrat
author_facet Penarroya-Farell, Montserrat
Vaziri, Maryam
Soto Rivera, Sasha Katalina
Miralles, Francesc
author_role author
author2 Vaziri, Maryam
Soto Rivera, Sasha Katalina
Miralles, Francesc
author2_role author
author
author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv Universitat Ramon Llull. La Salle
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv GenAI
SMEs
Leadership behavior
Technology adoption
Strategic alignnment
Complexity theory
004
62
65
topic GenAI
SMEs
Leadership behavior
Technology adoption
Strategic alignnment
Complexity theory
004
62
65
description Although Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is one of the strategic choices for digital transformation in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), its adoption remains constrained by leadership decision-making that must balance strategic aspirations with resource limitations and organizational inertia. Organizational leadership must face the dynamic and complex characteristics of digital transformation in the knowledge era. Drawing on Complexity Theory and integrating the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Temporal Motivation Theory (TMT), and the Resource-Based View (RBV), this study proposes a conceptual framework reflecting distinct strategic leadership orientations. Following a qualitative approach based on semi-structured interviews with SME leaders and an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) this conceptual framework contributes by reframing GenAI adoption as a complex, nonlinear process rather than a straightforward diffusion model, that includes four strategic profiles (Strategic Adopters, Aspiring Adopters, Opportunistic Adopters, and Operational Stabilizers) that affect a dynamic relationship between three key adoption dimensions: intention, motivation, and resource allocation. SME leaders can benefit from a delimitation of their strategic and operational goals while overcoming adoption barriers.
publishDate 2025
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
format article
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14342/5971
https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci15120494
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14342/5971
https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci15120494
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv Administrative Sciences, 2025. 15 (12)
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv © L'autor/a
Attribution 4.0 International
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv © L'autor/a
Attribution 4.0 International
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv 23 p.
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv MDPI
publisher.none.fl_str_mv MDPI
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
instname:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
instname_str Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
reponame_str Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
collection Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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score 15,812429

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