Factors critical to the organisational adoption of artificial intelligence : a South African perspective.

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to understand the factors critical to the organisation level adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) based technologies in a South African context. Considering the emerging nature of AI based technologies and the relative immaturity of extant academic studies at the intersection of AI and the business context, the current study finds salience in its propensity to support senior management in the considerations that they must make when tackling the AI based adoption decision. Considering the relative immaturity of extant studies an exploratory qualitative approach was adopted to support the direction of inquiry. The principle findings include the identification of salient Technological, Organisational and Environmental factors that must be considered when electing to adopt AI based technology. Implications for managers in the South African context are the presentation as findings of localised factors for consideration to support the AI based adoption decision.