دور الذكاء القيادي في تبنّي الذكاء الاصطناعي بالمؤسسات الصغيرة والمتوسطة The Role of Leadership Intelligence in AI Adoption in SMEs

This study aimed to analyze the role of leadership intelligence in the adoption of AI within small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Oman by integrating the Five Leadership Quotients model (5Qs) with the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The study adopted a mixed methods approach, utilizing an electronic questionnaire distributed to 206 SMEs, in addition to in-depth interviews conducted with leaders and experts involved in digital transformation initiatives.
The findings revealed a significant relationship between specific dimensions of leadership intelligence and AI adoption. In particular, cognitive intelligence (IQ), resilience quotient (RQ), and moral intelligence (MQ) emerged as the most influential dimensions associated with readiness to adopt AI technologies and engage positively with them. The study also demonstrated that perceived usefulness was the strongest factor influencing leaders’ attitudes toward AI adoption, compared to perceived ease of use, consisting with the assumptions of TAM Model.
The results further indicated that most SMEs in Oman remain in the early stages of AI adoption, primarily at the awareness or experimentation stage, with AI applications concentrated in areas such as sales, customer service, and financial analysis. In addition, the study highlighted the central role of leadership styles and characteristics in shaping organizational attitudes toward AI and overcoming adoption-related challenges.
This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on leadership and technology adoption by providing an integrated analytical framework that combines leadership intelligence dimensions with behavioral and technological adoption factors. It also offers practical implications for policymakers and practitioners concerned with digital transformation in SMEs.