DEVELOPING AND VALIDATING THE AI WORKFORCE READINESS INDEX (AI-WRI): AN INTEGRATED HR ANALYTICS FRAMEWORK FOR AI-ENABLED ORGANIZATIONAL TRANSFORMATION.
Abstract
Artificial intelligence (AI) is quickly permeating daily organisational operations, impacting how workers operate, how managers make choices, and how businesses compete. Many organisations still struggle to realise the anticipated benefits of AI adoption, despite large expenditures in AI technologies. The fact that technical preparedness frequently develops more quickly than workforce readiness is a persistent worry. The adoption of AI, digital transformation, and organisational preparedness have all been studied in the past, but the question of whether managers and staff have the skills necessary to function well in AI-enabled workplaces has received comparatively little attention.
By creating and validating the Artificial Intelligence worker Readiness Index (AI-WRI), a multifaceted framework intended to evaluate worker readiness for AI-integrated workplaces, the current study fills this gap. AI-WRI is conceptualised through six interconnected dimensions: AI competency, AI trust and acceptance, human-AI collaboration capability, AI governance awareness, learning agility and reskilling readiness, and AI leadership readiness. These dimensions are based on Human Capital Theory, Dynamic Capability Theory, and the Technology-Organization-Environment framework.
The data was gathered from employees and administrators in AI-enabled organisations across a variety of industries. Using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM), the proposed framework was validated. The findings corroborate the multidimensional nature of workforce readiness and illustrate that preparedness for AI is not limited to technical knowledge. Both adaptability and ethical awareness, as well as leadership support and collaborative capability, are equally critical components of successful AI integration. By changing the emphasis from organisational preparation to worker readiness, the study adds to the expanding body of literature on AI and human resource management. In order to enable sustainable AI transformation, the AI-WRI provides organisations with a structured diagnostic tool for determining capacity gaps, assessing workforce readiness, and creating focused interventions.
