Dual effects of leader symbolization in AI adoption: A cross-cultural study of SMEs

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dc.contributor.authorTahir, Aqsa
dc.contributor.authorMohi Ud Din, Qaiser
dc.contributor.authorZhang, Li
dc.contributor.otherEkonomická fakultacs
dc.date.accessioned2026-03-11T12:50:08Z
dc.date.available2026-03-11T12:50:08Z
dc.description.abstractThis study examines the dual impact of leaders’ artificial intelligence (AI) symbolization on employees’ job-crafting behaviors using a cross-cultural analysis of SMEs in China and Pakistan. Based on signaling theory, the study examines how organizational support acts as a crucial moderating factor in the ways that leaders’ overt acceptance of AI influences employee change readiness, perceived threat, and job crafting. The study employs partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM, SmartPLS 4.0) to examine survey data collected from employees in AI-driven sectors in two countries: China (n = 195) and Pakistan (n = 165). The findings indicate that leaders’ AI symbolized concurrently fosters proactive job crafting and change readiness, while intensifying feelings of threat. The study reveals cross-cultural distinctions: in China’s policy-oriented AI environment, employees demonstrate increased dependence on leadership signals due to institutional support and collectivist principles, while in Pakistan’s developing AI sector, economic instability and skill deficiencies heighten threat perceptions. Organizational support serves as a crucial buffer, considerably alleviating adverse impacts in Pakistan and enhancing beneficial outcomes in both contexts. This research contributes to the literature on leadership symbolization and AI adoption by highlighting the contextual duality of leader influence across cultures. It provides pragmatic insights for SMEs undergoing AI transitions, highlighting the necessity for customized communication strategies and support systems to use AI’s advantages while alleviating employee apprehensions.en
dc.formattext
dc.identifier.doi10.15240/tul/001/2026-1-003
dc.identifier.eissn2336-5604
dc.identifier.issn1212-3609
dc.identifier.urihttps://dspace.tul.cz/handle/15240/178451
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherTechnická Univerzita v Libercics
dc.publisherTechnical university of Liberec, Czech Republicen
dc.publisher.abbreviationTUL
dc.relation.ispartofEkonomie a Managementcs
dc.relation.ispartofEconomics and Managementen
dc.relation.isrefereedtrue
dc.rightsCC BY-NC
dc.subjectLeaders AI symbolizationen
dc.subjectleadership behavioren
dc.subjectsignaling theoryen
dc.subjectartificial intelligenceen
dc.subjectChinaen
dc.subjectPakistanen
dc.subject.classificationM20
dc.subject.classificationO30
dc.subject.classificationM19
dc.subject.classificationM14
dc.subject.classificationM12
dc.titleDual effects of leader symbolization in AI adoption: A cross-cultural study of SMEsen
dc.typeArticleen
local.accessopen
local.citation.epage52
local.citation.spage32
local.facultyFaculty of Economics
local.filenameEM_1_2026_3
local.fulltextyes
local.relation.abbreviationE+Mcs
local.relation.abbreviationE&Men
local.relation.issue1
local.relation.volume29
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