A team from GSEHD’s Human and Organizational Learning program, led by Dr. Shaista E. Khilji, recently presented research at InnovationFest examining how organizations prepare for the adoption of artificial intelligence, focusing on the social science issues surrounding AI adoption and human readiness.
The team—comprised of Dr. Khilji, Dr. Kevin Knudsen, PhD student Mengying Cao, and PhD student Ivy Clem—shared their work titled “When Top-Down Messaging & Bottom-Up Narratives Collide: Exploring Human Readiness for AI Adoption in Organizations.” Their research examined how leadership messaging and employee perspectives influence organizational readiness for AI, finding that implementation efforts can falter when enthusiastic messaging from leadership fails to address the concerns of employees.
"Our recommendation for business leaders and tech leaders is, first of all, be transparent and to explain to your people and the public the real benefits," Khilji said. "We need to have these open debates and dialogues, but right now people are very much in their own silos."
The presentation sparked strong engagement and thoughtful discussion among attendees, reflecting the growing importance of understanding the human dimensions of AI adoption. Rather than focusing solely on technological capabilities, the team's research emphasized that successful implementation depends on open dialogue, transparency, and alignment between organizational leaders and employees.
A highlight of the event was the opportunity to engage with George Washington University President Dr. Ellen M. Granberg, who visited the team’s poster and learned more about their work firsthand. InnovationFest brought together researchers from across the university to showcase interdisciplinary scholarship and innovative ideas.
The presentation underscores GSEHD's leadership in advancing research at the intersection of leadership, organizational development, and emerging technologies while showcasing the collaborative scholarship of faculty and doctoral students working to shape the future of work.