Beyond Skills: Explaining Psychological Readiness Deficit in Digital Transformation
Keywords:
psychological readiness deficit, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, technostress, meaningful work, psychological safetyAbstract
Artificial intelligence and digital transformation are fundamentally reshaping contemporary work systems, yet human adaptation has not kept pace with these rapid changes. Existing research on organizational change, technology acceptance, and digital transformation remains fragmented in explaining how individuals develop psychological readiness under conditions of continuous technological acceleration. This study addresses this gap by developing a conceptual framework that explains psychological readiness deficit as a multidimensional condition arising from the misalignment between technological demands and human psychological capacity. Drawing on an integrative synthesis of literature across organizational behavior, human resource development, and digital transformation, the study identifies three core mechanisms—cognitive overload, emotional strain, and identity disruption—that undermine individuals’ readiness in digitally intensive environments. The proposed model further highlights the moderating roles of psychological safety and meaningful work in mitigating readiness deficit. This study contributes to theory by reframing readiness as a dynamic and failure-prone process rather than a static precondition of change. It also provides practical insights for organizations to design human-centered transformation strategies that address deeper psychological dimensions of work.
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