From Resistance to Adoption

Sammanfattning

This study explores the strategic implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the healthcare sector, focusing on minimizing resistance through effective stakeholder engagement. As AI increasingly influences decision-making in healthcare, resistance from key stakeholders such as employees and management presents a significant challenge. This research investigates the causes and reasons for various levels of resistance during AI implementation and identifies strategies to minimize it through stakeholder engagement. Employing a qualitative methodology, this case study will conduct interviews with healthcare professionals in Swedish and Danish settings and contribute to current research with practical insights and experiences from real-life AI projects, from the project leaders' perspective. The findings highlighted lack of understanding, fear of change, and mistrust as the main causes for resistance from the stakeholders, while the technological maturity and the project leaders' experience could influence the level of resistance faced. Additionally, the results highlighted the critical role of project leaders in transparent communication, consistently engaging both management and employees and utilizing internal and external collaboration to reduce resistance. This research offers valuable strategies and practical insights for project leaders to enhance stakeholder engagement, thereby smoothing the AI implementation process and improving healthcare service effectiveness, thus contributing to a more sustainable healthcare sector.