Size Matters: A Comparative Study of AI Adoption Across Scandinavian Firms

Sammanfattning

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a globally spread form of technology, applied in nearly every sector. The business world is no exception; overall AI use and its different application methods have surged over the years and are projected to continue rising. Despite this, previous research has been limited when considering the AI adoption and implementation process across different business sizes. Additionally, motivational factors and associated challenges regarding AI adoption are important aspects which also need to be explored. The purpose of this study is to provide insights on the differences in AI adoption, along with motivational and challenging factors, across various business sizes. This study is qualitative and utilises an interpretivist paradigm. Primary data was gathered through semi-structured interviews with businesses of different sizes, all of which have implemented AI in their operations. The gathered data was then analysed using a thematic analysis approach. The findings suggest that business size can influence the AI adoption process through different ways. Larger companies may need more time to reach decisions and there is a higher degree of resistance to change, but more flexibility due to greater resources. Smaller firms can be quicker to adapt, though adoption may happen on a more limited scale initially. The study also concluded in several motivational factors for AI implementation, including quality, accuracy, cost reduction and competitiveness, among others. However, several challenges connected to the process were uncovered as well. Such barriers involve resistance to change, lack of expertise, concerns over data privacy, and cost limitations.