Supplementary Material for the article:
Markic, Mihael; Webster, Samantha; van der Staay, Alexander; Bäßmann, Felix N.; Janiesch, Christian; and Pöppelbuß, Jens, "Advancing AI Adoption in SMEs: A Framework for Nascent AI Strategy Development" (2025). ICIS 2025 Proceedings.
Abstract: "AI adoption serves as a catalyst that empowers SMEs to overcome resource, expertise, and market competition constraints, unlocking new business operations opportunities. However, developing a tailored AI strategy is essential to capture unique business advantages offered by AI-driven business processes and to advance AI initiatives in the dynamic landscape of SMEs. While much research addresses the technical aspects, development, and adoption, little is known about strategic measures and the practical evaluation of AI adoption in SMEs. In this design science research study, we crafted an artifact consisting of a methodology for capturing AI readiness and deriving activities and, thus, develop a strategic framework for developing nascent AI strategies in SMEs. Our results highlight the importance of structured AI training, centralized data management, and cross-functional collaboration to advance AI adoption in SMEs. Our study contributes to theory and practice by providing guidance for AI strategy development."