The Influence of Organizational Behavior Factors on AI-Driven Cost Reduction Success in Small and Medium Enterprises
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55164/ecbajournal.v18i4.287886Keywords:
Organizational Behavior, Digital Intelligence, Artificial Intelligence, Cost Management, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)Abstract
This study examines the predictive relationship between organizational behavior factors and perceived success of artificial intelligence (AI) implementation for cost reduction, and the moderating role of digital intelligence (DQ). Data were collected from 300 entrepreneurs, managers, and operational personnel in 42 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Mueang District, Phetchaburi Province, using quota and purposive sampling of enterprises that had integrated AI into their workflows. The online questionnaire yielded content validity indices (IOC) between 0.67 and 1.00 and subscale Cronbach’s alpha coefficients between 0.812 and 0.895 in the actual sample. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and hierarchical moderated regression. Innovative leadership (β = .389, p < .001) and adaptive organizational culture (β = .352, p < .001) were positively associated with, and jointly predicted, AI implementation success for cost reduction, accounting for 43.00% of the variance (R² = .430, F(2, 297) = 112.24, p < .001). Digital intelligence positively moderated this relationship (β = .200, p < .001) , adding 4.00% explained variance from the interaction (ΔR² = .040, ΔF(1, 296) = 24.17, p < .001), for a total explained variance of 51.00% (R² = .510). Simple slopes of organizational behavior were .720 at high and .320 at low digital intelligence (±1 S.D.). These findings suggest that achieving AI-driven cost reduction in local SMEs requires developing leadership and organizational culture together with employees’ digital intelligence.
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