The Artificial Intelligence Adoption in Human Talent Management among SMEs in Emerging Economies: Evidence from Ecuador

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4067/s0718-27242025000300088

Keywords:

Artificial Intelligence, Human Talent, SMEs, Innovation, Digital Transformation

Abstract

This study analyzes the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Human Talent Management (HTM) among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), using Ecuador as the empirical case and articulating the results with evidence reported for other emerging economies in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Despite accelerated global technological advancement, SMEs in emerging economies face structural, financial, and human capital barriers that constrain digital transformation. Drawing on the integration of the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) and Ability–Motivation–Opportunity (AMO) frameworks, the study adopts a quantitative, cross-sectional, and descriptive design with a comparative discussion, based on a sample of 250 Ecuadorian SMEs. Data were collected through a validated Likert-scale questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, non-parametric tests, and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings indicate a moderate level of AI adoption (M = 2.94) and no statistically significant differences by firm size or sector. The AMO construct exhibited the strongest direct effect (β = 0.52) and a partial mediating role between TOE dimensions and AI adoption, explaining 63% of the variance (R² = 0.63). Although AMO scores are relatively low, their variability explains adoption differences, underscoring the central role of competencies, motivation, and organizational opportunities in fostering inclusive and sustainable digital transformation.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Carlos Correa González, Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil

Carlos Alberto Correa González is a lecturer and researcher at the Catholic University of Santiago de Guayaquil. His academic work focuses on organizational management, administrative processes, and applied analysis in business environments. He has participated in projects aimed at institutional strengthening and the development of professional capacities in educational and productive contexts. His experience spans teaching, research, and community engagement.

Harold Muñoz Benítez, Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil

Harold Alexander Muñoz Benítez is a professor and researcher at the Catholic University of Santiago de Guayaquil. His academic activity addresses topics related to administration, educational innovation, and institutional management. He has collaborated on projects focused on analyzing organizational processes and strengthening professional competencies in higher education. He combines teaching with applied research and participation in academic improvement initiatives.

Erwin Muñoz Montiel, Universidad de Guayaquil

Erwin Gustavo Muñoz Montiel is a lecturer and researcher at the Laica Vicente Rocafuerte University of Guayaquil. His work focuses on administrative processes, organizational development, and the analysis of productive environments. He has taken part in academic projects related to educational management, professional training, and institutional innovation. His experience integrates teaching, research, and the implementation of improvements in university settings.

Linda Yong Amaya, Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil

Linda Evelyn Yong Amaya is a lecturer and researcher at the Catholic University of Santiago de Guayaquil. Her academic work focuses on entrepreneurship, sustainability, social innovation, and community development, with applied research in traditional markets and vulnerable sectors. She has actively contributed to interinstitutional projects, entrepreneurial training programs, and studies on digitalization and sustainability. She combines teaching, research, and technical support in local development initiatives.

Raquel Vera-Ortega, Universidad de Guayaquil

Raquel Narcisa Vera Ortega is a lecturer and researcher at the University of Guayaquil. Her background includes studies in accounting, finance, public management, and sustainability, along with active participation in community projects and academic programs. She has conducted research on women’s entrepreneurship, digitalization, sustainability, and educational policy. She also contributes to editorial teams, coordinates research projects, and supports academic and institutional strengthening in higher education.

References

Achieng, M. S., & Malatji, M. (2022). Digital transformation of small and medium enterprises in Sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review. The Journal for Transdisciplinary Research in Southern Africa, 18, a1257. https://doi.org/10.4102/td.v18i1.1257

African Leadership University. (2025). Artificial intelligence in Sub-Saharan Africa – Enterprise report. AI in Africa Research Project. https://aiinafricaresearch.alueducation.com/reports/enterprise/

Aguirre, Y., Daza, E., & Zuñiga, M. (2024). Administración del Talento Humano como elemento determinante del éxito competitivo en las medianas empresas. Journal Scientific MQRInvestigar, 8(3), 5107-5122. https://www.investigarmqr.com/ojs/index.php/mqr/article/download/1747/5458/6543

Akoh, E. (2024). Adoption of artificial intelligence for manufacturing SMEs’ growth and survival in South Africa: A systematic literature review. International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science, 13(6), 23–37. https://www.ssbfnet.com/ojs/index.php/ijrbs/article/view/3561

Alkhalaf, T., & Al-Tabbaa, O. (2023). The effect of ability, motivation and opportunity (AMO) on SMEs' innovation performance. Creativity and Innovation Management, 32(4). https://doi.org/10.1111/caim.12578

Appelbaum, E., Bailey, T., Berg, P., & Kalleberg, A. L. (2000). Manufacturing advantage: Why high-performance work systems pay off. Cornell University Press.

Banerjee, A., Martínez, C., & Puentes, E. (2023). The impact of subsidy delivery method on savings behavior: Experimental evidence. https://doi.org/10.18235/0005259

Barrera-Gómez, J. A., & Flórez-Romero, M. L. (2024). Convergencia tecnológica y productividad: Una perspectiva sobre la innovación en emprendimientos transfronterizos. AiBi Revista de Investigación, Administración e Ingeniería, 12(3), 205–213. https://doi.org/10.15649/2346030X.4401

Biradar, A., Ainapur, J., Kalyanrao, K., Aishwarya, A., Sudharani, S., Shivaleela, S., & Monika, M. (2024). The impact of artificial intelligence on modern recruitment practices: A multi-company case study analysis. International Journal of Business and Management Invention, 13(9), 143–150. https://doi.org/10.35629/8028-1309143150

Canossa-Montes de Oca, H., & Peraza-Villarreal, N. (2024). Gestión del Talento Humano en la Era de la Inteligencia Artificial: Retos y Oportunidades en el Entorno Laboral. 593 Digital Publisher CEIT, 9(1), 302-319. https://doi.org/10.33386/593dp.2024.1.2170

Chikwendu, O. C., Emeka, U. C., & Chinwe, O. S. (2025). Big data and artificial intelligence implementation for sustainable HSE practices in FMCG. International Journal of Engineering Inventions, 14(5), 1–7. https://www.ijeijournal.com/papers/Vol14-Issue5/14050107.pdf

Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL). (2024, 6 de noviembre). Una transformación digital real y efectiva puede ayudar a América Latina y el Caribe a superar las trampas que impiden su desarrollo. https://www.cepal.org/es/comunicados/transformacion-digital-real-efectiva-puede-ayudar-america-latina-caribe-superar-trampas

Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL). (2025, 11 de marzo). Superar las trampas del desarrollo de América Latina y el Caribe en la era digital: El potencial transformador de las tecnologías digitales y la inteligencia artificial. https://www.cepal.org/es/publicaciones/80841-superar-trampas-desarrollo-america-latina-caribe-la-era-digital-potencial

Dao, T. H. A., Sisavath, C., Bui, H. T. T., Bui, T. Q., & Le, T. H. (2025). Digital workforce training, employee motivation, job satisfaction, digital behavior as determinants of employee performance: Empirical research from Vietnam. SAGE Open, 15(4), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440251395698

ERIA/OECD. (2024). SME policy index: ASEAN 2024 – Enabling sustainable growth and digitalisation. ERIA/OECD. https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Full-Report_ASEAN-SME-Policy-Index-2024_20-Sept-2024.pdf

Farro Díaz, L. E., & Santos Nauca Torres, E. (2022). Gestión del talento humano en las organizaciones. Horizonte Empresarial, 9(2). https://doi.org/10.26495/rce.v9i2.2318

Flaminiano, J. P. (2025). Exploring readiness and challenges to AI-driven competitiveness in Southeast Asian SMEs. Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Regional Economic Programme Asia (SOPAS); Asian Institute of Management. https://www.kas.de/documents/287213/33744488/The+Experiences+and+Extent+of+Adopting+AI+among+SMEs+in+Southeast+Asia.pdf/0dc8f037-4ceb-8f2b-846e-68882ef4cee5?version=1.0&t=1751876798951

Garg, A., Gaur, S., & Sharma, P. (2021). A review paper: Role of artificial intelligence in recruitment process. ANWESH: International Journal of Management and Information Technology, 6(1), 33–37. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/368653108_A_Review_Paper_Role_of_Artificial_Intelligence_in_Recruitment_Process_A_Garg_S_Gaur_P_Sharma

George, D., & Mallery, P. (2019). IBM SPSS Statistics 26 step by step: A simple guide and reference. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429056765

Granados, J. (2022). Análisis de la inteligencia artificial en las relaciones laborales. Revista CES Derecho, 13(1), 111-132. http://www.scielo.org.co/pdf/cesd/v13n1/2145-7719-cesd-13-01-111.pdf

Gutiérrez Navas, E. B., Sarmiento Suárez, J. E., Ramírez Montañez, J., & Rincón Quintero, Y. A. (2025). Determining factors for the digitization of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Ibero-America. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 10(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jik.2024.100631

Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2021). A primer on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications. https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/sam/a-primer-on-partial-least-squares-structural-equation-modeling-pls-sem/book270548

Hirs, J., & Vargas, F. (2023). Prioridades para la digitalización empresarial en América Latina y el Caribe. https://doi.org/10.18235/0005166

Horodyski, P. (2023). Applicants' perception of artificial intelligence in the recruitment process. Computers in Human Behavior Reports, 11, 1-8. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451958823000362?via%3Dihub

Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC). (2025). Estadísticas de las empresas 2025: Estructura productiva de las pequeñas y medianas empresas del Ecuador. https://www.ecuadorencifras.gob.ec/estadisticas-de-las-empresas/

Kahveci, E. (2025). Digital transformation in SMEs: Enablers, interconnections, and a framework for sustainable competitive advantage. Administrative Sciences, 15(3), 107. https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci15030107

Kraus, S., Durst, S., Ferreira, J. J., Veiga, P., Kailer, N., & Weinmann, A. (2022). Digital transformation in business and management research: An overview of the current status quo. International Journal of Information Management, 63, 102466. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2021.102466

Larson, E. (2022). El mito de la inteligencia artificial. Editorial La Letra S.L. https://www.udllibros.com/adjuntos/9788413611686.pdf

McCarthy, J. (2022). Artificial intelligence, logic, and formalising common sense. En Knowledge Representation and Reasoning (pp. 1-12). Wiley Online Library. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119815075.ch6

Mendoza Arce, C. G., Mendoza Haro, I., Camacho Gavilanes, J. A., & Mendoza Arce, E. X. (2024). La inteligencia artificial como motor de innovación en los negocios. Magazine De Las Ciencias: Revista De Investigación E Innovación, 9(4), 114–129. https://doi.org/10.33262/rmc.v9i4.3263

Murillo Valverde, R. I., Sarmiento Oyola, D. H., Mendoza Santillán, A. B., Vergara Velasquez, H. Y., & Bustamante León, A. N. (2024). Análisis del uso de la inteligencia artificial en las microempresas del Cantón Guayaquil 2024. Ciencia Latina Revista Científica Multidisciplinar, 8(4), 3887-3902. https://doi.org/10.37811/cl_rcm.v8i4.12612

Obaid, S., Ahmad, S. F., & Mumtaz, F. (2022). Ability-motivation-opportunity framework: An analysis of interrelated effects of HRM practice and leadership style on organizational outcomes. International Journal of Asian Business and Information Management (IJABIM), 13(1), 1-26. https://doi.org/10.4018/IJABIM.309105

OECD, CAF, & SELA. (2024). Índice de políticas para PyMes: América Latina y el Caribe 2024. https://scioteca.caf.com/handle/123456789/2305

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). (2021). The digital transformation of SMEs. OECD Publishing. https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/the-digital-transformation-of-smes_bdb9256a-en.html

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). (2023a, 19 de junio). OECD SME and entrepreneurship outlook 2023. OECD Publishing. https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/2023/06/oecd-sme-and-entrepreneurship-outlook-2023_c5ac21d0.html

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). (2023b). OECD digital education outlook 2023: Towards an effective digital education ecosystem. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/c74f03de-en

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). (2024). Governing with artificial intelligence. OECD Publishing. https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2024/06/governing-with-artificial-intelligence_f0e316f5/26324bc2-en.pdf

Páez Egüez, J. C., & Cumbal Simba, F. L. (2024). Análisis del desarrollo del gobierno electrónico en el Ecuador durante el período 2018–2022. Visión Empresarial, 14, 108–128. https://doi.org/10.32645/13906852.1324

Percy-Zayas, I., & Martínez-Delgado, E. (2023). Diseño de un procedimiento para el reclutamiento y selección online de candidatos. Revista Ciencias Holguín, 29(1), 1-10. https://www.redalyc.org/journal/1815/181574471001/181574471001.pdf

Pozo-Benites, K. B., Guadalupe-Sánchez, K. W., Peñarreta-Barrera, E. E., & Meza-Salvatierra, J. K. (2025). Transformación digital de las PYMES en América Latina: barreras, oportunidades y estrategias para la competitividad. Multidisciplinary Latin American Journal (MLAJ), 3(2), 236-255. https://doi.org/10.62131/MLAJ-V3-N2-015

Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo (PNUD). (2025). AILA Ecuador: Inteligencia artificial para el desarrollo sostenible en el Ecuador. https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2025-06/aila_ecuador.pdf

Rajkumar, S., Manoj, R., Manikandan, G., Raj, S., & Raj, P. D. (2024). AI-driven human resource management in India: Balancing innovation with ethical and cultural considerations. Educational Administration: Theory and Practice, 30(6), 5156–5163. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/394679352_AI-Driven_Human_Resource_Management_In_India_Balancing_Innovation_With_Ethical_And_Cultural_Considerations

Regis, A. M. de S., Gomes, S. C., & Rosa Georges, M. R. (2025). The impact of digitalization and technological human capital on the performance of the Brazilian PYME: An empirical study. Journal of Technology Management and Innovation, 20(1), 74–85. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-27242025000100074

Schwaeke, J., Peters, A., Kanbach, D. K., Kraus, S., & Jones, P. (2025). The new normal: The status quo of AI adoption in SMEs. Journal of Economic Studies, 52(4), 657–678. https://ideas.repec.org/a/taf/ujbmxx/v63y2025i3p1297-1331.html

Sechabe, M. V., & Malatji, M. V. (2025). AI adoption in SMEs supply chains: Determinants and impact on performance in Limpopo, South Africa. International Journal of Applied Research in Business and Management, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.51137/wrp.ijarbm.2025.msaa.45869

Shaikh, S. N., Sohu, J. M., Shaikh, S., Kherazi, F. Z., & Soomro, S. (2025). Artificial intelligence adoption, green HRM, and employee behavior: Driving environmental sustainability in SMEs with organizational culture as a moderator. SAGE Open, 15(4), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440251392673

Starke, S., & Ludviga, I. (2025). Sustained learning as a dynamic capability for digital transformation: A multilevel quantitative study on workforce readiness and digital services in healthcare. Sustainability, 17(20), 9184. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17209184

Tornatzky, L. G., & Fleischer, M. (1990). The processes of technological innovation. Lexington Books.

Torres, R. (2023). Los riesgos y los desafíos que enfrentan los trabajadores frente al uso de la inteligencia artificial en el trabajo. Revista De Derecho Procesal Del Trabajo, 6(7), 289-373. https://doi.org/10.47308/rdpt.v6i7.778

Tursunbayeva, A., Fernández, V., Gallardo, E., & Moschera, L. (2025). Artificial intelligence and digital data in recruitment. Exploring business and engineering candidates’ perceptions of organizational attractiveness. European Management Journal, 8, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emj.2025.03.002

Vera Ortega, R., Vera, V. E., & Plaza, A. M. (2024). Fintech in Ecuador in the process of financial digitalization. Revista Ciencia UNEMI, 17(46), 88–98. https://doi.org/10.29076/issn.2528-7737vol17iss46.2024pp88-98p

Vera-Ortega, R., & Yong Amaya, L. (2025). Institutional barriers to digital governance in Ecuador: Evidence from the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Revista Española de la Transparencia, (22), 361–381. https://doi.org/10.51915/ret.407

Villarreal, F., & Flor, G. (2023). Inteligencia Artificial: El reto contemporáneo de la gestión empresarial. Revista Científica de la Comunicación Comhumanitas, 14(1), 94-111. https://dialnet.unirioja.es/descarga/articulo/9068865.pdf

Wahyudi, M., et al. (2023). Developing instruments for digital talent competence using partial least square-based models. En Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Cyber and IT Service Management (CITSM 2023) (pp. 1–9). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/CITSM60085.2023.10455479

World Economic Forum. (2025). Transforming small businesses: The impact of digitalization and artificial intelligence. World Economic Forum. https://reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Transforming_Small_Businesses_2025.pdf

Zhang, Y., Iqbal, S., Tian, H., & Akhtar, S. (2024). Digitizing success: Leveraging digital human resource practices for transformative productivity in Chinese SMEs. Heliyon, 10(17), e36853. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e36853

Zhang, Z., Wu, M., & Yin, J. (2024). What is necessary for digital transformation of large manufacturing companies? A Necessary Condition Analysis. Sustainability, 16(9), 3837. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093837

Downloads

Published

2025-12-28

How to Cite

Correa González, C. A., Muñoz Benítez, H. A., Muñoz Montiel, E. G., Yong Amaya, L. E., & Vera-Ortega, R. (2025). The Artificial Intelligence Adoption in Human Talent Management among SMEs in Emerging Economies: Evidence from Ecuador. Journal of Technology Management and Innovation, 20(4), 88–100. https://doi.org/10.4067/s0718-27242025000300088

Issue

Vol. 20 No. 4 (2025)

Section

Research Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Technology Management and Innovation

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.