Date of Conferral

7-30-2026

Date of Award

July 2026

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Management

Advisor

Karina Kasztelnik

Abstract

As the Nigerian commercial banking sector navigates rapid financial technology disruption and rising regulatory compliance demands, many institutions have accelerated the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous systems. Banking executives need to understand these concerns as a primary indicator of employees’ readiness to adapt to AI-enabled workplace changes, sustain their self-worth, and navigate evolving job roles. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory multiple-case study was to explore the understanding of the AI and autonomous systems adoption strategies bank executives may employ to enhance employees’ jobs and self-worth in Nigerian banks. Anchored in sociotechnical systems and stakeholder theories, purposive sampling was used to conduct semistructured interviews with 10 professionals across seven Nigerian commercial banks. Six themes emerged from the thematic analysis: (a) system effectiveness through structured design, (b) integration stress and job insecurity, (c) limited stakeholder participation and transparency, (d) varied engagement and capability building, (e) balancing profitability and human-centric values, and (f) external pressures and emergent context. The themes were synthesized into a framework, the human-centric AI integration wheel. This proposed continuous lifecycle framework, with a hub and four phases, illustrates that successful sociotechnical transitions depend on joint optimization of an organization’s technical and social subsystems. The implications for tangible social impact include the potential for banking leaders to implement this framework to harness AI responsibly while safeguarding employee welfare, enhancing employee self-worth, fostering long‑term organizational resilience, and sustainable workforce engagement.

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