{"title":"Actualizing artificial intelligence (AI) affordances in urban mobility organizations: a hierarchically interconnected perspective","authors":"Mingye Li,Alemayehu Molla,Sophia Duan","doi":"10.1108/jeim-03-2026-0416","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Purpose This study examines how urban mobility organizations, characterized by different ownership, distributed capabilities and inter-organizational dependencies, actualize artificial intelligence (AI) affordances across multiple organizational layers. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on affordance-actualization theory (AAT) as the primary theoretical lens, this qualitative study examines AI initiatives in Australian urban mobility. Data were collected from 20 semi-structured interviews conducted between 2021 and 2022, supplemented by documentary evidence and analyzed using an abductive logic in five iterative steps involving first-order coding, second-order categorization and aggregate conceptualization. Findings The findings suggest four hierarchically interconnected AI affordances: smartifying mobility infrastructure and asset management, optimizing transport operations, providing customized mobility services and promoting environmentally sustainable urban mobility. These affordances are hierarchically interconnected and conditionally enabled, where their actualization is contingent on recurring organizational practices (AI sensemaking, AI leadership and digital readiness) and constrained by data, system, governance and ecosystem conditions. Practical implications Managers should treat AI initiatives as interdependent rather than isolated projects by checking data, system, governance and decision conditions before pursuing service or sustainability applications. Originality/value The article contextually elaborates AAT by conceptualizing AI affordances as hierarchically interconnected but nondeterministic action potentials. It shows how AI value in urban mobility emerges through conditional enablement across infrastructure, operations, services and sustainability layers, and contributes to enterprise information management by explaining how data, systems, governance and ecosystem coordination shape interconnected AI-enabled value creation.","PeriodicalId":47889,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Enterprise Information Management","volume":"15 1","pages":"1-36"},"PeriodicalIF":9.1000,"publicationDate":"2026-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Enterprise Information Management","FirstCategoryId":"91","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jeim-03-2026-0416","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"INFORMATION SCIENCE & LIBRARY SCIENCE","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose This study examines how urban mobility organizations, characterized by different ownership, distributed capabilities and inter-organizational dependencies, actualize artificial intelligence (AI) affordances across multiple organizational layers. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on affordance-actualization theory (AAT) as the primary theoretical lens, this qualitative study examines AI initiatives in Australian urban mobility. Data were collected from 20 semi-structured interviews conducted between 2021 and 2022, supplemented by documentary evidence and analyzed using an abductive logic in five iterative steps involving first-order coding, second-order categorization and aggregate conceptualization. Findings The findings suggest four hierarchically interconnected AI affordances: smartifying mobility infrastructure and asset management, optimizing transport operations, providing customized mobility services and promoting environmentally sustainable urban mobility. These affordances are hierarchically interconnected and conditionally enabled, where their actualization is contingent on recurring organizational practices (AI sensemaking, AI leadership and digital readiness) and constrained by data, system, governance and ecosystem conditions. Practical implications Managers should treat AI initiatives as interdependent rather than isolated projects by checking data, system, governance and decision conditions before pursuing service or sustainability applications. Originality/value The article contextually elaborates AAT by conceptualizing AI affordances as hierarchically interconnected but nondeterministic action potentials. It shows how AI value in urban mobility emerges through conditional enablement across infrastructure, operations, services and sustainability layers, and contributes to enterprise information management by explaining how data, systems, governance and ecosystem coordination shape interconnected AI-enabled value creation.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Enterprise Information Management (JEIM) is a significant contributor to the normative literature, offering both conceptual and practical insights supported by innovative discoveries that enrich the existing body of knowledge.
Within its pages, JEIM presents research findings sourced from globally renowned experts. These contributions encompass scholarly examinations of cutting-edge theories and practices originating from leading research institutions. Additionally, the journal features inputs from senior business executives and consultants, who share their insights gleaned from specific enterprise case studies. Through these reports, readers benefit from a comparative analysis of different environmental contexts, facilitating valuable learning experiences.
JEIM's distinctive blend of theoretical analysis and practical application fosters comprehensive discussions on commercial discoveries. This approach enhances the audience's comprehension of contemporary, applied, and rigorous information management practices, which extend across entire enterprises and their intricate supply chains.