{"paper_id":"145db0ae-0cf2-44a6-b7e8-b20010688e40","body_text":"Work Engagement in the Age of AI : The Moderating Role of Digital Literacy on HR Technology Adoption in Tunisia | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Work Engagement in the Age of AI : The Moderating Role of Digital Literacy on HR Technology Adoption in Tunisia Faycal chehab This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9210402/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Purpose: As organizations in emerging economies accelerate their adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Human Resource Management (HRM), understanding the human-centric factors that influence employee work engagement becomes critical. This study investigates the relationship between AI-driven HRM adoption and work engagement among Tunisian employees, examining digital literacy as a key moderator in this relationship. Design/Methodology/Approach: Drawing on the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) theory and Technological Acceptance Model (TAM), we collected cross-sectional data from 387 employees across five major sectors (Banking, IT/Telecom, Manufacturing, Services, and Public Sector) in Tunisia's primary economic hubs (Tunis and Sfax). Hierarchical moderated regression analysis was employed to test the hypothesized relationships. Findings: Results reveal a significant positive relationship between AI HRM adoption and work engagement (β = .416, p < .001). Crucially, digital literacy significantly moderates this relationship (β = .134, p = .006). Simple slopes analysis demonstrates that the positive effect of AI HRM adoption on engagement strengthens as digital literacy increases (Low DL : β = .316 ; High DL : β = .517). Sector analysis reveals notable variations, with IT/Telecom showing highest engagement levels despite high AI adoption, while the public sector lags in both dimensions. Research Limitations/Implications : Cross-sectional design limits causal inference. Future research should employ longitudinal designs to capture adaptation processes over time. Practical Implications : For HR practitioners in emerging markets, our findings underscore the necessity of digital literacy programs as prerequisites for AI implementation. Organizations should avoid \"techno-determinism\" and invest in human capital development alongside technological infrastructure. Originality/Value : This study provides the first empirical evidence on AI-HRM dynamics in the Tunisian context, extending engagement theory to the algorithmic management era while highlighting institutional voids that characterize HRM digitalization in post-revolutionary North African economies. Management Artificial Intelligence Human Resource Management Work Engagement Digital Literacy Tunisia Algorithmic Management Job Demands-Resources Theory Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {\"props\":{\"pageProps\":{\"initialData\":{\"identity\":\"rs-9210402\",\"acceptedTermsAndConditions\":true,\"allowDirectSubmit\":true,\"archivedVersions\":[],\"articleType\":\"Research Article\",\"associatedPublications\":[],\"authors\":[{\"id\":611287267,\"identity\":\"1b5be744-f39a-42ea-aba6-80d0da43afe1\",\"order_by\":0,\"name\":\"Faycal chehab\",\"email\":\"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA80lEQVRIiWNgGAWjYDACCQY2BsYGOSCLufEBkOThI1KLMZDF2GwA0sJGipY2CZAAQS38s5uPPfi5w0De4PjBtsqvOXYybAzMDx/dwGfJnWPphr1nDAw3nElsuy27LRnoMDZj4xw8WgwkcswkeNv+MG44ANQiuY0ZqIWHTRq/lvxvkn/bDOw3nH/YViy5rZ4YLTls0rxtBokbbiS2MX7cdpiwFokbaWbSsmcMkmfeeNgszbjtOA8bMwG/8M9Ifib5doeBbd/55IMff26rtudnb374GJ8WOFA4AIx/HhCLmRjlICDfAIzMH8SqHgWjYBSMghEFAH5qSi6QMEB/AAAAAElFTkSuQmCC\",\"orcid\":\"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4820-0429\",\"institution\":\"faculté des sciences économiques et de gestion de sousse\",\"correspondingAuthor\":true,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Faycal\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"chehab\",\"suffix\":\"\"}],\"badges\":[],\"createdAt\":\"2026-03-24 10:14:19\",\"currentVersionCode\":1,\"declarations\":{\"humanSubjects\":true,\"vertebrateSubjects\":false,\"conflictsOfInterestStatement\":false,\"humanSubjectEthicalGuidelines\":true,\"humanSubjectConsent\":true,\"humanSubjectClinicalTrial\":false,\"humanSubjectCaseReport\":false,\"vertebrateSubjectEthicalGuidelines\":false},\"doi\":\"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9210402/v1\",\"doiUrl\":\"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9210402/v1\",\"draftVersion\":[],\"editorialEvents\":[],\"editorialNote\":\"\",\"failedWorkflow\":false,\"files\":[{\"id\":105565246,\"identity\":\"e5ee3d71-6ffe-4272-a2fe-0b0a477b5482\",\"added_by\":\"auto\",\"created_at\":\"2026-03-27 12:52:34\",\"extension\":\"pdf\",\"order_by\":1,\"title\":\"\",\"display\":\"\",\"copyAsset\":false,\"role\":\"manuscript-pdf\",\"size\":409615,\"visible\":true,\"origin\":\"\",\"legend\":\"\",\"description\":\"\",\"filename\":\"WorkEngagementintheAgeofAI.pdf\",\"url\":\"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9210402/v1_covered_91e9fe90-0f83-4c38-a6db-4ec354993137.pdf\"}],\"financialInterests\":\"The authors declare no competing interests.\",\"formattedTitle\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eWork Engagement in the Age of AI : The Moderating Role of Digital Literacy on HR Technology Adoption in Tunisia\\u003c/p\\u003e\",\"fulltext\":[],\"fulltextSource\":\"\",\"fullText\":\"\",\"funders\":[],\"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow\":false,\"hasManuscriptDocX\":false,\"hasOptedInToPreprint\":true,\"hasPassedJournalQc\":\"\",\"hasAnyPriority\":true,\"hideJournal\":true,\"highlight\":\"\",\"institution\":\"faculty of economic sciences and management of sousse\",\"isAcceptedByJournal\":false,\"isAuthorSuppliedPdf\":true,\"isDeskRejected\":\"\",\"isHiddenFromSearch\":false,\"isInQc\":false,\"isInWorkflow\":false,\"isPdf\":true,\"isPdfUpToDate\":true,\"isWithdrawnOrRetracted\":false,\"journal\":{\"display\":true,\"email\":\"info@researchsquare.com\",\"identity\":\"researchsquare\",\"isNatureJournal\":false,\"hasQc\":true,\"allowDirectSubmit\":true,\"externalIdentity\":\"\",\"sideBox\":\"\",\"snPcode\":\"\",\"submissionUrl\":\"/submission\",\"title\":\"Research Square\",\"twitterHandle\":\"researchsquare\",\"acdcEnabled\":true,\"dfaEnabled\":false,\"editorialSystem\":\"\",\"reportingPortfolio\":\"\",\"inReviewEnabled\":false,\"inReviewRevisionsEnabled\":true},\"keywords\":\"Artificial Intelligence, Human Resource Management, Work Engagement, Digital Literacy, Tunisia, Algorithmic Management, Job Demands-Resources Theory\",\"lastPublishedDoi\":\"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9210402/v1\",\"lastPublishedDoiUrl\":\"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9210402/v1\",\"license\":{\"name\":\"CC BY 4.0\",\"url\":\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/\"},\"manuscriptAbstract\":\"\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003ePurpose:\\u003c/strong\\u003e As organizations in emerging economies accelerate their adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Human Resource Management (HRM), understanding the human-centric factors that influence employee work engagement becomes critical. This study investigates the relationship between AI-driven HRM adoption and work engagement among Tunisian employees, examining digital literacy as a key moderator in this relationship.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eDesign/Methodology/Approach:\\u003c/strong\\u003e Drawing on the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) theory and Technological Acceptance Model (TAM), we collected cross-sectional data from 387 employees across five major sectors (Banking, IT/Telecom, Manufacturing, Services, and Public Sector) in Tunisia's primary economic hubs (Tunis and Sfax). Hierarchical moderated regression analysis was employed to test the hypothesized relationships.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eFindings:\\u003c/strong\\u003e Results reveal a significant positive relationship between AI HRM adoption and work engagement (β = .416, p \\u0026lt; .001). Crucially, digital literacy significantly moderates this relationship (β = .134, p = .006). Simple slopes analysis demonstrates that the positive effect of AI HRM adoption on engagement strengthens as digital literacy increases (Low DL : β = .316 ; High DL : β = .517). Sector analysis reveals notable variations, with IT/Telecom showing highest engagement levels despite high AI adoption, while the public sector lags in both dimensions.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eResearch Limitations/Implications :\\u003c/strong\\u003e Cross-sectional design limits causal inference. Future research should employ longitudinal designs to capture adaptation processes over time.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003ePractical Implications :\\u003c/strong\\u003e For HR practitioners in emerging markets, our findings underscore the necessity of digital literacy programs as prerequisites for AI implementation. 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