Dr. Hemamali Tennakoon is a Senior Lecturer in Strategy and Management at Brunel Business School. Before joining Brunel University, Dr. Hemamali held the position of Senior Lecturer in Management at Univeristy of Aberdeen. Prior to this, she was the Head of Business School/Senior Lecturer at Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology, a higher education institution established in partnership with Staffordshire University in the UK and Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation in Malaysia. Prior to this, she worked in the capacity of Research and Policy Development Specialist at Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team | Co-ordination Center (CERT|CC), a Government organization affiliated to the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) of Sri Lanka. During her time at Sri Lanka CERT|CC, she was involved in information security policy development, training and research.
This proposed PhD project investigates how multinational organisations can strategically implement artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital transformation while ensuring a just, inclusive, and sustainable transition for their workforce.
It aims to develop an organisational framework that enables firms to leverage AI technologies to enhance productivity, innovation, and competitiveness while supporting employee wellbeing, skills development, employability, and social equity.
As multinational organisations increasingly deploy AI, machine learning, automation, and advanced analytics across their operations, they face significant opportunities and challenges. While AI-driven transformation can improve efficiency, decision-making, and business performance (Nijhum, 2025; Zonga and Guan; 2025), it also has profound implications for jobs, skills, work design, and employment relationships. Growing concerns around workforce displacement, skills obsolescence, job insecurity, algorithmic management, and workplace inequality have intensified debates about the social consequences of technological change (Autor, 2015; Acemoglu & Restrepo, 2019).
The concept of a just transition, traditionally associated with environmental and sustainability transformations, offers a valuable lens for understanding how organisations can manage digital transformation in a fair and inclusive manner. A just transition emphasises protecting workers, promoting reskilling and upskilling opportunities, fostering employee participation, and ensuring that the benefits of technological advancement are shared equitably across the workforce (International Labour Organization, 2015). At the same time, emerging research highlights that responsible and human-centred AI governance is becoming a critical capability for organisations seeking to balance innovation with social responsibility (Schmager et al, 2025).
Despite increasing investments in AI technologies, many organisations lack evidence-based strategies for integrating technological innovation with workforce sustainability and organisational justice. This project addresses this gap by exploring how multinational organisations can design and implement AI-driven transformation strategies that balance technological advancement with responsible workforce management.
Research Objectives
- Investigate how multinational organisations integrate AI technologies into their transformation strategies.
- Examine the organisational capabilities and governance mechanisms that enable a just workforce transition during AI adoption.
- Explore how reskilling, job redesign, and employee engagement contribute to workforce resilience in AI-enabled organisations.
- Develop a strategic framework for balancing technological innovation with workforce inclusion and long-term organisational sustainability.
The project may utilise qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods approaches, including case studies of multinational organisations, interviews with senior leaders and employees, organisational surveys, and comparative analyses across industries and countries. Engagement with policymakers, industry bodies, trade unions, and technology providers may further enhance understanding of emerging practices and governance approaches.
The research aligns with global priorities relating to responsible AI, the future of work, digital innovation, and sustainable business transformation. It will generate practical insights for business leaders, policymakers, human resource professionals, and technology strategists seeking to maximise the benefits of AI while minimising potential social and workforce disruptions.
The project is expected to contribute to scholarship in strategy, international business, human resource management, digital transformation, and responsible innovation by advancing understanding of how organisations can achieve technologically enabled growth while ensuring that workers are not left behind in the transition to AI-enabled workplaces.
References
cemoglu, D., & Restrepo, P. (2019). Automation and New Tasks: How Technology Displaces and Reinstates Labor. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 33(2), 3-30. https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.33.2.3
Autor, D. H. (2015). Why Are There Still So Many Jobs? The History and Future of Workplace Automation. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 29(3), 3-30. https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.29.3.3
International Labour Organization (ILO). (2015). Guidelines for a Just Transition towards Environmentally Sustainable Economies and Societies for All. Geneva: ILO. https://www.ilo.org/publications/guidelines-just-transition-towards-environmentally-sustainableeconomies (accessed 20 October 2026)
Nijhum, A. M. (2025). Artificial intelligence-driven digital transformation models for enhancing organizational communication and decision-making efficiency. American Journal of Scholarly Research and Innovation, 4(01), 536-577. https://doi.org/10.63125/8qqmrm26
Schmager, S., Pappas, I. O., & Vassilakopoulou, P. (2025). Understanding Human-Centred AI: a review of its defining elements and a research agenda. Behaviour & Information Technology, 44(15), 37713810. https://doi.org/10.1080/0144929X.2024.2448719
Verhoef, P. C., Broekhuizen, T., Bart, Y., Bhattacharya, A., Dong, J. Q., Fabian, N., & Haenlein, M. (2021). Digital Transformation: A Multidisciplinary Reflection and Research Agenda. Journal of Business Research, 122, 889-901. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.09.022
Zong, Z., & Guan, Y. (2025). AI-driven intelligent data analytics and predictive analysis in Industry 4.0: Transforming knowledge, innovation, and efficiency. Journal of the knowledge economy, 16(1), 864903. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-024-02001-z
How to apply
If you are interested in applying for the above PhD topic please follow the steps below:
- Contact the supervisor by email or phone to discuss your interest and find out if you would be suitable. Supervisor details can be found on this topic page. The supervisor will guide you in developing the topic-specific research proposal, which will form part of your application.
- Click on the "Apply here" button on this page and you will be taken to the relevant PhD course page, where you can apply using an online application.
- Complete the online application indicating your selected supervisor and include the research proposal for the topic you have selected.
Good luck!
This is a self-funded topic
Brunel offers a number of funding options to research students that help cover the cost of their tuition fees, contribute to living expenses or both. The UK Government is also offering Doctoral Student Loans for eligible students, and there is some funding available through the Research Councils. Many of our international students benefit from funding provided by their governments or employers. Brunel alumni enjoy tuition fee discounts of 15%.