Generative AI adoption and agile management systems: insights from HR managers

Purpose This study aims to examine the perceptions of HR managers towards integrating generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in the context of an agile management system, with employee well-being as the central analytical lens. It also aims to explore the human-centric implications in line with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on inclusive productivity and reskilling as organizations increasingly adopt GenAI. The study treats GenAI opportunities as helpful resources and challenges as demands using the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model as a central guide. It also considers employee skills and organizational support as resources that shape how these factors influence overall well-being. Design/methodology/approach A panel of 17 HR managers participated in the study based on Delphi methodology. The process included qualitative and quantitative rounds. Participants identified and rated key themes on a seven-point Likert scale. The JD-R framework shaped both the analysis and interpretation. It ensured alignment between the findings and the study’s well-being-focused contribution. Findings Descriptive statistics and a Kendall’s W of 0.68 showed strong consensus among the participants. HR managers perceived that GenAI may act as a catalyst for employee autonomy and creativity that supported SDG 8 (decent work) and SDG 9 (innovation). However, expert HR perspectives on employee-facing implications suggest concerns about skill anxiety and potential role transformation. Moreover, ethics and data privacy were found indispensable for building trust and managing risks, which aligned with SDG 10 (reduced inequalities). The identified tensions between autonomy and governance, as well as productivity and anxiety, are ongoing paradoxes rather than trade-offs. They are managed through governance that reduces uncertainty, enhances psychological safety and strengthens employee agency. Practical implications These findings offer actionable insights for organizational leaders and policymakers to support human-centric GenAI in agile workplaces. It also advances SDG-aligned strategies to ensure equitable growth. Originality/value The paper provides a unique expert-led perspective on the human-centric aspects of GenAI adoption in agile management systems integrated with SDGs. Its originality lies in linking Delphi findings to employee well-being through the JD-R model and paradox theory. It also demonstrates the role of governance in shaping well-being outcomes.