Historically Shaped Employee Sensemaking of GenAI in Legacy Manufacturing: A Technostress and Techno-Eustress Framework

This paper develops a framework explaining how organisational history influences employees' interpretations and experiences of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) adoption in legacy manufacturing organisations. It synthesises literature on organisational GenAI adoption, employee experience, organisational imprinting, sensemaking, technostress and techno-eustress. A structured, concept-centric review informs four theoretical propositions. Organisational imprints condition the frames employees bring to GenAI. Communication, training, task characteristics, peer interaction and direct use provide cues for ongoing sensemaking. Employees may experience GenAI demands as strain, constructive challenge or both; their actions generate further cues and shape implementation. The framework connects organisational imprinting with employee sensemaking, technostress, techno-eustress and the trajectory of GenAI implementation. This is a preprint and has not undergone peer review.