Why AI Deployment Fails in Organisations: A Socio-Technical Perspective on the Root Causes

AI deployment challenges often arise from misalignments between technological design and the social systems into which it is introduced. Drawing on Bostrom and Heinen’s (1977a) Socio-Technical Systems framework, this study analyses contemporary AI literature to identify the root causes of recurring failures. The work adapts the framework into a diagnostic tool that links socio-technical conditions to common AI challenges, offering both a conceptual lens for research and practical guidance for governance and design. While literature-based, the framework provides a foundation for empirical testing to improve proactive, context-sensitive AI integration.