Scaling AI literacy in organizations: A framework and roadmap for managers

Alexander Benlian, Paula Jaki, Armin Alizadeh and Furkan Özdemir

Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) from Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL)

Abstract: AI literacy has become a critical prerequisite for responsible and effective AI use, yet many organizations struggle to scale it beyond isolated training initiatives, pilots, or pockets of excellence. This article introduces a multi-layered framework for scaling AI literacy from local capability to enterprise-wide practice. Extending prior research on assessing and building rolespecific competencies, we show how AI literacy can be diffused, stabilized, and institutionalized within organizations over time. Building on prior work on AI literacy as an organizational capability, we conceptualize scaling as a coordinated process across three interdependent layers: (1) platforms & data, (2) people & practices, and (3) governance & strategy. We further show that these layers must be sequenced and reinforced over time to progress from experimentation to enterprise-wide institutionalization. Drawing on FinBroOrg, a large European financial brokerage group, as an illustrative case for roadmap co-development, we show how organizations can use the framework to plan and prioritize concrete scaling mechanisms—such as AI ambassadors, communities of practice, curated prompt playbooks, and AI centers of excellence—that support the transition from local experimentation toward shared routines and durable, governed use.

Date: 2026-09-08
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Published in Business Horizions (2026-09-08)

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