The 8-Article Series on Constraint Coupling
Despite massive investments, 88% of AI deployments in SMEs fail to deliver measurable productivity gains. This article examines the structural reasons behind this paradox, drawing from 80+ field audits. We argue that the failure is not technological but organizational, rooted in unresolved constraint couplings.
April 2026Traditional adoption models (TAM, UTAUT) focus on individual acceptance factors. We demonstrate their inadequacy for SME contexts where a single decision-maker concentrates operational, strategic, and technological constraints. A new unit of analysis is needed.
April 2026We introduce the concept of constraint coupling, extending Goldratt's Theory of Constraints. When a human bottleneck (dirigeant-goulot) is coupled with fragmented IS, technology deployment produces amplification, rejection, or workarounds rather than improvement.
May 2026In 95% of SMEs audited, the owner-manager operates as the system's primary constraint. This article characterizes the dirigeant-goulot phenomenon and its implications for any technology deployment strategy.
May 2026We propose a three-phase deployment sequence: Align data flows (A), Assist teams (B), then Automate (C). Empirical evidence from 3 longitudinal case studies shows that violating this sequence produces predictable failure patterns.
June 2026Detailed multi-case analysis of three SMEs (accounting, construction, agriculture) demonstrating how constraint coupling manifests differently across industries while producing isomorphic failure patterns.
June 2026We formalize CCT into five testable predictions (H1–H5) with operationalized metrics. Each hypothesis specifies measurement instruments, expected effect sizes, and falsification criteria, establishing CCT as a refutable theoretical contribution.
July 2026We outline a research program for CCT formalization: 10 instrumented audits over 12 months, mixed-methods design, and submission to ICIS 2026. This article serves as both a research agenda and a call for collaboration.
July 2026