Doctoral Research · Pepperdine University

Researching how
small businesses
become AI-ready.

The AI Readiness Index is a practical framework helping small and mid-sized businesses assess and build their capacity for meaningful AI adoption — grounded in decades of organizational theory.

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About

22 years of service.
A career in transformation.

Bryan Gaa is a 22-year U.S. Navy veteran and Senior Consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton, where he focuses on AI strategy and digital transformation for programs exceeding $10M.

As a doctoral researcher at Pepperdine University Graziadio Business School, his dissertation research develops the AI Readiness Index — a diagnostic framework built specifically for small and mid-sized businesses navigating AI adoption.

His research sits at the intersection of organizational theory, technology strategy, and real-world business practice — aimed at translating academic insight into tools practitioners can actually use.

Bryan Gaa
22
Years U.S. Navy Service
$10M+
Programs Managed
5
ARI Dimensions
EDBA
Pepperdine Graziadio
The Research

Built for businesses the big frameworks left behind.

Most AI adoption frameworks were designed for large enterprises — organizations with dedicated IT departments, mature data infrastructure, and capital reserves to absorb failed experiments. Small and mid-sized businesses operate in a fundamentally different reality.

The AI Readiness Index (ARI) addresses this gap. It measures readiness across five dimensions specific to SME context, giving business owners a practical diagnostic — not a Fortune 500 playbook.

01
Technology Maturity
Existing infrastructure, tools, and digital systems that enable or constrain AI integration.
02
Data Preparedness
Quality, accessibility, and governance of data assets available for AI applications.
03
Financial Capacity
Resources available to invest in, sustain, and absorb the costs of AI adoption.
04
Organizational Culture
Leadership openness, change tolerance, and the human dynamics of adoption.
05
Human-Centric Focus
Workforce skills, training capacity, and the people-centered dimensions of AI readiness.
Research Progress

Where the research stands.

The dissertation follows a structured six-phase process. Here's an honest look at where things are.

✓
Topic Selection & Committee Formation Complete
Research focus established · Committee chaired by Dr. Nelson Granados
✓
Seminar Paper Complete
ARI framework and DCT theoretical grounding developed
●
Comprehensive Literature Review In Progress
Target completion: August 2025 · Mapping 5 ARI dimensions across existing literature
○
Proposal Defense
Upcoming
○
Data Collection & Analysis
Survey instrument development · SME sample
○
Dissertation Defense
Final milestone
Updates

Thinking out loud.

May 2025 · 5 min read
Why SMEs Need Their Own AI Readiness Framework
Every major AI adoption framework on the market was built with large enterprises in mind. When a 40-person manufacturing firm asks "are we ready for AI?", the Fortune 500 playbook doesn't just fall short — it can actively mislead.
Read more
June 2025 · 6 min read
What Dynamic Capabilities Theory Tells Us About AI Adoption
Dynamic Capabilities Theory was built to explain why some firms adapt to market disruption while others don't. It also offers one of the sharpest lenses available for understanding AI adoption — particularly for smaller organizations.
Read more
Coming soon
The Five Dimensions of AI Readiness
A plain-language walkthrough of each ARI dimension — what it measures, why it matters, and what it looks like in practice for a real SME.
Get notified
Consulting

Practical AI strategy for San Diego businesses.

In addition to his research, Bryan advises small businesses in the San Diego area on practical AI strategy — helping owners cut through the hype and identify where AI can create real, near-term value for their operations.

The same rigor that drives the dissertation informs the consulting work: no buzzwords, no vendor agendas, just an honest assessment of where your business stands and what's worth doing next.

Get in touch

"Most small businesses don't need an AI strategy. They need to solve three specific problems — and AI might help with two of them."

The research and the practice inform each other. If you're a San Diego SME curious about AI, reach out.

Connect

Whether you're a researcher, a business owner, or a collaborator.

I'd like to hear from you — especially if you're a small business owner thinking through AI adoption, or a researcher working in adjacent areas.