Emotional awarenessFerfoglia, Peter (Avtor) Besednjak Valič, Tamara (Avtor) Džajić Uršič, Erika (Avtor) AIartificial intelligenceemotional awarenessgroup dynamicsM&Aorganizational restructuringsocial transformationSMEtechnological impactSocial transformations can lead to complex changes with significant impacts on the effectiveness of work teams. Human resources departments are responsible for monitoring, understanding, supporting, and reassessing employees during organizational restructuring brought about by new cultural, social, and technological contexts. Based on semi-structured interviews with R&D employees, this qualitative case study examines emotional experiences during simultaneous social (M&A) and technological (AI integration) transformations. Key findings revealed initial fear, uncertainty, and later optimism, alongside challenges in emotional recognition. The article highlights the critical role of external HR consultants in fostering emotional resilience and adaptation within contexts of organizational change.Academia Publishing Group20252025-06-13 03:37:57Neznano22643sl© 2025 by the authors