IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/bushor/v64y2021i4p465-474.html

Will AI ever sit at the C-suite table? The future of senior leadership

Author

Listed:
  • Watson, Graeme J.
  • Desouza, Kevin C.
  • Ribiere, Vincent M.
  • Lindič, Jaka

Abstract

As the sophistication of artificial intelligence (AI) systems develop and AI becomes a key element of organizational strategy across a wide spectrum of industries, new demands are being placed on senior leaders. To understand the growing challenges leaders will face in the age of AI, we conducted interviews with 33 senior leaders in several countries across a wide range of industries. Our research highlights key capabilities and skills that leaders will require. Underlying these capabilities is a mindset oriented toward continuous learning and self-development, which will enable ongoing and rapid adaptation to change. Our findings identified the following key capabilities: digital know-how, data-driven focus, networking, ethics, and agility. To successfully navigate the coming era, senior leaders will need to focus on reskilling the workforce, recruiting and retaining highly skilled talent, building an intrapreneurial culture, and managing unprecedented changes in technologies and the nature of work.

Suggested Citation

  • Watson, Graeme J. & Desouza, Kevin C. & Ribiere, Vincent M. & Lindič, Jaka, 2021. "Will AI ever sit at the C-suite table? The future of senior leadership," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 64(4), pages 465-474.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:bushor:v:64:y:2021:i:4:p:465-474
    DOI: 10.1016/j.bushor.2021.02.011
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0007681321000136
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.bushor.2021.02.011?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Antoncic, Bostjan & Hisrich, Robert D., 2001. "Intrapreneurship: Construct refinement and cross-cultural validation," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 16(5), pages 495-527, September.
    2. Jarrahi, Mohammad Hossein, 2018. "Artificial intelligence and the future of work: Human-AI symbiosis in organizational decision making," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 61(4), pages 577-586.
    3. Desouza, Kevin C. & Dawson, Gregory S. & Chenok, Daniel, 2020. "Designing, developing, and deploying artificial intelligence systems: Lessons from and for the public sector," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 63(2), pages 205-213.
    4. Lee, In & Shin, Yong Jae, 2020. "Machine learning for enterprises: Applications, algorithm selection, and challenges," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 63(2), pages 157-170.
    5. Neubert, Mitchell J. & Montañez, George D., 2020. "Virtue as a framework for the design and use of artificial intelligence," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 63(2), pages 195-204.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Melinda Timea Fülöp & Constantin Aurelian Ionescu & Dan Ioan Topor, 2025. "Digital business world and ethical dilemmas: a systematic literature review," Digital Finance, Springer, vol. 7(1), pages 23-41, March.
    2. Alexandra Theben & Nia Plamenova & Ana Freire, 2025. "The “new currency of the future”: a review of literature on the skills needs of the workforce in times of accelerated digitalisation," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 75(1), pages 495-526, February.
    3. Simone Bevilacqua & Jana Masárová & Francesco Antonio Perotti & Alberto Ferraris, 2025. "Enhancing top managers' leadership with artificial intelligence: insights from a systematic literature review," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 19(9), pages 2899-2935, September.
    4. Safoora Pitsi & Jon Billsberry & Mary Barrett, 2024. "A Bibliometric Review of Research on Intelligence in Leadership Studies," FIIB Business Review, , vol. 13(5), pages 528-541, October.
    5. Olusegun Matthew Awotunde & Adewale Rafiu Aregbeshola, 2024. "Navigating the future workplace: intrapreneurship training and development for enhanced performance and organizational productivity," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 13(2), pages 127-136, March.
    6. Stefano D’Angelo & Angelo Cavallo & Antonio Ghezzi & Francesco Di Lorenzo, 2024. "Understanding corporate entrepreneurship in the digital age: a review and research agenda," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 18(12), pages 3719-3774, December.
    7. Dubey, Rameshwar & Bryde, David J. & Dwivedi, Yogesh K. & Graham, Gary & Foropon, Cyril, 2022. "Impact of artificial intelligence-driven big data analytics culture on agility and resilience in humanitarian supply chain: A practice-based view," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 250(C).
    8. Tan Yigitcanlar, 2021. "Greening the Artificial Intelligence for a Sustainable Planet: An Editorial Commentary," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-9, December.
    9. Nina Passlack & Teresa Hammerschmidt & Oliver Posegga, 2026. "With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility: What Shapes AI Literacy for Responsible Interactions of Knowledge Workers With AI?," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 28(1), pages 11-46, February.
    10. Dmitry A. Ruban, 2022. "Analytical Review of Conjugation of the Ethical Bases of Artificial Intelligence Implementation and Ecologization in Corporate Governance," Journal of Applied Economic Research, Graduate School of Economics and Management, Ural Federal University, vol. 21(2), pages 390-418.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Black, J. Stewart & van Esch, Patrick, 2020. "AI-enabled recruiting: What is it and how should a manager use it?," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 63(2), pages 215-226.
    2. Pietronudo, Maria Cristina & Croidieu, Grégoire & Schiavone, Francesco, 2022. "A solution looking for problems? A systematic literature review of the rationalizing influence of artificial intelligence on decision-making in innovation management," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    3. Robertson, Jeandri & Ferreira, Caitlin & Botha, Elsamari & Oosthuizen, Kim, 2024. "Game changers: A generative AI prompt protocol to enhance human-AI knowledge co-construction," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 67(5), pages 499-510.
    4. Berk Kaan Kuguoglu & Haiko van der Voort & Marijn Janssen, 2021. "The Giant Leap for Smart Cities: Scaling Up Smart City Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) Initiatives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-16, November.
    5. Jake B. Telkamp & Marc H. Anderson, 2022. "The Implications of Diverse Human Moral Foundations for Assessing the Ethicality of Artificial Intelligence," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 178(4), pages 961-976, July.
    6. Rajaram, Kumaran & Tinguely, Patrick Nicolas, 2024. "Generative artificial intelligence in small and medium enterprises: Navigating its promises and challenges," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 67(5), pages 629-648.
    7. Paschen, Ulrich & Pitt, Christine & Kietzmann, Jan, 2020. "Artificial intelligence: Building blocks and an innovation typology," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 63(2), pages 147-155.
    8. Makarius, Erin E. & Mukherjee, Debmalya & Fox, Joseph D. & Fox, Alexa K., 2020. "Rising with the machines: A sociotechnical framework for bringing artificial intelligence into the organization," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 262-273.
    9. Feng, Cai (Mitsu) & Botha, Elsamari & Pitt, Leyland, 2024. "From HAL to GenAI: Optimizing chatbot impacts with CARE," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 67(5), pages 537-548.
    10. Chahal, Hardeep & Gupta, Mahesh & Lonial, Subhash & Raina, Swati, 2019. "Operational flexibility-entrepreneurial orientation relationship: Effects and consequences," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 154-167.
    11. Chotia, Varun & Cheng, Yue & Agarwal, Reeti & Vishnoi, Sushant Kumar, 2024. "AI-enabled Green Business Strategy: Path to carbon neutrality via environmental performance and green process innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).
    12. Narayanan, V.K. & Yang, Yi & Zahra, Shaker A., 2009. "Corporate venturing and value creation: A review and proposed framework," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(1), pages 58-76, February.
    13. Nam, Jinyoung & Jung, Yoonhyuk & Kim, Junghwan, 2024. "Understandings of the AI business ecosystem in South Korea: AI startups’ perspective," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(6).
    14. Deryck J Van Rensburg, 2015. "The Promise of Corporate Entrepreneurship: A Review of Data Analytic Strategies," Business and Management Research, Business and Management Research, Sciedu Press, vol. 4(1), pages 59-73, March.
    15. Paschen, Jeannette & Wilson, Matthew & Ferreira, João J., 2020. "Collaborative intelligence: How human and artificial intelligence create value along the B2B sales funnel," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 63(3), pages 403-414.
    16. Tariq Aziz Tariq & Cemal Zehir, 2023. "Examining the relationship among innovation competencies, management innovation, and organizational performance," International Journal of Business Ecosystem & Strategy (2687-2293), Bussecon International Academy, vol. 5(4), pages 55-66, October.
    17. Elisabeth Nöhammer & Stefan Stichlberger, 2019. "Digitalization, innovative work behavior and extended availability," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 89(8), pages 1191-1214, December.
    18. Skarmeas, Dionysis & Lisboa, Ana & Saridakis, Charalampos, 2016. "Export performance as a function of market learning capabilities and intrapreneurship: SEM and FsQCA findings," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(11), pages 5342-5347.
    19. Jacques Bughin, 2024. "The Role of Firm AI Capabilities in Generative AI-pair Coding," Working Papers TIMES² 2024-076, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    20. Pedro Guerra & Mauro Castelli, 2021. "Machine Learning Applied to Banking Supervision a Literature Review," Risks, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-24, July.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:bushor:v:64:y:2021:i:4:p:465-474. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/bushor .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.