DC03 · Leader Legitimacy in Augmented Leadership

Short description

When AI takes on decisions, coordination and oversight, what makes a human leader a legitimate source of authority? This project investigates how leaders build, lose and regain legitimacy as AI becomes more involved in leadership work. It will examine how employees respond to different allocations of decision rights, transparency, human override and visible oversight.

The research also considers leaders’ own experiences of changing identity and responsibility, including situations where the volume of AI-mediated work exceeds what they can realistically evaluate. Critical incidents, surveys and interventions will inform a grounded account of legitimacy challenges and recovery. Work with executive learners will help translate the findings into approaches for maintaining independent judgement and accountability.

Recruitment information

Interested in this project?

Postings are opening throughout autumn 2026.

The official university vacancy will be linked here as soon as it is published, with its application procedure and deadline.

Job advert coming soon

You may apply to up to four EMANAIRE doctoral projects. Submit a separate application for each position and briefly identify your other EMANAIRE applications, including any you intend to submit, in each motivation or cover letter.

What the project involves

Analyse critical incidents and survey evidence to understand how leaders build, lose and regain legitimacy when using AI.
Examine how decision rights, transparency, human override and oversight shape employees’ judgements of leader authority.
Investigate how reliance on AI changes leaders’ identity and responsibility, including situations where oversight becomes difficult.
Design and test interventions with executive learners to support independent judgement and accountability.