Digital Leadership in the Era of AI: Present and Emerging Research Topics
Digital Leadership in the Era of AI: Present and Emerging Research Topics

Summary/Abstract: Purpose: This study explores the development of digital leadership in the context of rapid digital transformation and the expanding role of artificial intelligence. Its primary objective is to synthesize current knowledge on the concept of digital leadership and its core competencies and outline prospective research directions. To achieve this, the paper reviews existing research themes and examines the influence of digital leadership on various employee and organizational outcomes. Design/methodology/approach: The research employed a systematic literature review, incorporating content analysis of 162 peer-reviewed articles retrieved from two major academic databases: Scopus and Web of Science. This approach enabled a comprehensive and structured examination of existing knowledge on digital leadership, ensuring both the relevance and academic rigor of the sources included in the analysis. Findings: The findings indicate that the concept of digital leadership is frequently used interchangeably with terms such as e-leadership, virtual or digital transformation leadership, although the distinctions between them remain unclear. The study identifies several core competencies of digital leaders, including a combination of traditional and emerging leadership skills. Additionally, four current research topics were identified: the challenges of digital transformation, the competencies of digital leaders, measurement tools, and the impact of digital leadership on individual and organizational outcomes. A model of the impact of digital leadership on outcomes was presented Research limitations: Systematic literature review and content analysis are biased. However, the application of a strict procedure and its detailed description allows for the elimination of errors and the replication of results. Originality/value: A significant contribution is to present the current state of research by highlighting current topics and indicating relationships between various factors (mediators, moderators, and outcomes of digital leadership), and to propose possible topics for future research.

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