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Algorithmic Authority and the Complexities of Delegated Decision-Making: Case Studies on Ethical Challenges for 21st-Century Leadership

    Author

    • Victor Frimpong

    Management Department, SBS Swiss Business School, Zurich, Switzerland

,
Articles in Press
10.33844/ijol.2025.60525
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Abstract

The rapid integration of AI into high-stakes decision-making has outpaced traditional mechanisms for human oversight and accountability, leaving leaders without clear guidance on how to leverage algorithmic systems responsibly. To address this gap, we conducted a comparative qualitative study of four landmark AI deployments: the UK A-Level grading algorithm used during the COVID-19 pandemic, Amazon’s automated hiring tool, the COMPAS recidivism risk score in the U.S. criminal justice system, and the Dutch SyRI welfare-fraud detection system. Drawing on 61 publicly available government reports, internal memos, and media articles, we applied a rigorous two-phase grounded-theory coding process in NVivo, producing a comprehensive 32-item codebook and achieving substantial inter-coder reliability. We then quantified thematic occurrences across 110 coded segments and conducted chi-square tests to confirm consistent application of themes across cases. Our analysis yielded four actionable principles: 1) Intentionality—leaders must consciously elect to involve AI rather than default to automation; 2) Interpretability—systems should provide accessible explanations for bias detection and decision justification; 3) Moral Authorship—human actors must explicitly claim ultimate responsibility for outcomes; 4) Justice—delegation structures must be designed to prevent the perpetuation of existing inequities. Together, these principles form a reproducible analytical roadmap and offer practical guidance for accountable AI governance in high-stakes contexts.

Keywords

  • AI ethics in leadership
  • delegated decision-making
  • Algorithmic accountability
  • ethical AI governance
  • 21st-century leadership
  • AI moral responsibility

Main Subjects

  • Managers leadership tactics and consequences
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International Journal of Organizational Leadership

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 05 August 2025
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  • Article View: 22
  • PDF Download: 7

APA

Frimpong, V. (2025). Algorithmic Authority and the Complexities of Delegated Decision-Making: Case Studies on Ethical Challenges for 21st-Century Leadership. International Journal of Organizational Leadership, (), 637-655. doi: 10.33844/ijol.2025.60525

MLA

Frimpong, V. . "Algorithmic Authority and the Complexities of Delegated Decision-Making: Case Studies on Ethical Challenges for 21st-Century Leadership", International Journal of Organizational Leadership, , , 2025, 637-655. doi: 10.33844/ijol.2025.60525

HARVARD

Frimpong, V. (2025). 'Algorithmic Authority and the Complexities of Delegated Decision-Making: Case Studies on Ethical Challenges for 21st-Century Leadership', International Journal of Organizational Leadership, (), pp. 637-655. doi: 10.33844/ijol.2025.60525

CHICAGO

V. Frimpong, "Algorithmic Authority and the Complexities of Delegated Decision-Making: Case Studies on Ethical Challenges for 21st-Century Leadership," International Journal of Organizational Leadership, (2025): 637-655, doi: 10.33844/ijol.2025.60525

VANCOUVER

Frimpong, V. Algorithmic Authority and the Complexities of Delegated Decision-Making: Case Studies on Ethical Challenges for 21st-Century Leadership. International Journal of Organizational Leadership, 2025; (): 637-655. doi: 10.33844/ijol.2025.60525

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