Digital Leadership Capabilities in the Era of Generative AI: A Systematic Literature Review and Future Research Agenda

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6239-754-5_5How to use a DOI?

Keywords

digital leadership; generative AI; dynamic managerial capabilities; digital transformation strategy

Abstract

The rapid proliferation of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) technologies, including large language models and AI-driven decision-support systems, has fundamentally altered the organizational landscape, creating unprecedented demands on leadership capabilities. Despite growing scholarly interest in digital leadership, existing systematic reviews have not comprehensively addressed how GenAI specifically reshapes the competencies required of organizational leaders in the context of digital transformation strategy. This study aims to synthesize the extant literature on digital leadership capabilities within the era of GenAI, identify dominant theoretical frameworks, and map current research gaps. Employing a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) methodology guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol, a structured search was conducted across Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Taylor & Francis Online, covering publications from January 2019 to March 2026. Following the PRISMA-guided screening and eligibility process, 10 highly relevant peer-reviewed articles were included in the final thematic and content analysis. Findings reveal several critical digital leadership capabilities required in GenAI environments, including technological literacy, adaptive decision-making, transformational leadership, ethical AI governance, and human-centered leadership. The results further indicate that Upper Echelons Theory and Dynamic Managerial Capabilities Theory dominate the field, while human–machine collaboration and ethical AI governance remain critically undertheorized. This study provides an integrated understanding of digital leadership and GenAI adoption, offering strategic guidance for organizations navigating AI-driven transformation. Practically, the findings inform leadership development programs and digital transformation policy, particularly in emerging-economy contexts where GenAI integration is accelerating.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if you modified the licensed material. You do not have permission under this license to share adapted material derived from this chapter or parts of it.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Nadya Salsabillah Chriswanda
AU  - Edi Suryadi
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/02
TI  - Digital Leadership Capabilities in the Era of Generative AI: A Systematic Literature Review and Future Research Agenda
BT  - Proceedings of the International Conference on Digital Transformation in Business and Organisations (ICDTBO 2026)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 45
EP  - 55
SN  - 2352-5428
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6239-754-5_5
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6239-754-5_5
ID  - Chriswanda2026
ER  -