Christian Harrison

Facing escalating volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA), new paradigms that embrace systemic dynamism are needed to address leadership perspectives. This paper posits Complex Adaptive Leadership (CAL) as a viable theoretical framework to address the dynamism which the VUCA environment demands. Tracing its evolution from complexity theory to contemporary applications. the study argues that CAL’s emphasis on flexibility, decentralized decision-making, and emergent innovation equips organisations to thrive in chaos. Alternative perspectives, including critiques of competing models, are examined to present a balanced discourse. The study concludes with implications for practice and future research, advocating for CAL’s integration into modern leadership perspectives.

This developmental paper sets out the rationale and design for a study exploring the challenges of authentic leadership within Nigeria’s oil sector, a key driver of Africa’s largest economy. While authentic leadership has gained prominence as a corrective to ethical failings and declining trust in leadership, the construct remains conceptually fragmented, normatively framed, and predominantly shaped by Western contexts. Such framing risks overlooking the lived realities of leaders in developing economies, where socio political, regulatory uncertainty, and ethical tensions influence leadership practice.
The study proposes a phenomenological approach underpinned by interpretivism to capture leaders lived experiences in this complex setting. Authentic leaders will be identified through follower nominations, ensuring that authenticity reflects recognition by subordinates rather than self-assertion. Semi structured interviews will provide rich qualitative data, with analysis following a systematic coding process to surface both explicit accounts and underlying meanings. Reflexivity, member checking, and peer debriefing are planned to enhance transparency and rigour.

This study examines the influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on leadership in organisations and spotlights the emerging notion of automated leadership. Conventionally, leadership has been noted as human-focused, and thrives on human abilities like empathy, emotional intelligence, decision-making, and interpersonal skills. However, with an unprecedented rise in computer processing power and automation, AI is revolutionising leadership roles, with artificially intelligent agents now performing strategic-level functions hitherto conducted by human-leaders. However, despite the promised potentials and benefits, concerns have surfaced regarding the impacts of AI-automated leadership on team outcomes, particularly conflict management. Therefore, using phenomenology and case study design and focusing on UK organisations in the logistics and warehouse sector-where adoption of AI-powered automated leadership systems has surged-we examine the influence of AI-automated leadership agents on conflicts within working teams. After theoretically examining traditional leadership and team conflict models vis-à-vis AI-automated leadership, the study proceeded to hypothesise and operationalise efficient conflict management approaches for this emerging paradigm.

Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria has been widely analysed for its authoritarian control, coercive governance, and psychological manipulation. This study critically examines dark leadership characteristics within Assad's rule, mainly through narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. It explores how Assad's leadership has manipulated political institutions, repressed opposition, and weaponised propaganda to maintain power, alongside the psychological and social consequences on Syrian society. This research uses qualitative research to incorporate political discourse analysis, thematic analysis of testimonies, and comparative studies of authoritarian regimes. The findings suggest that Assad's leadership has eroded political institutions, instilled long-term psychological trauma, and fragmented Syrian civil society. Additionally, the international community's response to Assad's rule has been inconsistent, reflecting broader challenges in addressing authoritarian leadership and human rights violations. This study contributes to political psychology, governance studies, and international relations, offering insights into the mechanisms of dark leadership and the challenges of dismantling authoritarian structures. The findings provide policy recommendations for rebuilding governance structures, addressing collective trauma, and mitigating the effects of autocratic rule in post-Assad Syria.

This developmental paper presents initial findings from a narrative literature study on the digital ecosystem, gig workers, and the gig economy. Our analysis is based on 24 articles included in the narrative literature review. As a result, we propose a conceptual framework for the digital labour ecosystem, drawing on evidence from current digital ecosystems through a labour perspective. Furthermore, we identify seven key personal resources of gig workers. This paper provides a broader perspective on the digital ecosystem by examining workers' mechanisms. Our findings also highlight how these seven personal resources, specific to gig workers, differ from those of traditional employees.

Startups are often exhilarating, akin to an outdoor adventure, but challenges can quickly arise, exacerbating stressors. This study investigates the underexplored potential of how exposure to nature can impact early-stage startup co-founder teams. It explores how a nature-based retreat influences shared leadership development particularly in the areas of trust and cohesion. Using a hybrid methodology integrating phenomenology and case study approaches, the study is guided by Tuckman's Group Development Model,

This study will explore sustainable leadership in the hotel industry of Nigeria through a multi-level competency model approach. Financial restrictions, knowledge gaps, and different managerial competencies make it difficult for Nigerian hotels to incorporate sustainable practices as sustainability becomes a major concern of leadership. This study intends to pinpoint important sustainable leadership competencies at the top, middle, and lower management levels, thereby addressing adoption challenges and offering a structure for successful application. This qualitative study will examine 35 hospitality industry participants. Purposive sampling will ensure sector role diversity. Semi-structured interviews will allow for thorough discussions while maintaining flexibility. The interviews will be recorded and transcribed for research. Thematic analysis will identify, assess, and summarise data themes to provide a complete understanding. This study will provide insightful analysis for legislators, hotel managers, and stakeholders in improving sustainable leadership practices utilizing a multi-level competency model. The results will help to close the knowledge-application gap in competencies challenges faced by the tier of management in hospitality industries.

This study on crisis leadership is motivated by the increasing awareness that companies are dealing with more complicated problems because of unstable economies, poor leadership, and rapid technology development. These factors have intensified concerns about crises leadership and the necessity for proficient approach. Harrison, Paul, and Burnard (2016) underscore the significance of examining leadership and followership across many contexts, particularly in developing countries, since the majority of crisis leadership research is Western-centric and overlooks other locations.
This study examines the perceptions of leaders and followers in the Nigerian insurance sector regarding crisis leadership, addressing a gap in the existing literature. Financial volatility, regulatory changes, and weak institutional frameworks are characteristic of the industry and differ from those in Western regions. This study aims to (1) define crisis leadership and (2) analyse its evolution in emerging economies, with an emphasis on follower perceptions.