Date of Conferral

4-30-2026

Degree

Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)

School

Management

Advisor

Rilla Hynes

Abstract

Ineffective implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) strategies can erode organizational performance. Senior business leaders who struggle to integrate AI into core operations may find their organizations facing increased costs, reduced efficiency, and weakened competitiveness. Grounded in Lewin’s change management theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry research project was to identify and explore effective strategies business leaders use to implement AI technologies to reduce costs and improve profitability. The participants were 10 senior business leaders who successfully implemented AI strategies within their organizations and were recruited via professional networking platforms. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and publicly available organizational documents. Through thematic analysis, six themes emerged: (a) strategic leadership role in AI strategy, (b) AI cost and profit strategies, (c) AI implementation challenges, (d) AI challenge mitigation, (e) AI performance measurement, and (f) AI institutionalization. A key recommendation is for senior leaders to operationalize AI through scalable use cases supported by continuous performance monitoring rather than isolated experimental projects. The implications for positive social change include the potential for business leaders to adopt responsible AI, supporting economic sustainability, employment continuity, and fairness in organizational decision-making.

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