The ambitious overarching aim of this project is to create an integrated representation of all data relevant to the tenure of different forms of power.
By applying graph theory to visualise and understand networks of interrelated information, we expect to be able to identify determinants of behaviour and personality change in powerful leaders. We hope that this will lead to insights into the complex of attributes that characterise individuals holding power. We are particularly interested in the differences between those who displayed hubristic behaviour during their tenure of office, and those who remained free from this damaging pattern of behaviour.
Knowledge graph methodology allows various types of information deriving from heterogeneous sources (for example, information relating to developmental, educational, behavioural, and experiential factors) to be represented in a single data structure. The resulting graph can be interrogated to extract a similarly heterogeneous combination of contributory factors and their interplay, as influences on the development or avoidance of hubris.
Understanding these factors will contribute to the development of theoretical models and methods to analyse the ‘light and dark sides’ of leadership, including leadership hubris and the ‘Hubris syndrome’. Thus deepened, our understanding will in turn generate insights into the risks of hubristic behaviour and help to define with greater specificity the fundamental moral challenges of leadership.
We are sure that the application of this novel methodology will raise awareness about hubris, and hope that it will contribute to the understanding of leadership, impact on leader selection and development, and help to prevent organisational failures.
Key terms
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Knowledge graphs are data structures that represent factual knowledge using a data model in which the nature of entities and the relationships between them are represented.
Specifications of the meanings of entities and of the relationships between them are derived from model taxonomies and descriptive metadata which can lead to the generation of new data by inference.
Hubris syndrome is a mental disorder that is caused by the possession of power, usually after a period of overwhelming success.
The duration of power and the constraints on the leader’s freedom to act are key factors in the development of the characteristic behavioural and personality changes.