“Using AI to Drive Transformation in Project Leadership and Society”

Call for Papers – Special Collection: “Using AI to Drive Transformation in Project Leadership and Society”

Journal: Project Leadership and Society
Publisher: Elsevier
Submission deadline: 01 September 2026

Overview

This special collection—published by Elsevier—explores how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is redefining project management, leadership, and its broader impact on society. Moving beyond simple task automation, the collection examines how AI technologies—including machine learning, natural language processing, and generative AI—function as collaborative partners in complex project environments. The aim is to bridge the gap between theory and practice, demonstrating how AI can augment human decision-making, optimize resource allocation, and foster innovation while addressing the ethical and organizational challenges inherent in Human-AI collaboration.

Key Research Themes

• Project Lifecycle Integration: AI applications from requirements analysis and conceptual design to testing, vendor selection, and project execution.

• Generative AI & LLMs: Utilizing advanced language models for streamlining project planning, creative problem-solving, and decision support.

• Human-AI Collaboration: Dynamics of project leadership in AI-augmented teams, optimizing team performance, and building trust between human actors and AI systems.

• Risk Predictive Analytics: Using real-time data and historical trends to forecast project risks and proactively manage outcomes.

• Complex System Analysis: Integrating AI with structured methodologies to optimize project architecture, modular product development, and stakeholder analysis.

• The "Dark Side" of AI: Ethical risks, transparency, algorithmic bias, data security, and the impact of AI adoption on job roles and organizational culture.

Submission Details

• Submission window: Open now through 01 September 2026.

• Submission portal: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/project-leadership-and-society

• Special Instructions: You must select “SI: Project Leadership and AI” from the dropdown menu during the submission process.

• Optional Precheck: Authors may submit an abstract (500-750 words) to Prof. Qing Yang (yangqing@manage.ustb.edu.cn) with the subject line “PLAS SI: Project Leadership and AI” for a suitability review.

• Submission Standards: The journal invites empirical analyses, conceptual/theoretical papers, systematic reviews, case studies, and "next practice" papers. All manuscripts must adhere to the PLS Guide for Authors.

Guest Editor Team

• Prof. Qing Yang (Lead Editor), University of Science and Technology Beijing (yangqing@manage.ustb.edu.cn)

• Dr. Francesco Di Maddaloni, University College London (f.dimaddaloni@ucl.ac.uk)

• Dr. Antonio Calabrese, Polytechnic University of Milan (antonio.calabrese@polimi.it)

• Dr. Jianfeng Zhao, University of Northumbria at Newcastle (jianfeng.zhao@northumbria.ac.uk)

• Dr. Xingqi Zou, Kunming University of Science and Technology (zouxingqi1990@163.com)

Why This Issue Matters

AI is no longer just a productivity tool; it is a fundamental shift in how we lead and execute projects. This special collection provides a vital forum to understand this transition, offering decision-support insights for practitioners and a rigorous academic grounding for researchers looking to navigate the collaborative potential of the Human-AI era.

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