Strategic Judgment in Leadership Decision-Making: Evaluating AI in Organizational Contexts

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This paper presents a classroom-based approach for teaching strategic judgment in leadership decision-making through the evaluation workplace communication and incorporates the use of artificial intelligence (AI). As AI tools become more common in organizational settings, leaders and employees must be prepared to assess outputs that may appear professional while containing inaccurate, unsupported or potentially risky information. This paper describes an instructional case in which students examine an AI-generated response to an employee inquiry about workplace accommodations and Human Resources related matters. Students (1) evaluate the message for clarity, tone and apparent usefulness, then (2) analyze the organizational risks created when AI is tasked to evaluate policies, procedures or compliance claims. The activity requires students to revise their communication in a way that is accurate, careful and aligned with appropriate organizational processes while placing importance on the ethical use of AI. The paper discusses the design of the exercise, observed student responses and implications for leadership education. The activity offers a practical framework for helping students use AI as a support tool while maintaining human responsibility for verification, judgment and professional communication.