Exploring signs of hubris in CEO language (2014). Can software identify hubristic CEO-speak?

“Reports on the authors’ study into whether DICTION computer-assisted text analysis software could help identify hubristic language from Chief Executive Officers. The results, although mixed, show some promise

Amernic, J: Joseph L Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
Craig, R: School of Accounting and Finance, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia

Chapter contributed to ‘Communication and Language Analysis in the Corporate World’,  edited by R P Hart and published by IGI Global, 2014.

This chapter reports on the authors’ study into whether DICTION computer-assisted text analysis software could help identify hubristic language from Chief Executive Officers.

The authors make some exploratory predictions and assess them using the speeches of John Browne, former CEO of British Petroleum. They then apply the results of that assessment to speeches and letters from News Corporation’s CEO, Rupert Murdoch.

“The results, although mixed, show some promise regarding DICTION’s usefulness of in identifying hubristic CEO-speak.

“One interesting finding is that DICTION’s calculated variable, Variety, is associated strongly and consistently with the language both Browne and Murdoch have used.”

The authors attribute this to Browne and Murdoch “possibly experiencing low anxiety as they strived to manage impressions of themselves by inducing the outside world to “know” what they were seemingly utterly convinced about – their own superiority.”

Access the full chapter here: Exploring signs of hubris in CEO language