Business Case Studies & Business Publications

CBS and the Strategic Script (B): Backla...

Palomba, Anthony;S...

Case

CBS and the Strategic Script (B): Backlash, Governance, and the Future of AI in Storytelling

Palomba, Anthony; Shaloudegi, Koushyar

BC-0328 | Published August 17, 2026 | 4 Pages Case

Collection: Darden School of Business

Product Details

In this case, a follow-up to "CBS and the Strategic Script (A)" (UVA-BC-0327), the natural language processing (NLP) dashboard has become visible, politicized, and contested. A mixed track record and a leaked email about the series Factors ignite backlash from writers and public scrutiny. Janell Oni considers whether to scale back, double down (create a formal stage-gate), or redesign governance in a hybrid model—potentially one coauthored with the Writers Guild of America (WGA)—as regulators and labor negotiations raise the stakes. What governance model should CBS adopt? How should Oni communicate it to restore legitimacy without promising perfect prediction or “no impact” on creative autonomy?

- Evaluate the organizational, ethical, and strategic risks that can emerge when AI tools move from supporting decisions to influencing or determining them. - Analyze how AI adoption can affect stakeholder trust, creative autonomy, and organizational power dynamics. - Develop governance principles that establish appropriate boundaries for AI use, including transparency, human oversight, and accountability. - Assess the role of stakeholder participation and codesign in building trust and legitimacy around AI implementation. - Compare alternative responses to AI-related backlash and recommend an approach that balances technological innovation with human judgment and organizational values. - Develop a strategy for communicating and defending AI governance decisions to stakeholders with competing interests.