Three Business School PhD candidates and students have been selected as finalists for the UNSW 3 Minute Thesis competition. They’ll pitch their research that covers algorithmic decision-making, change communication, and longevity risk.
Could you explain your area of research in under 180 seconds? It's a conundrum that faced UNSW Business School PhD candidates and students Maria George, Phong Nguyen, and Doreen Kabuche during the Business School Heat round of the recent 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) competition.
"They adapted very well to the online format and they presented their research with enthusiasm,” explained Professor Karin Sanders, School of Management and Governance, UNSW Business School, who hosted the event.
Out of the competing UNSW Business School participants, Maria George, Phong Nguyen, and Doreen Kabuche were picked by the judges to take part in the university-wide finals, which will be held on 30 August 2021. To get them warmed up, we asked the finalists: what is your research about?
Check out their snappy responses below.
See also: Check out UNSW Business School’s other incredible researchers here.
Maria George (First Place), PhD candidate in School of Information Systems and Technology Management.
Thesis title: Societal implications of algorithmic decision-making systems
Our favourite quote from Maria: “It is important to highlight the beneficial use of these systems when they are designed and implemented correctly, and the harm they cause when they are not.”
Start by giving us your thesis in an elevator pitch:
My research aims to explore the unintended negative societal consequences of algorithmic decision-making systems with a specific focus on those used in the public sector.
I suggest in my study that the seductive premise of their efficiency sometimes displaces values of fairness and transparency compromising the trust people have in them.
In addition, my study suggests that the impacts of these systems are disproportionately felt by disadvantaged individuals and proposes that it is important that we see the complete picture of these systems especially given how intertwined our lives have become with technology.
So, what contemporary issue does your thesis address?
It seeks to understand the social impact the increase in the use of algorithms in the decision-making process has. Therefore, it aims to address how power structures are embedded in the design and implementation of these systems, and ultimately the consequences resulting from their extensive use.
Why is this relevant today?
I find my topic very relevant in our current situation. We depend on algorithms to make our lives more convenient, and government depends on these systems to reduce costs and potentially improve the decision-making processes related to their people’s lives.
However, it remains critical to understand how these systems make their decisions and ensure that no values are compromised in the process. So, it is important to highlight the beneficial use of these systems when they are designed and implemented correctly, and the harm they cause when they are not.
And why do you think others should apply to the 3MT competition?
I find this competition helps researchers frame their work in a very concise way. I also find that getting asked by family and friends what I research happens quite often, and to give them a summarised answer takes considerable effort due to all the factors involved in our research process.
The 3MT can help us capture a bird's eye view of our research project and go back to the original reason behind our study and the research question we wanted to explore. This also helps us highlight the value of our PhD, which I think becomes increasingly important as we progress towards the end of our candidature.
I also think the 3MT showcases the work PhD students are doing at UNSW, across schools and faculties.
Phong Nguyen (Second Place), PhD candidate in School of Management and Governance
Thesis title: Communicating change
Our favourite quote from Phong: “I often ask myself how I can explain my thesis … the 3MT competition is one of the best ways to learn such communication.”
Start by giving us your thesis in an elevator pitch:
Why do some organisations successfully convince their people to be ready for change whereas others completely fail to do so? To address this question, my thesis focuses on explaining how managers can communicate during the time of change so that their employees are willing to implement or work for the proposed change.
So, what contemporary issue does your thesis address?
Organisations regularly implement change. Examples of organisational change include reengineering, mergers, and acquisitions, implementation of new technology. And perhaps the most relevant example refers to any changes and adjustments related to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as working from home and online teaching.
But studies show that only a small proportion (around one-third) of organisational change efforts are considered as successful and that one of the first steps in implementing change is to convince employees to be ready or positive for a change. Accordingly, I find it crucial to understand the factors that influence employees’ attitudes toward organisational change such as readiness for change.
And why do you think others should apply to the 3MT competition?
In addition to doing research work, it is important to learn how to communicate the research outputs to other people who are not very familiar with the research topic. I often ask myself how I can explain my thesis – the one that I have been doing for more than three years, to my friends, colleagues, my job interviewers, and later, my children. And I think practicing or watching others doing the 3MT competition is one of the best ways to learn such communication.
See also: HR strengths: three keys to effective employee crisis communication
See also: Five ways leaders can create trust in times of uncertainty
Doreen Kabuche (Third Place), PhD candidate in School of Risk and Actuarial Studies
Thesis title: Longevity risk: Retirement product innovation and risk management strategies
Our favourite quote from Doreen: “Too much reliance on a public pension system becomes less affordable to most governments and pension schemes.”
Start by giving us your thesis in an elevator pitch:
It's about designing new retirement products to manage longevity risks and other financial risks at old ages, such as market and health risks. I apply robust models calibrated to real-life data to predict life expectancy and other financial factors in designing pension products.
Through these products, retirees can efficiently manage potential risks at old age, be provided with a high and smooth income, and have flexibility.
So, what contemporary issue does your thesis address?
My thesis addresses sustainability issues relating to ageing population i.e., longevity risk, the risk of outliving one's retirement assets, and other potential risks associated with long lifetimes.
Why is this relevant today?
Given the considerable current uncertainty in interest rates and improved life expectancy, too much reliance on a public pension system becomes less affordable to most governments and pension schemes. Therefore, we need better innovative solutions to finance retirement, and this is possible if we consider designing new retirement products.
And why do you think others should apply to the 3MT competition?
Students should apply for the 3MT competition to improve key skills, such as public speaking and communication skills. It is an excellent platform to convey their research topic and its significance in just three minutes to a non-specialist audience.
You can find out more about UNSW’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition here.
Want to find out more about research degrees with UNSW Business School? Check out the options here.