Complex systems thinking and modelling to navigate wicked business problems

Complex systems thinking and modelling to navigate wicked business problems

Advisor/s

A/Prof Ulf Schmitz, Dr Daniel Xing, Prof Andreas Lopata

College or Research Centre

College of Medicine & Dentistry; College of Public Health, Medical & Veterinary Science

Summary of Project

Join our dynamic research team at JCU and the Townsville Cancer Centre (TCC) for an exciting HDR (Higher Degree by Research) project that merges cutting-edge technology with critical clinical applications. Our umbrella project encompasses two groundbreaking research initiatives aimed at improving cancer treatment outcomes and patient care. Project 1: Enhancing Glioblastoma Treatment with Magnetic Resonance and Radiotherapy Glioblastoma (GBM) remains one of the most aggressive brain cancers, with limited survival rates despite recent advances in treatment. Our research focuses on the novel application of tumour treating fields and the integration of a magnetic resonance linear accelerator (MRL) to explore the biological effects of combining magnetic fields with ionizing radiation. We aim to uncover how these combined modalities impact tumour and immune cell interactions, ultimately seeking to improve GBM treatment efficacy. Project 2: Developing Blood-Based Surveillance for HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer Human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV-OPSCC) presents unique challenges in post-treatment surveillance, particularly for patients in remote regions. Our research aims to develop and validate a blood-based circulating HPV-DNA (cHPV-DNA) test using next-generation sequencing (NGS). This innovative approach will enable earlier detection of recurrent disease, reduce patient burden, and improve survival outcomes for HPV-OPSCC patients.

Business challenges frequently surface as inadvertent byproducts of past actions. Businesses, and the ecosystems within which they operate, often grapple with policy resistance – the inclination for well-meant interventions to be thwarted by the system’s reaction to the very interventions themselves. Through capturing the numerous interlinked and interdependent components within the ecosystem, as well as dynamic and nonlinear interactions amongst them, complex systems modelling can unveil the many unforeseeable emergent behaviours and outcomes that prove arduous to manage.

Given the significance of navigating such complexities, senior management must cultivate proficiency in systems thinking. However, the precise impact of complex systems modelling on their decision-making process, which necessitates adaptability, remains unclear. Adaptive decision-making involves assimilating knowledge, enhancing understanding, and tailoring managerial decisions effectively, all aimed at adeptly managing uncertainties.

We invite expressions of interest from potential doctoral researchers to engage in projects aimed at unravelling how the structure and data generated by complex systems modelling influence the strategic decisions of senior management, especially when these decisions carry substantial consequences, such as those involving significant capital investments. Doctoral research projects will discern how such modelling facilitates adaptive decision-making in the face of uncertainty.

Advisors: Professor Nico Adams, Professor Siggi Gudergan

Key Words

brain cancer; head and neck cancer; radiation oncology; biomarker; bioinformatics next generation sequencing

Would suit an applicant who

We invite motivated students with a passion for oncology, molecular biology, and innovative technology to apply. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to transformative research with the potential to significantly impact patient care and treatment outcomes.

is a professional and wants to advance thought leader knowledge and competencies as a means to move into senior consultant, advisor, director, partner, top management, and similar roles; or aspires to be a future academic who wants to have a successful career in business schools around the globe.

Updated: 11 Aug 2023