Team CDE – Kevin Desouza

Kevin C. Desouza is a Professor of Business, Technology and Strategy in the School of Management at the QUT Business School. He is a Nonresident Senior Fellow in the Governance Studies Program at the Brookings Institution and is a Distinguished Research Fellow at the China Institute for Urban Governance at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. He has held tenured faculty appointments at the University of Washington, Virginia Tech, and Arizona State University. In addition, he has held visiting appointments at the London School of Economics and Political Science, Università Bocconi, University of the Witwatersrand, and the University of Ljubljana. Kevin has authored, co-authored, and edited nine books. He has published more than 130 articles in journals across a range of disciplines including information systems, information science, public administration, political science, technology management, and urban affairs.

What is your research focus?

My research examines the design and governance of information and innovation systems in complex environments. I enjoy working on wicked problems that require us to us to 1) work across disciplinary and geographical boundaries, 2) fuse together various theoretical perspectives and research methodologies, and 3) link together academic-practitioner networks. Current projects: 1) designing governance frameworks for cognitive computing systems in the public sector, 2) digital transformation and innovation initiatives for the resources sector, and 3) designing for robustness in the era of fragility.

What excites you most about the digital economy?

The opportunity to design a better future unencumbered by the limitations of the physical world. My research is about tackling current ills (e.g. weaponized information systems or fragile systems) to ensure that we can continue to gain from digital platforms.

Are you an optimist or pessimist about the future?

A realist. We can all design a more just and sustainable future, but doing so requires us to engage productively to tackle our most vexing challenges. Today, it is more important than ever to see opportunities in our environments rather than being disheartened by all the problems. Also, we need to take time to reflect on how our actions can shape our future.

Finish this sentence: In 2050, there will be…

… more time and energy for everyone to enjoy our wonderful planet. We will care more about the collective good and our shared future.

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