Aleks Vladimirov

Job title: Head of Research and Design  

Professional Body: Operational Research Society

Why did you decide to apply for ORS membership? 

As a researcher who works on areas of uncertainty, political and ethical dilemmas, I often feel the need to check back with a code of conduct outside myself. That's why I decided to apply for membership with The Operational Research Society (ORS). Being a member provides me with a framework for ethical and professional behaviour in my work. It gives me the confidence that my research is being conducted in a responsible and accountable manner. ORS membership also shows my commitment to continuous professional development (CPD) and staying up to date with the latest developments in my field. 

How has being an ORS member made an impact on your work or career? 

Having ORS membership status has made a significant impact on my work and career. It has given me the confidence of having an accreditation over and above what many in my industry do not have. This status shows my commitment to high ethical and professional standards, and it has helped me to stand out.  

At Adapt Inc. Research Labs, I have been leading on the ethics of design for some clients where I had to advocate against the justification of behavioural nudges which are seen as unproblematic by policy makers but not in academic research. My ORS member status has helped me to have confidence in myself to take stakeholders through workshops that highlight how nudges that are not present in the minds of those who are nudged are not trivial and that explicit behavioural boosts or tools can perform just as well with less ethical issues. 

What did you learn through completing the application process? 

Completing the ORS membership application process taught me how to defend my lab's practices with blind peer reviewers while also thinking about further objective standards to show that my intention is to conduct proper research. This experience led me to purchase the ISO standard for qualitative research and seek practical certification in design, which is not part of my academic training but a practice that I have developed on the job. Through the application process, I learned to think critically about my work, identify areas for improvement, and demonstrate my commitment to high ethical and professional standards. 

What do you value most about being a member of the ORS? 

A sense of belonging while not being committed to exclusively to one discipline as I believe in the idea of there being SOME unity of science.  

What would you say to any other scientist like yourself who is thinking about becoming an ORS member? 

It feels good to know there is something you can show that says you are an OR professional when all institutions seem to be up for grabs by one comment on social media. While some institutions truly are failing to match the needs of our world, I feel that that the ORS will keep up and show it is not one such institution. 

Adapt Inc. Research Labs can be found at adaptinc.co.uk

Aleks Vladimirov can be found on LinkedIn here