Dennis Pienaar

Dennis is exploring how self-efficacy, optimism bias, and trust in AI shape forecasting accuracy and human–AI collaboration in complex projects

PhD student Dennis Pienaar
PhD student Dennis Pienaar

Email: dennis.pienaar@vuw.ac.nz

Supervisors: Dr Alex Richter and Dr Markus Luczak-Roesch

Profile

With over 20 years of experience leading large-scale transformation programmes across public and private sectors, Dennis brings practical expertise in project management, benefits realization, and AI adoption into his research.

His career has spanned diverse industries and regions, where he has held senior leadership roles in financial modelling, governance, and digital transformation. Dennis holds an MBA, an MPA, and a Bachelor of Engineering, alongside professional certifications including CMA, CCMP, and provisional CAANZ membership.

He is also an accredited lecturer in project, programme, and portfolio management. His interest in the intersection of psychology, AI, and project management led him to pursue doctoral research into how self-efficacy and optimism bias influence trust in AI, with a view to improving forecasting and decision-making in organizational settings.

Abstract

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into organizational decision-making presents both opportunities and challenges, particularly around trust calibration and cognitive bias. This research investigates the relationship between self-efficacy, optimism bias, and trust in AI among professionals.

It examines how high and low levels of self-efficacy shape optimism bias and whether these pathways influence trust in AI systems. Further, it considers whether optimism bias mediates the relationship between self-efficacy and trust, potentially distorting decision-making and forecasting accuracy.

The study employs an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on psychology, project management, and AI governance frameworks. It aims to establish empirical evidence on how trust in AI can be measured, calibrated, and improved in professional contexts. Ultimately, the research seeks to provide both theoretical insights and practical guidance for organizations adopting AI, ensuring forecasting models are both reliable and ethically aligned.

Qualifications:

  • Master of Business Administration (MBA)
  • Master of Professional Accounting (MPA)
  • Bachelor of Engineering
  • Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
  • Certified Change Management Professional (CCMP)
  • Provisional Member, Chartered Accountants ANZ
  • Accredited Lecturer: PRINCE2, MSP, MoP, and Benefits Management

Research interests:

Dennis is passionate about bridging psychology, AI, and project management to tackle issues of bias, trust, and decision-making in complex organizational environments. His current research interests include:

  • Optimism bias in project forecasting
  • Trust calibration in human–AI collaboration
  • Explainable and ethical AI governance
  • Measurement theory for trust in automation and AI
  • Benefits realization and transformation management