Theses
Information and Topics for your Bachelor and Master Thesis
Information and Topics for your Bachelor and Master Thesis
Basic research question/Objective:
Motivation/Puzzle:
From prior literature we know the innovation process suffers from high uncertainty (Rhaiem and Amara 2021). To deal with uncertainty and to improve the rate of new ventures’ success, scholars developed Innovation Maturity Models (IMM) as a structured approach to the innovation process. They allow enable entrepreneurs to make more informed, data-based decisions during the innovation process, and thus, increase new venture performance while reducing uncertainty in the innovation process.
Maturity models (MM) in general are a commonly used tool for the evaluation of processes based on quantitative and qualitative data and take the view of either a performance or lifecycle perspective. Literature is categorized in model development, model application, and model validation (Wendler 2012).
Recent unstructured investigation and scarce theoretical literature on IMM mainly focus on development, where scholars assume that existing MM from other disciplines can be adapted to application to the innovation process. Hence, there is a need for a systematical comparison of existing innovation maturity models regarding structures, contents, underlying theories, assumptions, and processes. The results may be useful as quality indicators, which have to be prevalent when developing innovation maturity models. Furthermore, there is a call for investigations to compare MMs from different fields regarding structures, contents, underlying theories, assumptions, and processes to identify quality indicators for MM (Wendler 2012).
Methodology/Tools:
Literature Review
Contribution:
Language:
English
Supervisor:
Literature:
Additional literature:
Basic research question/Objective:
What is the current state of literature about and related to data ecosystems and how can it be structured?
Motivation/Puzzle:
Data has changed from being a purely incidental result of value generation processes to a strategic resource and, in some cases, a standalone product (Jarke et al., 2018). Such data-driven innovation and economic value creation is increasingly occurring in cross-industry, socio-technical networks – so-called data ecosystems or data ecosystem – rather than in traditional value chains or by a single firm (Hein et al. 2019; Oliveira and Lóscio 2018).
According to some authors, ecosystem engagement is no longer a choice for enterprises in today’s world, but rather a requirement (Llewellyn & Erkko 2015, Selander et al. 2013). This is also reinforced by McKinsey, which predicts that ecosystems would contribute 30% of global GDP by 2025 (Lorenz 2018). While data ecosystems are becoming more important, many organizations continue to pursue individual strategies and so do not take advantage of data ecosystem services, which entail data sharing and consequently collaborations (Kaiser et al. 2019; Prieelle et al. 2020).
Methodology/Tool:
Relevant data is identified by employing a systematic literature review, which is further examined and synthesized. The data should be acquired from the research of leading business information systems journals (cf. for example the Jourqual ranking; Basket of eight).
Contribution:
This thesis contributes by enhancing the knowledge about the evolution of data ecosystems and how companies can accelerate data ecosystems for joint value creation. Thus, it consolidates and critically reflects the current state of research in this stream.
Sprache:
English
Supervisor:
Literature:
Basic research question/Objective:
Motivation/Puzzle:
From prior literature, we know that the process of innovation, encompassing the business model innovation (BMI) process, suffer from high uncertainty (Rhaiem and Amara 2021). In general, BMI may refer to the design of novel BMs for newly formed organizations.
Similar to Lehmann et al. (2022), who analyzed tensions arising when designing digital market offerings from a design research perspective, BM can be seen as artifacts that function as interface between the inner and outer environments of new ventures and that need to deal with similar tensions during the design process. Examples for uncertainties from the outer environment could be uncertain future market conditions (e.g., political, environmental, economic, legal, competition, customer demand, … (Brillinger et al., 2020)) and dynamics (Massa & Tucci, 2013). Examples for the inner environment might be, on the one hand side, computational complexity which arises because of the large number of logically possible combinations between BM components, activities and/or choices (Massa & Tucci, 2013). On the other hand, dynamic complexity which arises because of the non-linear interdependencies—including delays and feedback loops—between BM components, activities and/or choices (Massa & Tucci, 2013).
Therefore, BMs cannot be fully planned ex ante. Rather they take shape through a discovery-driven process that suffers from internal and external uncertainties (Brillinger et al., 2020; Massa & Tucci, 2013). During this process entrepreneurs have to make decisions under these uncertainties.
The literature of entrepreneurial decision-making encompasses multiple theories, such as behavioral decision making, effectuation vs causation (Futterer et al., 2018), resource-based view or hypotheses-based decision making (Camuffo et al., 2020) and their effect on new venture performance, and success rates of startup. So far, little research has been conducted what theories are applicable in what way during the process of business model development. In order to deal with the uncertainties during this process, we need to understand, how to make decisions when developing BM to increase the potential success of the newly designed BM. A better understanding of the application of different theories will help entrepreneurs to make more informed decisions and enable better predictions (Camuffo et al., 2020), and thus, increase new venture performance while reducing uncertainty in the innovation process.
Therefore, this study lines up with research focusing on elements and processes of BMI (Schneider & Speith, 2013), such as BMI for continuous reaction to changes in the environment, BMI as an evolutionary process, BMI as an on-going learning process and as a discovery-driven, trial-and-error-based process rather than an analytical approach and the role of leadership and decision-making within the process of conducting BMI.
Methodology/tools:
Literature Review
Contribution:
Sprache:
English
Supervisor:
Literatur:
Additional Literature:
Basic research question/Objective:
Motivation/Puzzle:
Driven by technological progress and the need to innovate, we can witness a growing dependence on information technologies at the societal, organizational as well as individual level (Kotlarsky et al., 2020). Organizations face critical challenges of organizing and competing for success in a fast-changing business environment (Henfridsson and Yoo, 2014). To remain competitive, incumbent firms recognize an increasing necessity of digital innovations, which are not only crucial to technology companies but also to functional units across all industries (Tumbas et al., 2018). Due to their generative and convergent nature (Yoo et al., 2010) digital innovations have radically changed the kind and structure of products and services (Nambisan et al. (2017), enabling new possibilities for creating and transforming value, experiences, relationships, and organizational forms (Yoo et al., 2012; Tumbas et al., 2018). To effectively tackle the imminent challenges of digital innovation and promptly adapt to disruptive changes, firms are required to reassess their existing organizational logic and corporate IT utilization to keep up with their networked character. This revision is essential for facilitating the adoption of new structures and processes that alleviate the growing tension between established business models and the evolving demands of digital innovation (Urbach et al., 2017, Yoo et al., 2012). So far, we know a lot about the idiosyncrasies of digital innovation (e.g., Yoo et al., 2012) and their consequences, for example, the rise of tensions (e.g., Svahn et al., 2017). However, it is still unclear what kind of changes digital innovation trigger and how companies, especially traditional ones, handle them.
Methodology/Tools:
Relevant data is identified by employing a systematic literature review, which is further examined and synthesized to provide an overview of what changes digital innovations trigger in organizations. Therefore, the data should be acquired from research of leading business information systems journals (cf. for example the Jourqual ranking; Basket of eleven)
Contribution:
This thesis contributes by enhancing the knowledge of the changes and challenges brought by digital innovation. Thus, it consolidates and critically reflects the current state of research in this stream.
Sprache:
English
Supervisor:
Literatur:
Basic research question/Objective:
What is the current state of literature about and related to sustainability in digital resilience and how can it be structured?
Motivation/Puzzle:
The socio-technical tension in resilience research has been an omnipresent topic since the COVID-19 pandemic, which is gaining relevance precisely because of its diverse interactions (Weber et al., 2021). Particularly through the use of information technologies can the resilience of complex and vulnerable systems be addressed (Schemmer et al., 2021). Currently systematic literature reviews address the overall topic of digital resilience (Weber et al. 2021; Bhamra et al., 2011). In order to better address the advancing climate change, a comprehensive understanding of the sustainable components of digital resilience is needed. In this paper, central aspects of the research streams are systematically elaborated.
Methodology/Tools:
Relevant data is identified by employing a systematic literature review, which is further examined and synthesized based on the method of Webster & Watson, (2002). The data should be acquired from the research of leading business information systems journals (cf. for example the Jourqual ranking; AIS Basket of eleven).
Contribution:
This work contributes to the body of knowledge on the components of digital resilience related to sustainability. Thus, it consolidates and critically reflects the current state of research in this area. Hereby, research fields can be identified.
Sprache:
English
Supervisor:
Literatur:
Basic research question/Objective:
Motivation/Puzzle:
Digital resilience is a way to make prevailing systems more resilient through the use of digital technologies (Oliveira, 2023). In order to address given challenges (climate change, disrupted supply chains, etc.) of businesses and societies, systematic approaches need to be created that make systems more resilient. The scientific community is specifically called upon to engage with resilience research and the creation of new understanding (Rai, 2020). In order to be able to take on this creative role, a fundamental understanding of what is meant by digital resilience is required. In particular, what research streams it includes. There are studies that have worked out the basic connections (Weber et al., 2021), that have worked out the resilience attributes (Russpatrick et al., 2023) and that have dealt with the components of shocks (Olivera, 2023). Especially the lack of a clear conceptualization is often criticized (Heeks & Ospina, 2019). A taxonomy can address the illustration of dependencies if it is carried out systematically and scientifically.
Methodology/Tools:
Relevant data is identified by employing a systematic literature review, which is further examined and synthesized. The data should be acquired from the research of leading business information systems journals (cf. for example the Jourqual ranking; Basket of eleven). Afterwards the gathered insights are structured based on Nickerson et al. (2013).
Contribution:
This thesis contributes by enhancing the knowledge about the components and dependencies of digital resilience. Thus, it consolidates and critically reflects the current state of research in this stream.
Sprache:
English
Supervisor:
Literatur:
Basic research question/Objective:
Motivation/Puzzle:
The socio-technical tension in resilience research has been a pervasive theme since the COVID-19 pandemic and is gaining relevance precisely because of its multiple interactions (Weber et al., 2021). In particular, the use of information technologies can address the resilience of complex and vulnerable systems (Schemmer et al., 2021). It becomes apparent that the concept of system is also understood very differently. For example, Heeks and Ospina (2019) define "systems of all kinds", whereby it can be assumed that systems behave differently and therefore these differences must be addressed in the work. Systematic literature reviews are currently being conducted on the topic of digital resilience (Weber et al., 2021; Bhamra et al., 2011). To better address, for example, advancing climate change, a comprehensive understanding of data ecosystems and their role in resilient systems is required. It is known that digital resilience is a way to make dominant systems more resilient using digital technologies (Oliveira, 2023). In particular, the role of data needs to be emphasized. For example, it enables systems to respond to shocks in a more scalable way (Oliveira, 2023; Boh et al., 2023; Heeks & Ospina, 2019). Data platforms in particular can contribute to this, for example through configurability (Russpatrick et al., 2023).
Methodology/Tools:
The thesis can be based on the literature or on qualitative interviews with experts. Conducting expert interviews is intended for a Master's thesis. Relevant data will be identified through a systematic literature review, which will be further examined and synthesized using the Webster & Watson (2002) method. Data should be sourced from research in leading business information systems journals (e.g., Jourqual ranking; Basket of eight). Alternatively, grounded theory can be used to gain qualitative insights into the resilience characteristics of data ecosystems.
Contribution:
This thesis contributes to the body of knowledge on the components of digital resilience in the context of sustainability. It consolidates and critically reflects the current state of research in this area. In particular, the environment of data ecosystems requires the identification of resilience characteristics that need to be considered in the implementation.
Language:
English
Supervisor:
Literature:
Basic research question/Objective:
Motivation/Puzzle:
Research emphasizes that traditional IT governance mechanisms may no longer be suitable to effectively support digital innovation due to their static nature (Gregory et al., 2018; Vaia et al., 2022; Vejseli et al., 2018). As a consequence, it is more common for business functions to try to circumvent these constraints by using digital solutions that are not approved by the IT function (Gregory et al., 2018). Thereby, they aim to enhance flexibility, speed, and the ability to adapt digital technologies to their everyday needs.
While previous research has mainly focused on the negative outcomes of bypassing IT governance policies (e.g., Furstenau et al., 2017), there are exceptions that demonstrate its positive impact in allowing business functions to overcome constraints when working on innovative ideas (e.g., Koch et al., 2021; Magnusson et al., 2020).
As research is still puzzled about whether deviance from IT is mainly negative or can also be positive, further research is needed to clarify this question. Furthermore, as companies increasingly face the challenge to deal with IT governance bypassing, a better understanding of how to manage it appears to be valuable.
Methodology/Tool:
In-depth literature review & survey
Contribution:
This thesis contributes by enhancing the knowledge of IT governance deviance and how it can be managed. Thus, it consolidates and critically reflects the current state of research in the context of digital innovation.
Language:
English
Supervisor:
Literature:
Basic research question/Objective:
Motivation/Puzzle:
BMI may refer to the design of novel BMs for newly formed organizations, or the reconfiguration of existing BMs (Massa & Tucci, 2013). BMs cannot be fully planned ex ante. Rather they take shape through a discovery-driven process that suffers from uncertainties (Brillinger et al., 2020; Massa & Tucci, 2013). Same holds true for digital BMs. Similar to Lehmann et al. (2022), who analyzed tensions arising when designing digital market offerings from a design research perspective, digital BM can be seen as artifacts that function as interface between the inner and outer environments of digital ventures and that need to deal with similar tensions during the design process.
To design, develop, and implement digital business model innovation remains important for new ventures to profit from digital technologies (Trischler & Li-Ying, 2023). This paper aims to increase the understanding what BM elements are relevant when designing digital BMs under uncertainties. Therefore, this study lines up with research focusing on elements and processes of BMI (Schneider & Speith, 2013), such as BMI for continuous reaction to changes in the environment, BMI as an evolutionary process, BMI as an on-going learning process and as a discovery-driven, trial-and-error-based process rather than an analytical approach and the role of leadership and decision-making within the process of conducting BMI.
Methodology/Tools:
Qualitative empirical case study or design science research
Contribution:
Language:
English
Supervisor:
Literatur:
Additional Literature:
Basic research question/Objective:
Motivation/Puzzle:
As sustainability has become one of the most important megatrends of the 20th century, companies are increasingly emphasizing responsible behavior toward the environment and society in addition to financial aims. As interest in sustainability has grown, the new role of Chief Sustainability Manager has been created and has increasingly changed in recent years. In the past, CSOs acted like secretive PR managers whose main task was to tell an appealing story about the company's sustainability initiatives to the company's numerous stakeholders and whose implicit goal was to ward off reputational risks. They had almost no involvement in setting corporate strategy or communicating with shareholders. That changed as investor interest in sustainability information increased, marking the time when sustainability moved into the boardroom across the board. With investment capital at stake, these issues became part of the mainstream of corporate governance and strategy.
Recent regulatory initiatives such as the EU Non-Financial Reporting Directive and the UK Companies Act require companies to create transparency regarding sustainability by publishing non-financial information (Bini et al., 2023). These developments translate into CSOs becoming even more relevant to the success of organizations and changing the understanding of the role CSOs play for organizations. However, these developments could also result in sustainability being seen only as an accounting task rather than as an approach to fundamentally change the system (Elkington, 2018).
To fully realize the potential of CSOs for business success, this thesis aims to understand and conceptualize the role of CSOs. The research objectives unfold as follows:
RO1: The thesis aims to investigate the sustainable and economic impact of CSOs in organizations.
Methodology/Tools:
Relevant data is identified by employing secondary data (e.g., sustainability reports, databases)
Software for quantitative data analysis, e.g., SPSS (free trial available).
Contribution:
An empirical investigation of the role of CSOs in sustainable and economic value creation, expanding the knowledge base of the increasingly growing field of sustainability research and providing a new perspective on the role of CSOs for corporations.
Language:
English
Supervisor:
Literatur:
1. General Information
We offer all students of the business administration programs and the masters program Management & Digital Technologies (MMT) at LMU Munich exciting topics on several registration dates per year related to our research.
2. Application
Applications for theses can be submitted on a continuous basis with the help of the Mercator-Tool and must be submitted until the application deadline mentioned below at the latest.
After the application deadline, applicants will be provisionally assigned to available topics, together with a request to submit an exposé. Only after this, the final allocation and registration at the ISC ISCis possible.
Since the number of applicants is difficult to estimate, we are unfortunately unable to make any statement about the probability of success of applications. However, we endeavor to do justice to all applicants. Early application is possible, however, topics will still be assigned after the application deadline, according to content fit and not according to chronological order.
If you wish to apply for a thesis with your own topic proposal, please also use the Mercator tool and upload a well tought-out topic description, which should fit one of the research topics of the professorship. The respective supervisor will then contact you to see if supervision is possible. Please note that the application with an own topic proposal should be submitted 2-4 weeks before the final registration (ISC), so that possible adjustments to the topic proposal are possible.
3. Assignment
The number of theses accepted for supervision depend on the current capacity of the professorship. Applicants who have successfully participated in at least two courses at the Institutes of Electronic Commerce and Digital Markets (ECM), Digital Management and New Media (DMM) or at our professorship (DSS) may be given preference.
4. Exposé
After the preliminary assignment of a topic, you will be asked to submit an exposé (i.e., a 3-4-page outline of your thesis to be written) to your responsible supervisor. Information on writing an exposé can be found under Downloads at the bottom of the page.
5. Colloquium
After registering your thesis with the ISC, you are obliged to take part in the thesis colloquium at our professorship. You will present your thesis twice at the colloquium, once to show your work in progress and the second time after submitting your thesis. You will receive an invitation to attend the colloquium in advance.
Upcoming colloquium dates: 28.02.2024, 10.04.2024, 29.05.2024, 24.07.2024, 21.08.2024, 16.10.2024, 20.11.2024, 15.01.2025 (subject to change).
Application deadline | Preliminary assignment for submission of an exposé | Final assignment and registration (ISC) |
---|---|---|
14.01.2024 | 15.01.2024 | 29.01.2024 |
14.04.2024 | 15.04.2024 | 29.04.2024 |
07.07.2024 | 08.07.2024 | 22.07.2024 |
06.10.2024 | 07.10.2024 | 21.10.2024 |