Theses

Overview

On this page, you will find general information and possible topic suggestions for Bachelor's and Master's theses at the Chair.
Please familiarize yourself with the requirements for the supervision of theses before contacting the supervisors.

Requirements

  • The admission criterion for a thesis at our chair is that at least one of our lectures from the compulsory or compulsory elective program of the respective degree program has been successfully completed.
  • A further, mandatory requirement is that a seminar paper on a relevant subject of the chair has been successfully completed as part of the seminar courses offered.
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General Instructions

  • In general, the possible topics for theses are based on the focus areas of the chair in research and teaching. Typical areas for theses include component and service-oriented development of information systems, agile methods, data-driven organizations and crowdfunding platforms and projects.
  • There is no explicit application or selection procedure for theses at our department. You can usually start your thesis at any time, subject to the examination regulations and after consultation with your supervisor. The chair is also open to theses with practical relevance, i.e. you can also write your thesis in cooperation with a partner from the field.
  • Below you will find a list of possible topics for theses. The topics do not represent binding questions, but can and should be concretized and elaborated in a personal discussion with the specified supervisor. Of course, you are also welcome to suggest topics yourself.

Suggested Topics for Theses

  • Analysis of the role of contextual factors in the realization of agile business value, e.g. literature analysis / interview study (possible as Bachelor and Master thesis) - Supervisor: Jan-Niklas Meckenstock 
  • Perception of agile business value in practice based on qualitative / quantitative study, e.g. interviews / survey (possible as Master's thesis) - Supervisor: Jan-Niklas Meckenstock 

  • Identification of value realization mechanisms through the application of agile practices, e.g. literature research & mapping study (possible as Bachelor and Master thesis) - Supervisor: Jan-Niklas Meckenstock
  • Social vs. technical agile practices: Comparative analysis of the effects of different practices, literature research on existing findings (possible as Bachelor thesis), alternatively own empirical study (e.g. survey with regression analyses, possible as Master thesis) - Supervisor: Jan-Niklas Meckenstock
  • Role of agile method tailoring in the realization of agile business value, e.g. qualitative / quantitative survey / literature analysis (possible as Bachelor's and Master's thesis) - Supervisor: Jan-Niklas Meckenstock

  • A literature-based / empirical study of the elements and / or characteristics of a data-driven organization (possible as a Bachelor's thesis) - Supervisor: Nico Hirschlein
  • A systematization of challenges (e.g. data-related, people-related) in the implementation of Big Data Analytics in companies (e.g. by means of literature analysis, Delphi study) (possible as Bachelor thesis) - Supervisor: Nico Hirschlein
  • A literature-based / empirical study of effective data governance mechanisms for the development of big data analytics in companies (possible as Bachelor's and Master's thesis) - Supervisor: Nico Hirschlein
  • A literature-based / empirical investigation of suitable organizational structures (e.g. Center of Excellence) and collaboration modes (e.g. agile working methods) for the development of Big Data Analytics in companies (possible as Bachelor's and Master's thesis) - Supervisor: Nico Hirschlein

  • Identification of required resources and capabilities for business value realization through data-driven initiatives (e.g. by means of literature analysis, Delphi study) (possible as Master's thesis) - Supervisor: Nico Hirschlein
  • A literature-based / empirical investigation of the role of a data-driven culture as an enabler for business value realization through data-driven initiatives (possible as Master's thesis) - Supervisor: Nico Hirschlein
  • A literature-based / empirical study of the role of data-driven decision-making processes as an enabler for business value realization through data-driven initiatives (possible as Bachelor's and Master's thesis) - Supervisor: Nico Hirschlein
  • A literature-based / empirical study on the identification of value realization paths through data-driven initiatives in companies (possible as Bachelor's and Master's thesis) - Supervisor: Nico Hirschlein

Length, format templates and citations

  • The length of a Bachelor's thesis should be approx. 40 pages, the length of a Master's thesis approx. 60 pages according to the format template available on this page.
  • You can download the format template for Microsoft Word here(205.8 KB). You can download the format template for Latex here(903.7 KB).
  • The use of a different format template or a different citation style is also possible after consultation with the supervisor, as long as the respective template is adhered to throughout the thesis.
  • Please use a citation style in the Harvard system, i.e. the references for citations are given directly in the text in short form (author, year, page number). Further information on this can be found in the format template provided by us.

Accessing Literature Databases