Bachelor and master theses

Platform ecosystems involve key actors, including platform owners, users, producers, third-party developers, and regulators. Previous research has explored the dynamics among these actors, focusing on aspects like network effects, value co-creation, competition, collaboration, user duality, and governance structures. Recently, decentralized platform ecosystems have emerged, functioning without a central authority, employing, for instance, blockchain technology for enhanced security and transparency. These ecosystems facilitate peer-to-peer interactions, enabling direct resource sharing among users. Participants often engage in self-governance through community voting, fostering collaboration while enhancing user privacy and data control. This evolution prompts new research questions concerning power dynamics, governance, and user privacy. A final thesis could address these aspects further.

Supervision: Prof. Dr. Thomas Kude

Level: Bachelor / Master

Methodology: Literature Review / Empirical Investigation

Literature:

• Clough, D. R., & Wu, A. (2022). Artificial intelligence, data-driven learning, and the decentralized structure of platform ecosystems. Academy of Management Review, 47(1).
• Parker, G., & van Alstyne, M. (2008). Managing Platform Ecosystems. ICIS 2008 Proceedings, 53.

As platforms gather vast amounts of personal data, users risk exposure to identity theft, surveillance, and misuse of their information. Moreover, centralization often creates single points of failure, making platforms vulnerable to cyberattacks. How can platforms enhance data security while maintaining user trust? What frameworks can be developed to ensure user privacy rights in compliance with regulations? Exploring these questions could allow students to explore in their final thesis how to manage privacy and security concerns in platform ecosystems.

Supervision: Prof. Dr. Thomas Kude

Level: Bachelor / Master

Methodology: Literature Review / Empirical Investigation

Literature:

• Bélanger, F., and Crossler, R. E. 2011. Privacy in the Digital Age: A Review of Information Privacy Research in Information Systems. MIS Quarterly, 35(4).
• Culnan, M. J., and Williams, C. C. 2009. How Ethics Can Enhance Organizational Privacy: Lessions Fom the Choicepoint and TJX Data Breaches. MIS Quarterly, 33(4).
• Teubner, T., & Flath, C. M. (2019). Privacy in the sharing economy. Journal of the Association for Information Systems, 20(3).

The emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a new player in the corporate environment has introduced significant uncertainties, especially regarding the potential displacement of human labour. Many organizations currently lack a clear legal framework to navigate this transition, leaving them to develop their own strategies for integrating AI technologies. This situation raises important ethical questions about the impact of AI on employment and the workplace environment. To address these challenges, the debate is all about AI Governance, but how does AI Governance unfold in organizations? This interesting research question could be addressed in a final thesis.

Supervision: Prof. Dr. Thomas Kude

Level: Master

Methodology: Empirical Investigation

Literature:

• Mäntymäki, M., Minkkinen, M., Birkstedt, T., & Viljanen, M. (2022). Defining organizational AI governance. AI and Ethics, 2(4), 603–609.
• Mäntymäki, M., Minkkinen, M., Zimmer, M., Birkstedt, T., & Viljanen, M. (2023). Designing an AI governance framework: From research-based premises to meta-requirements. ECIS 2023 Research Papers.

Data is omnipresent, especially in digital form. It is generated through the use of digital platforms in ecosystems and forms the foundation of many technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI). The way in which data is collected, generated, combined and interpreted influences how information and knowledge is created and shared. But this is not just a contemporary phenomenon: data has a long lifespan. Stored centrally on data platforms, it can shape the economy and society for generations to come. This is why the sustainable handling of data is a key issue today. What socio-technical challenges need to be overcome in order to continue to use the existing database in a value-adding way and in accordance with social norms? How is the wealth of generated data managed in platform ecosystems? How can platforms not only be involved in data generation and storage, but also in governing data circulation? What happens when data is manipulated algorithmically, e.g. through the use of AI? Theses in this area can explore these questions in greater depth.

Supervision: Stefanie Ulschmid

Level: Bachelor / Master

Methodology: Literature Review / Empirical Investigation

Literature:

• Alaimo, C., & Kallinikos, J. (2022). Organizations Decentered: Data Objects, Technology and Knowledge. Organization Science, 33(1), 19–37.
• Jarvenpaa, S. L., & Essén, A. (2023). Data sustainability: Data governance in data infrastructures across technological and human generations. Information and Organization, 33(1), 1-14.
• Parmiggiani, E., Østerlie, T., & Almklov, P. G. (2022). In the backrooms of data science. Journal of the Association for Information Systems, 23(1), 139-164.

Platformization, what we define as the increasing adoption of digital platforms by organizations, is transforming operational processes and structures within companies. This shift enables greater efficiency through streamlined communication, enhanced collaboration, and improved data management. However, in highly regulated sectors like healthcare and education, this transformation presents unique challenges. Organizations must navigate compliance with stringent regulations while leveraging the benefits of digital platforms. This necessitates a re-evaluation of data governance policies, privacy considerations, and security measures. So far, limited research has been conducted in this field, presenting an opportunity for a final thesis to explore it further, e.g. what are the implications of “Platformization” for highly regulated sectors, such as healthcare and education? How can AI be used in healthcare and/or education?

Supervision: Stefanie Badmann

Level: Bachelor / Master

Methodology: Empirical Investigation

Literature:

• Ozalp, H., Ozcan, P., Dinckol, D., Zachariadis, M., & Gawer, A. (2022). “Digital Colonization” of Highly Regulated Industries: An Analysis of Big Tech Platforms’ Entry into Health Care and Education. California Management Review, 64(4), 78–107.
• Setia, P., Soh, F., & Deng, K. (2020). Platformizing organizations: a synthesis of the literature. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Business and Management.

“Platform work” refers to the phenomenon where digital platforms enable individuals to offer their services or work directly to clients or consumers. This shift empowers workers by providing flexible employment opportunities where they can decide when, where and how they work. As a result, the world of work is increasingly shifting away from traditional employment models towards gig work or freelance work. This transformation brings both benefits and challenges: while workers benefit from more autonomy and diversified sources of income, they also face uncertainties such as fluctuating demand, lack of job security and limited access to social benefits. Platform work also raises important questions about workers' rights, labor regulation and the impact on social safety nets. Nonetheless, platform work is seen as a very promising type of employment for the future. Theses in this area can address the drivers, challenges and mechanisms underlying this employment model from different perspectives (e.g. individuals, organizations, legislators, ...).

Supervision: Stefanie Ulschmid

Level: Bachelor / Master

Methodology: Literature Review / Empirical Investigation

Literature:

• Baygi, R. M., Introna, L. D., & Ostovar, M. (2024). Beyond Categories: A Flow-oriented Approach to Social Justice on Online Labour Platforms. MIS Quarterly. published online.
• Gussek, L., & Wiesche, M. (2024). Understanding the careers of freelancers on digital labor platforms: The case of IT work. Information Systems Journal. published online
• Vallas, S., & Schor, J. B. (2020). What do platforms do? Understanding the gig economy. Annual Review of Sociology, 46(1), 273-294

Since the the pandemic, a significant number of office employees have become familiar with platform-based teamwork, making virtual collaboration an integral part of the modern work experience. Today, it is nearly unimaginable for teams to operate without some form of online interaction. Various tools, particularly cloud-based solutions, have emerged to facilitate this collaboration, enhancing communication and productivity across geographically dispersed teams. This shift to digital teamwork not only transforms traditional workplace dynamics but also opens a rich field of research opportunities for a final thesis in this field, which could address the role of digital platforms for teamwork in organizations.

Supervision: Stefanie Badmann

Level: Bachelor / Master

Methodology: Literature Review / Empirical Investigation

Literature:

• Barley, S. R., Bechky, B. A., & Milliken, F. J. (2017). The Changing Nature of Work: Careers, Identities, and Work Lives in the 21st Century. Academy of Management Discoveries, 3(2).
• Kude, T., Mithas, S., Schmidt, C. T., & Heinzl, A. (2019). How Pair Programming Influences Team Performance: The Role of Backup Behavior, Shared Mental Models, and Task Novelty. Information Systems Research, 30(4), 1145–1163.
• Kude, T.,  Foerderer, J.,  Mithas, S., &  Heinzl, A. (2023).  How deadline orientation and architectural modularity influence software quality and job satisfaction. Journal of Operations Management, 1– 24.

Research on digital sustainability focuses on the development and use of digital resources to improve the environment, society, and economic welfare. Digital platforms play a central role in this context: on one hand, they can promote efficient sustainability initiatives through innovative business models that facilitate ecologically sustainable value creation. On the other hand, operations around digital platforms can become harmful, for example, through data leaks, (algorithmically manipulated) misinformation, or power imbalances within the ecosystem that push sustainable projects into the background. Nevertheless, digital sustainability remains a crucial aspect for the long-term preservation of ecological, social, and economic order. Academic theses in this area can further explore how digital platforms contribute to both the strengthening and the weakening of digital sustainability.

Supervision:  Stefanie Ulschmid

Level: Bachelor / Master

Methodology: Literature Review / Empirical Investigation

Literature:

• Böttcher, T. P., Empelmann, S., Weking, J., Hein, A., & Krcmar, H. (2024). Digital sustainable business models: Using digital technology to integrate ecological sustainability into the core of business models. Information Systems Journal, 34(3), 736-761.
• Kotlarsky, J., Oshri, I., & Sekulic, N. (2023). Digital sustainability in information systems research: Conceptual foundations and future directions. Journal of the Association for Information Systems, 24(4), 936-952.

This thesis topic explores the evolving role of the press and traditional media as indispensable intermediaries in ensuring accurate information and fostering informed local communities. While local journalism is critical for democracy and social cohesion, it faces increasing challenges from the dominance of digital platforms and the rise of social media, where misinformation can spread unchecked. Your research will examine how traditional media can adapt to remain relevant, the innovations needed to sustain local journalism, or the potential strategies to counteract the misinformation challenges posed by social media.

Supervision:  Prof. Dr. Thomas Kude

Level: Bachelor / Master

Methodology: Literature Review / Empirical Investigation / Design Science

Literature:

• Abbasi, A., Greenwood, B. N., Mazmanian, M., Miranda, S., & Seamans, R. Call for Papers: Special Issue-The Institutional Press in the Digital Age.
• Kitchens, B., Johnson, S. L., & Gray, P. (2020). Understanding echo chambers and filter bubbles: The impact of social media on diversification and partisan shifts in news consumption. MIS quarterly, 44(4).
• Matherly, T., & Greenwood, B. N. (2022). No news is bad news: The internet, corruption, and the decline of the fourth estate. Corruption, and the Decline of the Fourth Estate (September 8, 2022).

This topic starts from the premise that many of the traditional teaching and assessment methods in higher education have already become or will likely become obsolete in the near future. For example, asking a relatively simple question for a take-home assignment may not be adequate anymore. Instead of rejecting such developments, this thesis takes a positive stance and aims to explore how higher education needs to evolve in order to make the best possible use of AI tools. How can platforms and tools be used and designed? How do these platforms and tools complement personal, in-class interaction? How can student-led research projects and academic writing evolve and how can student contributions be assessed?

Supervision:  Prof. Dr. Thomas Kude / Stefanie Badmann

Level: Bachelor / Master

Methodology: Literature Review / Empirical Investigation / Design Science

Literature:

• Betts, M., & Rosemann, M. (2022). The New Learning Economy: Thriving Beyond Higher Education. Routledge.
• Crompton, H., & Burke, D. (2023). Artificial intelligence in higher education: the state of the field. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 20(1), 22.
• Komljenovic, J. (2021). The rise of education rentiers: digital platforms, digital data and rents. Learning, Media and Technology, 46(3), 320–332.

Are you eager to explore the realm of digital platforms and their impact on firms, industries, and society, but find that none of our suggested topics align with your interests? Perhaps you have a company partner in mind for collaboration? If you believe your interests align with our research focus, please share your ideas with us through the contact field below, providing a brief description (approx. 500-1,000 words) of what you have planned for your final thesis.

Level: Bachelor / Master

Methodology: Literature Review / Empirical Investigation

Literature:

• De Reuver, M., Sørensen, C., & Basole, R. C. (2018). The Digital Platform: A Research Agenda.Journal of Information Technology, 33(2), 124–135.