Available Topics for Bachelor & Master Theses and Project Studies
How to Apply for your Bachelor/Master Thesis or Project Study at our Chair
You are thinking about writing your thesis at our chair? Or are you planning to carry out your project study with us? Please carefully read this webpage. It provides you with crucial information on the different options we offer and how you should approach us.
In order to properly arrange your supervision, we ask you to approach only one potential supervisor at a time and not to contact others until you have received an answer. To consider and process your application, it is mandatory that you include all the requested information in your initial e-mail (see the "Important Information" sections).
In general, your theses or project studies will be coached by a research associate and guided by the professor. We expect a high level of commitment and diligence. It is very important to follow the guidelines of scientific research! Please also see our Introduction to Scientific Research
We offer four different “types” of theses at our chair:
For these options, you can apply continuously and at any time:
An option with little preparation effort on your side is to apply for a topic we have announced on this webpage (see below).
If you want to suggest your own topic, we expect an initial literature review and identification of a potential research gap and question(s). Therefore, you should also have familiarized yourself with theories that have been used to investigate your area of interest.
If you want to carry out your thesis with a corporate partner, we welcome your application. Please note that your corporate partner needs to grant the permission that your thesis results, in an anonymized form, may be used for scientific purposes.
For this option, applications are only possible at specific deadlines:
Not suggested - Before choosing option 4, please check carefully if options 1-3 are not applicable. Options 1-3 offer more individualization of the thesis topics due to the possibility of discussing the topic personally with the supervisor. You may also apply to write a thesis at our Chair by applying at three faculty-wide centralized deadlines (see below).
Please follow the according procedures:
Type of thesis
Preparation effort on your side
Procedures
1. Working on an announced thesis topic
Low-Medium
Choose one of the available topics outlined on this webpage
Write an e-mail to the supervisor mentioned below and provide all of the following information:
Justify and demonstrate your interest in the research topic
Attach your current CV as PDF
Attach your current FlexNow grade sheet as PDF (Print Out)
Wait for a response before you get in contact with another potential supervisor from our chair
2. Suggesting your own thesis topic
High
Review the current research literature* to identify a noteworthy research gap (please note that a mere “I want to write about E-Scooter utilization in Göttingen since it hadn’t been done before” thought is not sufficient to motivate your thesis). You can refer to our Information Systems (IS) Basket of 8 Journals (MISQ, ISJ, EJIS, …) or our IS conferences (ICIS, ECIS, PACIS, AMCIS, HICSS).
Formulate a research gap and research question* based on your reviewed research literature (e.g., you can examine published literature reviews and papers and their discussion/future research sections). You should also familiarize yourself with theories that have (recently) been used in your area of interest.
Carefully check the websites of our research associates (Team) and their research interests as well as publication history to determine whether one of our team members covers your topic
Write an e-mail to your potential supervisor and provide all of the following information:
Justify and demonstrate your interest in the research topic
Provide an outline of your literature review and the research gap you have identified
Attach your current CV as PDF
Attach your current FlexNow grade sheet as PDF (Print Out)
Wait for a response before you get in contact with another potential supervisor from our chair
3. Suggesting your thesis in cooperation with a corporate partner
High
Identify an interesting corporate partner
Identify a current research topic, gap, and question that can be carried out with this partner*
Arrange a supervision arrangement with this partner (e.g., a written confirmation that this partner is willing to support you in your thesis and provide you with the necessary access to employees and/or data)
Please get in contact with your corporate partner and get a confirmation that the data and results of your thesis can be used in an anonymized form for scientific purposes
Write an e-mail to Professor Lutz M. Kolbe and provide all of the following information:
Justify and demonstrate your interest in the research topic
Provide an outline on your aspired research topic, gap, and question
Provide a brief outline of your corporate partner and contact details of your supervisor
Provide a confirmation that the data and results from your thesis may be used in an anonymized form for scientific purposes
Attach your current CV as PDF
Attach your current FlexNow grade sheet as PDF (Print Out)
Wait for a response before you get in contact with another potential supervisor from our chair
4. (Not suggested) Centralized application
Low
If you are interested in this centralized application, please note the following application periods and deadlines:
Start Application Period I: 08.02. (00:00), Deadline Application Period I: 15.02. (23:59)
Start Application Period II: 08.06. (00:00), Deadline Application Period II: 15.06. (23:59)
Start Application Period III: 08.10. (00:00), Deadline Application Period III: 15.10. (23:59)
Indicate your desired thesis type (Bachelor or Master)
Attach your current FlexNow grade sheet as PDF (Print Out)
We will respond with a topic proposal within 1 week after the respective application period deadline and expect your confirmation mail indicating your acceptance of our topic proposal until these dates:
Topic Proposal Response Period I: until 21.02., Deadline Topic Confirmation by Student Period I: 01.03. (23:59)
Topic Proposal Response Period II: until 21.06., Deadline Topic Confirmation by Student Period II: 01.07. (23:59)
Topic Proposal Response Period III: until 21.10., Deadline Topic Confirmation by Student Period III: 01.11. (23:59)
In your project studies, you will have the unique opportunity to investigate a research topic in-depth. Over the course of 1-2 terms, your group (2-5 students) will become experts in your particular research topic and carry out a substantial implementation project (e.g., programming a simulation, conducting mixed-method research, or the like). Please peer up before you contact us.
Type of thesis
Preparation effort on your side
Procedures
1. Working on an announced project studies topic
Low-Medium
Choose one of the available topics outlined on this webpage
Write an e-mail to the supervisor mentioned below and provide all of the following information:
Justify and demonstrate your interest in the research topic
Provide contact details for all of your group members
Attach your current and all of your group members’ CVs as PDF
Attach your and all of your group members’ current FlexNow grade sheets as PDF (Print Out)
Wait for a response before you get in contact with another potential supervisor from our chair
2. Suggesting your own project studies topic
High
Review the current research literature* to identify a noteworthy research gap (please note that a mere “I want to write about E-Scooter utilization in Göttingen since it hadn’t been done before” thought is not sufficient to motivate your thesis). You can refer to our Information Systems (IS) Basket of 8 Journals (MISQ, ISJ, EJIS, …) or our IS conferences (ICIS, ECIS, PACIS, AMCIS, HICSS).
Formulate a research gap and research question* based on your reviewed research literature (e.g., you can examine published literature reviews and papers and their discussion/future research sections). You should also familiarize yourself with theories that have (recently) been used in your area of interest.
Carefully check the websites of our research associates (Team) and their research interests as well as publication history to determine whether one of our team members covers your topic
Write an e-mail to the supervisor mentioned below and provide all of the following information:
Justify and demonstrate your interest in the research topic
Provide an outline of your literature review and the research gap you have identified
Provide contact details for all of your group members
Attach your current and all of your group members’ CVs as PDF
Attach your and all of your group members’ current FlexNow grade sheets as PDF (Print Out)
Wait for a response before you get in contact with another potential supervisor from our chair
3. Suggesting your thesis in cooperation with a corporate partner
High
Identify an interesting corporate partner
Identify a current research topic, gap, and question that can be carried out with this partner*
Arrange a supervision arrangement with this partner (e.g., a written confirmation that this partner is willing to support you in your thesis and provide you with the necessary access to employees and/or data)
Please get in contact with your corporate partner and get a confirmation that the data and results of your thesis can be used in an anonymized form for scientific purposes
Write an e-mail to Professor Lutz M. Kolbe and provide all of the following information:
Justify and demonstrate your interest in the research topic
Provide an outline on your aspired research topic, gap, and question
Provide a brief outline of your corporate partner and contact details of your supervisor
Provide a confirmation that the data and results from your thesis may be used in an anonymized form for scientific purposes
Attach your current and all of your group members’ CVs as PDF
Attach your and all of your group members’ current FlexNow grade sheets as PDF (Print Out)
Wait for a response before you get in contact with another potential supervisor from our chair
Old ideas end up in university textbooks: a look at the topics covered in university textbooks and the frequency they appear in academic and practitioner literatures
*Unsolicited application: If you have ideas, suggestions or concepts for your own topics, please contact one of the persons listed above at any time. Ideally, your topic should match the research areas of the respective academic staff member.
