Prof. Dr. Jürgen Moormann

Prof. Dr. Jürgen Moormann                                                Version 1.1
ProcessLab-Team

Suggestions for Master Theses 2021:
                
The future of outsourcing: Perspectives of loan processing
This topic comprises a status quo analysis, analysis of primary data, discussion, and further perspectives. Work on this topic can be undertaken in cooperation with a large back-office service provider located in Frankfurt. The contact will be provided. (JM)

Fraud prevention: Security vulnerabilities and possible fraud methods
The 21st century is the age of digitalization, which comes with new opportunities for fraudsters. How do merchants and marketplaces defend themselves against fraud, what are the most common methods used by fraudsters in E-Commerce and how do to payments companies prevent it?

Payment methods of future: Can traditional payment methods keep up with the new ePayment innovations?
Payment methods such as open invoice & direct debit have been perceived as traditional and the safest payment methods for years. What do the new methods of online payment like Google Wallet, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, etc. mean for traditional payment methods? Can the traditional payment methods stay relevant also in the future?

(the two topics above can be conducted in cooperation with a financial service provider) (JM)

Everybody gets older: Inclusion of seniors in banking services
Inclusion is a big topic in many industries. The focus of this thesis should be seniors in acquiring and using banking (insurance) services. Thus, what are the criteria for seniors’ inclusion? Are there standards/rules available? The student is asked to do a (customer-centric) process analysis. Case studies, interviews, comparisons to other industries might be suitable methodological approaches to cope with this topic. (JM)

Decentralized Governance – an impossible or inevitable development in the platform economy?
Decentralized platforms are increasingly attracting attention in the platform economy. Based on technological innovations like blockchain, decentralized platform-based business models try to (r)evolutionize established platform-based ones. The key question is: how can decentralized governance be ensured within the platform economy? Although there are different approaches towards increasingly decentralized governance, so far, none has been able to assert itself definitively. This research aims to conduct a literature study on decentralized governance in the platform economy and to work out a case-study-based analysis comparing the different approaches. (GP)

Use of ICT in health care: how can mHealth be used to improve health care in developing countries?
Information and communication technologies are increasingly used in development cooperation, particularly in the area of medical care. This research aims to provide an overview of current ICT applications and their critical success factors in the mHealth sector. Building on this, the student/s should develop an idea for a mHeath app and work out a strategy for its successful implementation. (GP)

Gamification in healthcare and development aid
To address this topic, students are asked to work out a detailed literature study on the application of gamification approaches in the healthcare and development aid sector. The literature study should follow the guidelines by vom Brocke et al. (2009) to provide a well-structured overview of both theoretical and practical approaches. Based on the findings taken from the literature study, students are asked to develop a prototype for an app using gamified approaches to address a certain topic (free to choose). (GP)

What is digital trust?
The emergence of the Corona Pandemic has highlighted more clearly than ever before that (future) challenges such as a pandemic and climate change can only be tackled by involving everyone in the process of data collection. To enable such collaboration, however, a common understanding of digital trust is needed. In order to find out what concepts exist (in relation to digital trust) and how these concepts have evolved, students are asked to work out a literature study on the definitions and concepts of digital trust. (GP)

Tokenization of assets in the face of the web 3.0
Analysis of the chances and threats of tokenizing assets, especially for platform-driven business models. The students are free to present ideas and proposals based on which we can work out topics for theses. (GP)

Analysis of contingency factors having a major influence on the development of decentralized governance in the era of the blockchain economy
Students are asked to analyze and work out a contingency model describing the factors that may have a major influence on governance in the blockchain economy (Beck et al. 2018). Based thereupon, students are asked to analyze these based on a qualitative survey (i.e., interviews with industry experts). (GP)

Blockchain-Based Business Models: Novel Insights on Value Creation and Value Capture (dt./eng.)
In 2017, a typology of business models based on distributed ledger technology or blockchain was proposed. The typology provides insights into the basic dimensions of business models and how companies tackle these dimensions using novel technology. Shedding light on business value creation and capture, students interested in this topic should conduct in-depth research to identify current business models and to assess how companies create and capture value. To this end, students must combine business model research with business value research. (GP)

Evaluation of Blockchain Implementations (dt./eng.)
While many organizations have tested their first prototypes, the implementation of blockchain technology is often the result of external pressure and the fear of disruption of their own business model. In this thesis, you should create a framework (develop criteria) to help companies evaluating the implementation of the technology. Criteria should be identified using a combination of literature review and qualitative research, i.e., interviews or case studies. The following focuses are possible, each of which might represent a single thesis:

• Technical criteria
• Organizational criteria
• Ecosystem criteria     (GP)

Characterizing the affordances of blockchain technology in the financial services industry
Affordances are opportunities for actions that largely depend on the individual perception of its user. For instance, a single chair can afford sitting on it, standing on it, throwing, etc. The same holds for blockchain technology that can afford different action opportunities for different industries, firms or even single users. Therefore, it is hard to predict what the potential of blockchain actually is. Students that are interested in investigating the opportunities opened up by blockchain technology should first identify affordances of blockchain technology in the financial service industry, and second, investigate how they are or can be realized. Case studies and interviews are suited methodological approaches to address this research topic. (JM/NO)

Design of trust-aware business processes
Particularly in the financial services industry, trust is a big topic. One focus on this topic are Trust Concerns (TCs) (see paper of M Rosemann, section 2.2). in this thesis the development and application of TCs should be shown at the example of a case (a process, a technology). What are typical TCs in the process? How can a technology such as blockchain be used to reduce TCs? Can we develop trust profiles? An example could be M2M (Commerzbank/Daimler). (JM/NO)

Digital labs in banking and/or insurance: content analysis
Innovative tasks are often delegated to separated units, so-called digital/innovation labs/hubs etc. How are these units structured? How do they work? How do they develop and change over time? Do they differ from labs in other industries? In dependence from the concrete topic, transcripts of performed interviews can be used and/or new interviews can be added. It is favorable if the student works in a digital lab at time of thesis writing (or has gathered some experience already). (JM/FH)

Further suggestions:

• Consensus mechanism in the blockchain economy – Analysis of the pro’s and con’s of different consensus mechanisms in the context of cryptocurrencies (GP)
• Artificial Intelligence: Analysis of use cases in banks (or insurance companies)
• How to set up a Process Laboratory – Concept, Prototype, and Show Case
  (based on simulation software)
• Internet of Things – Use Cases for banking/insurance
  Analysis of case study/studies, identification of preconditions, analysis, development of an artefact using Design Science Research

Prof. Dr. Jürgen Moormann,                              Version 1.3
ProcessLab

Vorschläge für Bachelor-Thesen 2021
(englisch oder deutsch)

Buy Now-Pay Later. Evolution of payment methods in the DACH region
Lange galt die Zahlungsmethode Rechnungskauf als langweilig. Mittlerweile haben Fintechs wie Klarna und Ratepay aus dem Prinzip „Buy now, pay later“ einen weltweiten Trend geschaffen. Was macht ihr Modell so attraktiv? Und was unterscheidet die verschiedenen Zahlungsdienstleister untereinander? Welche der beiden Ansätze (Branded-Solution im vgl. zur White-Label-Solution) performt besser? Oder gibt es Segmente, in dem der eine besser funktioniert als der andere.

Fraud prevention: Security vulnerabilities and possible fraud methods. The 21st century is the age of digitalization which comes with new opportunities for fraudsters. How do merchants and marketplaces defend themselves against fraud, what are the most common methods used by fraudsters in E-Commerce and how do to payments companies prevent it?

Payment methods of future: Can traditional payment methods keep up with the new ePayment innovations?
Payment methods such as open invoice & direct debit have been perceived as traditional and the safest payment methods for years. What do the new methods of online payment like Google Wallet, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, etc. mean for traditional payment methods? Can the traditional payments methods stay relevant also in the future?
(the first three topics can be conducted in cooperation with a financial service provider)

Digital vs Cash payment: Why Should One Prefer Cash over Card?
In this study, we expect a student to make an experimental investigation of the reasons for preferences of cash over card/phone payment. As a result a student has to find and test the reasons for preferring certain types of payment.

Emotions-driven Digital Transformation
In this study, we expect a student to investigate what kind of emotions appear in different phases of digital transformation and how these emotions shape the final form of technology adoption. The study can be run as an experiment, survey, or simulation.
(in cooperation with Prof. Bogodistov, MCI Innsbruck)

Development/Evaluation of new concepts for loan processing factories
Here different research perspectives are possible
(this topic can be conducted in cooperation with a leading loan processing company)  

Gamification in healthcare and development aid
To address this topic, students are asked to work out a detailed literature study on the application of gamification approaches in the healthcare and development aid sector. The literature study should follow the guidelines by vom Brocke et al. (2009) to provide a well-structured overview of both theoretical and practical approaches.

What is digital trust?
The emergence of the Corona Pandemic has highlighted more clearly than ever before that (future) challenges such as a pandemic and climate change can only be tackled by involving everyone in the process of data collection. To enable such collaboration, however, a common understanding of digital trust is needed.
In order to find out what concepts exist (in relation to digital trust) and how these concepts have evolved, students are asked to work out a literature study on the definitions and concepts of digital trust.

Tokenization of assets in the face of the web 3.0
Analysis of the chances and threats of tokenizing assets, especially for platform-driven business models. The students are free to present ideas and proposals based on which we can work out topics for theses.

Analysis of contingency factors having a major influence on the development of decentralized governance in the era of the blockchain economy.
Students are asked to analyze and work out a contingency model describing the factors that may have a major influence on governance in the blockchain economy (Beck et al. 2018).

Blockchain-Based Business Models: Novel Insights on Value Creation and Value Capture (dt./eng.)
In 2017, a typology of business models based on distributed ledger technology or blockchain was proposed. The typology provides insights into the basic dimensions of business models and how companies tackle these dimensions by using the novel technology. Shedding light on business value creation and capture, students interested in this topic should conduct in-depth research to identify current business models and to assess how companies create and capture value. To this end, students must combine business model research with business value research.

Evaluation of Blockchain Implementations (dt./eng.)
While many organizations have tested their first prototypes, the implementation of blockchain technology is often the result of external pressure and the fear of disruption of their own business model. In this thesis, you should create a framework (develop criteria) to help companies evaluating the implementation of the technology. Criteria should be identified using a combination of literature review and qualitative research, i.e., interviews or case studies. The following focuses are possible, each of which represents a single thesis:

• Technical criteria
• Organizational criteria
• Ecosystem criteria

Further topics:

Internet of Things – Ansatzpunkte für das Bankgeschäft
(alternativ: Versicherungsgeschäft)
(Commerzbank-Beispiel, Strommessung; Leasing; Fallstudien – Analyse, Charakteristika? Voraussetzungen?; Entwicklung einer eigenen Lösung)

Intelligent Money
(Zahlung durch Auto, Konzepte, Payment und IoT)

Neue Geschäftsmodelle für Banken: Wie können Social-Media-Unternehmen und Banken zusammenarbeiten?

Robotic Process Automation: Analyse von Use Cases in

Robotics in Prozessen: Klassifizierung, Probleme, Business Cases, Perspektiven (am Bsp. von Cases); Banken und/oder Versicherungen

Was bedeutet Robotic Process Automation für die Personalplanung? Analyse der Auswirkungen von RPA                  

Transfer agiler Methoden von der IT in die Unternehmensorganisation
(oder: … aus Innovationslaboren in die Unternehmensorganisation)