Refine
Year of publication
- 2016 (288) (remove)
Document type
- Article (peer-reviewed) (89)
- Bachelor Thesis (71)
- Conference Proceeding (68)
- Master's Thesis (35)
- Part of a Book (12)
- Academic Papers (4)
- Book (2)
- Contribution to a Periodical (2)
- Doctoral Thesis (2)
- Other (2)
Language
- English (288) (remove)
Keywords
- Electrical impedance tomography (10)
- Security (7)
- Cloud computing (5)
- EIT (5)
- Cystic fibrosis (4)
- Mechanical ventilation (4)
- Parameter identification (4)
- Ventilation (4)
- Audit (3)
- Breakpoint detection (3)
- Crowdfunding (3)
- Digital evidence (3)
- Finite element method (3)
- First order model (3)
- Lung segmentation (3)
- Pulmonary modelling (3)
- 1,2,4-triazinone (2)
- 172 nm (2)
- AOP (2)
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome (2)
- Automotive (2)
- Autoregressive models (2)
- Benzoimidazole (2)
- COPD (2)
- Carbohydrates (2)
- Change Management (2)
- Computed tomography (2)
- Crystal structure (2)
- Cylindrical grinding (2)
- Encapsulation (2)
- Excilamp (2)
- Expatriation (2)
- Federated cloud (2)
- Glycoconjugates (2)
- Imaging (2)
- Innovation (2)
- International Assignment (2)
- Internet of things (2)
- Java framework (2)
- Lung imaging (2)
- Marketing (2)
- Marketing Strategy (2)
- Metabolic syndrome (2)
- Obesity (2)
- Object oriented modeling (2)
- P2P (2)
- PEST Analysis (2)
- Patent (2)
- Patient simulator (2)
- Physolator (2)
- Plethysmography (2)
- Poster (2)
- Pulmonary perfusion (2)
- Pyridine (2)
- Regional lung function (2)
- Resistance exercise (2)
- Rhodamine B (2)
- Running (2)
- Simulation (2)
- Spectral graph wavelet (2)
- Surface roughness (2)
- Sustainability (2)
- Testing (2)
- Touchpad (2)
- Whole-body electromyostimulation (2)
- Xenon-excimer lamp (2)
- 2,4,6-trichlorophenyl (1)
- 2D airway segmentation (1)
- 2d airway segmentation (1)
- Abdominal fat (1)
- Absolute mapping (1)
- Academic careers (1)
- Accountability (1)
- Acculturation (1)
- Acetabular position (1)
- Acoustics (1)
- Active-site dynamics (1)
- Adoption of physical activity (1)
- Aid to the blind (1)
- Air surveillance systems (1)
- Airway resistance (1)
- Albumin dialysis (1)
- Albumin-binding capacity (1)
- Alternating direction method of multipliers (1)
- Ambient assisted living (1)
- American Fashion Brands (1)
- Android (1)
- Aortic regurgitation (1)
- Aortic valve calcification (1)
- Applications of similarity (1)
- Apprenticeship Program (1)
- Arginine (1)
- Assortative Mating (1)
- Atrium (1)
- Aufwertung (1)
- Augmented Reality (1)
- Authentication technologies (1)
- Automated Advisory Services (1)
- Automotive Aftermarket (1)
- Automotive Industry (1)
- Autonomous odor detection device (1)
- Autoregressive modelling (1)
- BCR signalling (1)
- Baby-boomer generation (1)
- Bank Performance (1)
- Banking sector (1)
- Bayesian Networks (1)
- Bayesian modeling (1)
- Behavioral Finance (1)
- Big data (1)
- Bile acid (1)
- Bimodal imaging (1)
- Bio-impedance (1)
- Biocompatible and reprocessable (1)
- Biomarker panels (1)
- Biometrics (1)
- Bioreactors (1)
- Black-Litterman Model (1)
- Bladder volume (1)
- Blue Ocean Strategy (1)
- Body fat (1)
- Bone mineral density (1)
- Brainperception (1)
- Branding (1)
- Business model (1)
- Business partner (1)
- CBN-grinding wheel (1)
- CFR PEEK (1)
- CLL (1)
- Cardio-metabolic risk (1)
- Cardiovascular (1)
- Category Management (1)
- Cell tests (1)
- Chemokines (1)
- Chemoresistance (1)
- Chemoselectivity (1)
- China (1)
- China Marketing Strategy (1)
- Chronic kidney disease (1)
- Click chemistry (1)
- Cloud forensic challenges (1)
- Cloud forensic solutions (1)
- Co-Innovation (1)
- Co-creation (1)
- Cognition (1)
- Collaborative Information Behavior (1)
- Collision avoidance (1)
- Commercial Entrepreneurship (1)
- Community-dwelling older people (1)
- Competitive advantage (1)
- Computer architecture (1)
- Computer assisted surgery (1)
- Computing Market (1)
- Conformational entropy (1)
- Container (1)
- Continuous authentication (1)
- Cross Selling (1)
- Cross Selling Coordinators (1)
- Crowdfunder (1)
- Crowdlending (1)
- Crowdsourcing (1)
- Cultural Differences (1)
- Current pattern (1)
- Customer Experience (1)
- Customer Relationship Management CRM (1)
- Cutting forces (1)
- DEAP (1)
- DLC PECVD (1)
- Data privacy (1)
- Data quality (1)
- Decision Making (1)
- Decision support (1)
- Diamond grinding wheel (1)
- Diaphragm (1)
- Dielectric electroactive polymer (1)
- Dielectric strength (1)
- Difluorophenyl (1)
- Digital forensics (1)
- Digitalisation (1)
- Direct bonding (1)
- Disruptive Innovation (1)
- Distortion (1)
- Distributed OSGi (1)
- Docker (1)
- Dressing of grinding wheels (1)
- Drivers of Innovation (1)
- Dry grinding (1)
- Dual Career Couples (1)
- Dynamic Pricing (1)
- E-Learning (1)
- E-collaboration (1)
- Early diagnosis (1)
- Economic History (1)
- Economy (1)
- Education (1)
- Elastance (1)
- Electrical bioimpedance (1)
- Electrical stimulation (1)
- Electrochemical etching (1)
- Electroencephalography (1)
- Elicitation study (1)
- Emotional rewards (1)
- Energy (1)
- Energy engineering (1)
- Engineering Industry (1)
- Entrepreneurial Opportunity Process (1)
- Entrepreneurship (1)
- Erneuerbare Energien (1)
- Escherichia coli (1)
- Eudaimonia (1)
- European Countries (1)
- Exercise frequency (1)
- Exercise protocol (1)
- Exercise testing (1)
- Exercise training (1)
- Experienced space (1)
- Exploit (1)
- Extracorporeal liver support (1)
- FIFA Football World Cup 2006 (1)
- FOM (1)
- Fall prevention (1)
- Family-owned businesses (1)
- Farb- und Formerkennung (1)
- Fashion Industry (1)
- Fat mass (1)
- Fehleranalyse Methoden (1)
- Female scientists (1)
- Ferrocene (1)
- Finance (1)
- Financial Intermediaries (1)
- Flow limitation (1)
- Fluid simulation (1)
- Fluorescence (1)
- Focus groups (1)
- Food security (1)
- ForcePad (1)
- Forensic acquisition (1)
- Forensic analysis (1)
- Formation (1)
- Frequency domain filtering (1)
- Fulfillment of outcome expectancies (1)
- Gamification (1)
- Gaming (1)
- Gamma distribution (1)
- Gas sensor (1)
- Gaze tracking (1)
- Gender equality (1)
- German Economy (1)
- German Labor Market (1)
- German autos (1)
- Germany (1)
- Giant (1)
- Global Mobility (1)
- Global climate change (1)
- Gluteus medius (1)
- Gradient Projection for Sparse Reconstruction (1)
- Gradient based method (1)
- Grinding tools (1)
- HFU (Hochschule Furtwangen/ Furtwangen University) (1)
- HPC (1)
- HVPC (1)
- Happiness (1)
- Haptic feedback (1)
- Hardware (1)
- Hedonia (1)
- Hidden Champions (1)
- Hierarchical approach (1)
- High efficiency deep grinding (1)
- High voltage insulation layers (1)
- Higher Education Exports (1)
- Hip abductor (1)
- Hip arthroplasty (1)
- Holistic Innovation Process (1)
- Hotplate (1)
- Human Resources (1)
- Human Resources Management (1)
- Hypoxic effects (1)
- INKA 4 (1)
- IgD (1)
- IgM (1)
- Image fusion (1)
- Image quality (1)
- Image reconstruction (1)
- Implant (1)
- Indiegogo (1)
- Industrial research (1)
- Infiltration (1)
- Influencing Programs (1)
- Information Systems (1)
- Inkjet-printed p-type semiconducting metal oxide (1)
- Innovations (1)
- Inspiratory muscle loading (1)
- Institutional Investors (1)
- Insulation (1)
- Integration (1)
- Intercultural Differences (1)
- Interdisciplinary health team (1)
- International Assignments (1)
- International Education Management (1)
- International Management (1)
- International Trade (1)
- International business study (1)
- International cooperation (1)
- Interprofessional relations (1)
- Inverse problem (1)
- Investitionsrechnung (1)
- Investment (1)
- Investment Vehicle (1)
- JSGF Grammar (1)
- Kickstarter (1)
- Klimaschutz (1)
- Kommissioniersysteme (1)
- LLLT (1)
- Laser-conditioning (1)
- Latin America (1)
- Layers (1)
- Lean body mass (1)
- Left (1)
- Lenses (1)
- Ligation (1)
- Liver failure (1)
- Load Balancing (1)
- Local backside contacts (1)
- Low-cost (1)
- Lung function testing (1)
- Lung mechanics (1)
- Lung-protective ventilation (1)
- MEMS (1)
- Macroeconomic Conditions (1)
- Macroeconomics (1)
- Maintenance of physical activity (1)
- Market Analysis (1)
- Market Entry Modes (1)
- Market Research (1)
- Market Segmentation (1)
- Marketing Trend (1)
- Marketingkonzept (1)
- Mathematical modelling (1)
- Mechanical strain (1)
- Medical devices (1)
- Medical engineering (1)
- Membranes (1)
- Meta-analysis (1)
- Metabolic risk (1)
- Metal coating (1)
- Metal-bond (1)
- Metastasis (1)
- Micro electrochemical machining (1)
- Microelectronics (1)
- Mindestkurs (1)
- Minimal invasive surgery (1)
- Minimum effective dose (1)
- Mitral (1)
- Mobile Learning (1)
- Mobility (1)
- Model based optimization (1)
- Model-based decision support (1)
- Modelling (1)
- Monetary Policy (1)
- Motion pictures (1)
- Mouse model (1)
- Mucus plugging (1)
- Multi-omics (1)
- Multi-scales wavelet transform (1)
- Multiculturalism (1)
- Muscle activation (1)
- Muscle strength (1)
- NMR spectroscopy (1)
- NPWT (1)
- Navigation aid (1)
- Net Interest Income (1)
- Neuromarketing (1)
- New Product Development (NPD) (1)
- Non-linear autoregressive model (1)
- Non-linear modelling (1)
- Nonprofit Organizations (1)
- Nuance NDEV (1)
- Nucleoside monophosphate kinase (1)
- OSGi Service Architecture (1)
- Observers (1)
- Obstructive lung disease (1)
- Obstructive lung disease (1)
- Oligosaccharides (1)
- Onset (1)
- Open Innovation (1)
- Open-source software (1)
- OpenEars (1)
- Operando spectroscopy (1)
- Operator training simulators (1)
- Optoelectronics (1)
- Orientation scheme (1)
- Orthotop (1)
- Osseointegration (1)
- Outsourcing (1)
- Overinflated (1)
- Oximes (1)
- PVD (1)
- PaaS Management (1)
- Participation rate (1)
- Particle modeling (1)
- Partnership Model (1)
- Parylene (1)
- Parylene C (1)
- Passive touch (1)
- Peer-to-Peer (1)
- Performance evaluation (1)
- Pharmaceutical Industry (1)
- Physical activity (1)
- Physical fitness (1)
- Physical simulation (1)
- Physiological model (1)
- Physiological modeling (1)
- Physiological modelling (1)
- Physiology (1)
- Picosecond laser (1)
- Plaque (1)
- Plasma (1)
- Plastic electrode-tool (1)
- Pleasantness (1)
- Pocketsphinx (1)
- Point of Sale (1)
- Polymer concrete (1)
- Porous silicon (1)
- Porter's Five Forces (1)
- Portfolio Theory (1)
- Positionierung (1)
- Positioning (1)
- Postmenopausal women (1)
- Postrheumatic (1)
- Power systems (1)
- Predictive preventive personalized medicine (1)
- Premium car segment (1)
- Prior information (1)
- Privacy (1)
- Process engineering (1)
- Professional role (1)
- Profiling (1)
- Pulmonary elastance (1)
- Pulmonary function testing (1)
- Pursed lip breathing (1)
- Qt (1)
- Quantitative Easing (1)
- Rare diseases (1)
- Re-identification (1)
- Re-recognition (1)
- Real-time imaging (1)
- Recruitment/derecruitment (1)
- Reentry (1)
- Refugee Entrepreneurship (1)
- Refugees Crisis in Germany 2015 (1)
- Regional Marketing (1)
- Regurgitation (1)
- Repatriation (1)
- Respiratory inductance plethysmography (1)
- Respiratory mechanics (1)
- Respiratory system (1)
- Retail Industry (1)
- Return on Assets (1)
- Revenue Maximization (1)
- Reverse culture shock (1)
- Robo-Advisor (1)
- SPECT (1)
- SWOT Analysis (1)
- SaaS (1)
- Sales Concepts (1)
- Sarcopenia (1)
- Sarcopenic obesity (1)
- Sarcophenia (1)
- Scenario planning (1)
- Schweizer Franken (1)
- Secondary current distribution (1)
- Sensor based (1)
- Service (1)
- Service Engineering (1)
- Service Innovation (1)
- Service Parameters (1)
- Service Prototyping (1)
- Shared Service Center (1)
- Shopper Marketing (1)
- Signal pre-processing (1)
- Sigreturn Oriented Programming (1)
- Silicon (1)
- Silicon anodization (1)
- Similarity measure (1)
- Single-grain scratch (1)
- Skeletal muscle mass (1)
- Skin Microbiota (1)
- Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) (1)
- Small cell lung cancer (1)
- Small-business marketing (1)
- Smallholders (1)
- Smart city (1)
- Smart home (1)
- Smart mobility in Germany (1)
- SnO2 (1)
- Social Entrepreneurship (1)
- Social Influence (1)
- Social Media Marketing (1)
- Social entrepreneurship (1)
- Social media (1)
- Solid lubricant (1)
- South Korea (1)
- Sparse recovery (1)
- Speech API (1)
- Speech Recognition (1)
- Spinal cages (1)
- Spiral free surface (1)
- Spirometry (1)
- Sporting Goods Retail (1)
- Stability (1)
- Stages of behavior (1)
- Start-up (1)
- Steel inserts (1)
- Stenosis (1)
- Stereo image processing (1)
- Strategic responses, (1)
- Strategy (1)
- Structuring (1)
- Structuring of grinding wheels (1)
- Submerse cultivation (1)
- Superposition principle (1)
- Survey (1)
- Sustainable agriculture (1)
- Syrian Refugees (1)
- TAVI (1)
- TVAL3 (1)
- Tactile actuator (1)
- Tactile display (1)
- Tactile maps (1)
- Tactile stimulation (1)
- Teams (1)
- Technology Acceptance (1)
- Technology Acceptance Model (1)
- Technology teaching project (1)
- Text-to-Speech (TTS) (1)
- Thailand (1)
- Three-dimensional electrical impedance tomography (1)
- Threshold loading (1)
- Total variation (1)
- Training Simulators (1)
- Transaction Cost (1)
- Transparent authentication (1)
- Trapped Air (1)
- Triazoles (1)
- Turkey (1)
- Twitch transdiaphragmatic pressure (1)
- UTAUT2 (1)
- UV/vis (1)
- Urinary dysfunction (1)
- Usability (1)
- User authentication (1)
- VUCA (1)
- Valve (1)
- Variable splitting (1)
- Velcro principle (1)
- Ventilation distribution (1)
- Ventilation inhomogeneity (1)
- Ventilation monitoring (1)
- Ventilator induced lung injury (1)
- Ventilator-induced lung injury (1)
- Vertebral fracture (1)
- Virtual Reality (1)
- Virtualization (1)
- Viscoelastic model (1)
- Visualization (1)
- Visually impaired (1)
- Vitrified bonded grinding wheels (1)
- WB-EMS (1)
- Wheel loading (1)
- Wheel topography (1)
- Wireless connectivity (1)
- Women professionals (1)
- Workshops (1)
- Wound healing (1)
- algorithm-based portfolio construction (1)
- business models, marketing, communication, pricing (1)
- business process management (1)
- cBN grinding wheel (1)
- communication strategies (1)
- crowdfunding (1)
- e-Commerce (1)
- economic shocks (1)
- evolution of music distribution (1)
- face-to-face interaction (1)
- global economics (1)
- iOS (1)
- industrial symbiosis (1)
- innovation (1)
- key performance indicator (1)
- lean management (1)
- merchant (1)
- mobile payments (1)
- music streaming (1)
- organizational change management (1)
- performance management (1)
- qualitative data evaluation (1)
- reputation (1)
- retail industry (1)
- stakeholder analysis (1)
- successful implementation (1)
- technology (1)
- technology adoption (1)
- the Great Depression (1)
- van der Waals force (1)
- war (1)
- waste management (1)
- work-life (1)
This study belongs to the field of innovation research and is based on the application of a theoretical concept of a technology acceptance. The theoretical concept developed in the context of this research work is investigating the connection between efficiency, quality, security and business process re-engineering and the intention to adopt mobile payments technologies by merchants within the retail industry. Mobile payments is an emerging topic which is currently experiencing a rise. Although there are significant differences in a level of mobile payments acceptance around the world, the widespread adoption of the technology has not prevailed yet. Moreover, more research is needed to investigate and explain retailers’ prospective on the mobile payments adoption. The growing scientific interest in this topic is relevant in terms of innovation development, theories of global competition platforms and evolving landscape of global payment systems.
From this holistic prospective the fundamental hypotheses and crucial questions in terms of mobile payments adoption by merchants were derived. The analysis of the data sample of 90 companies of various sizes and operating in different industries obtained by means of a survey conducted at one of the largest trade fairs in Munich, Germany in autumn 2015. The data was analyzed using descriptive univariate and multivariate methods and the significance of the conceptual framework was validated. A major positive trend in mobile payments adoption was indicated. The findings of this research suggest that efficiency had a significant positive influence on the intention to adopt mobile payments by merchants. Banks and credit card companies were recognized as the most preferred mobile payments providers among retailers with an increasing interest towards independent companies. Based on the findings, the scientific guidelines for the future research were outlined and the concrete recommendations from the managerial prospective for achieving a successful adoption of mobile payments among merchants were suggested.
This paper analyzes automated advisory services, a new business model developed by Fintech start-ups in the USA. The markets for automated advisory services (AAS) in the USA, where it is most established, and in Germany, where the market is still in the infancy stage, are examined and compared. The aim of the paper is to identify the market conditions determining user acceptance of automated advisory services in the USA and comparing the German market conditions to the US market in order to predict consumer acceptance in Germany. The markets are examined using the PEST analysis and Porter´s five forces framework. Recent market data, mainly from online media like online newspapers and studies, is collected and applied to the models. The data reveals that the market conditions for AAS are similar in both markets but in Germany there are some negative factors restraining growth. The second part of the paper is a technology acceptance analysis of automated advisory services using the UTAUT2 model. The UTAUT2 model is first applied to and extended for the automated advisory services market. Afterwards, the market data is applied to the model, confirming that the market data and theoretical framework of the model are conform. Finally, an outlook into the future of AAS in Germany and the USA is given, showing that the German market has the potential to develop similar to the US market once the negative influences on technology acceptance are diminished Further research into the aspects individualization of automated advisory services, web 3.0 applications and security of the algorithms and user data should be conducted.
The goal of this thesis is to provide information on how the music distribution has evolved throughout the years since the internet and computers have brought a
new digital ear to the music industry. This gave unlimited access to vast amount of information, creating new methods of communication and connecting to thousands of music lovers with only one mouse click. Technological and social changes have
followed ever since the beginning of the 20th century with significant impact on different business aspects like Marketing, Communication and Pricing. In the following years illegal downloading has brought the music industry to a crash with sales dropping
almost double in only one year. This, however, led to the idea of legal downloading and later in 2008 to the birth of the most used music streaming service Spotify. The bundle paying method of this new service has not only put the industry back on its feet
but it has also brought the interest in the consumers back. A monthly “flat rate” in exchange of a vast music catalogue of more than 30,000 songs, albums and artists with the ability to listen to it offline turned out to be the better alternative.
The purpose of this paper is to conduct an explorative research on the current situation of the music business and the business models of the new trend “music streaming” by using different analytical methods. The research results show a significant change in the way Marketing and Communication are being done by labels, brands and the streaming services due to the rapid technological progress and the new social habits born with it. Using the experience of listening to music, data and audience intelligence provided by the services, brands are now able to communicate their exact message in front of the right person and in the right time. Pricing of music has also gone through a big transition
since music streaming has become the preferred way of listening to and exploring new music. The effect of the bundles provides users with unlimited usage of the music streaming service and its catalogue in exchange of a monthly fee also called “flat rate”.
Each service decides on the price and the subscription method to be offered. To give a more comprehensive picture on what the future of music streaming
is, this paper is using not only secondary data but primary data as well. In order to generate free discussion, the study refers to the media and an expert to give answer on what are the signs pointing the direction the music business is headed towards.
In the context of dynamic and unstable business environment companies tend to more flexible performance management system. Being a central element in a performance management framework, forecasting practice becomes a major concern for business organizations. The practitioners claim that there is a significant gap existing between the development and the application of forecasting activities. In this respect strong bridges are required to connect theory and practice. Through an expert interview method author investigates how forecasting activities contribute to business performance. The main purpose of this research paper is to investigate the problem statement by answering the questions concerning how planning activities have changed in the last few years and what is the current attitude and commitment to forecasting tool. Furthermore, this study explores how forecasting is integrated in the decision-making process and how it affects business decisions. Finally research investigates whether companies apply a rolling forecast as well as the reasons for and against using a rolling approach are also considered. The main findings of the research show that companies have altered their planning activities to improve forecast effectiveness, to reduce uncertainty and risks, to enable a more flexible resource allocation. Interviewed companies expressed growing interest and commitment to forecasting as an instrument of control. Moreover, results demonstrate that forecasting plays a crucial role for the business organization by facilitating business decisions and providing assumptions for business plans. Also different practices show, the more complex and larger organization is the more scrutinized and granular the forecast process should be. Regarding a rolling forecast, only two interviewed companies use this approach. All respondents found a rolling forecast beneficial for the business, however, in order to be successful companies are required to put more efforts and gain more experience with this method.
The assembly process of the coverings of side members is the most defective process at the Plant Consolidation Center in Malsch. The difficulty is the high level of variance, the manual process control and that the components do not have a barcode. Since the labelling with a barcode is out of the question, an innovative process assurance for non system-based components by an automated photo documentation and photo plausibility should be found. The following specific questions have been posed:
1. What are the main sources of error in this process?
2. What innovative possibilities do exist to eliminate these main sources of error?
3. Is the installation of a process assurance technologically possible and economically efficient?
The main sources of error have been identified by an error analysis. These are: Taking out the right colour and variation of the coverings of side members, the assembly of the right or no trim and the right positioning of the components in the carrier of charge. The study concluded that the necessary functions of the innovative process assurance are the recognition of the colour and variation of the coverings of side members and the verification of their positions in the carrier of charge. To find out what innovative possibilities for a new process assurance do exist, the logistics trade fair „Motek“ has been visited and 13 providers has been invited to a viewing appointment. In practice, only one inspection system has achieved reliable process results. In order to that only one out of 13 providers submitted an offer. Since the payback and implementation period exceeds the contract period with the Daimler plant in Rastatt, it is not possible to generate savings within this time period. For that reason, the recommended course of action of this study is that fort he company the inspection system is only economically efficient in case of a contract extension.
This thesis examined the stages problem recognition, search for information, pre-purchase evaluation and purchase of the decision-making process for productivity / utility applications. Firstly, the characteristics of mobile applications, the past literature of the stages of the decision making process and technology acceptance theories were reviewed. Based on the findings a new model, based on the particular stages and its relations to each other, was developed. Of all 15 hypotheses, which described the model, 8 were found to be statistically significant. The consumers’ interest in a productivity / utility application is caused by the desire for higher work efficiency or practicality, if the consumer believes that the application has the ability to fulfil this desire. This provides several practical implementations for marketers regarding the channel and type of promotions. Having interest in a mobile application, the application store and internal search are relevant information sources for the consumers to search for information. Especially the relevance of the internal search, emphasizes the importance of brand awareness for productivity / utility applications. Additionally, if the consumers search third-party independent sources, they inspect only a small number of the available relevant applications. Furthermore, involvement in mobile applications has a positive impact on the consumers’ extent of search. Finally, concerning the evaluation of the inspected productivity / utility applications, the performance expectancy, the ease of use and the price are relevant criteria for the consumer. This provides practical implementations for marketers and developers regarding development and promoting of productivity / utility applications.
Automated Advisory Services. An investigation of Efficiency on Using the Black-Litterman Model
(2016)
This thesis seeks to investigate efficiency of current portfolio theory, using the Black-Litterman Model, for creating portfolio recommendations as offered by Automated Advisory Services. These services have recently appeared, offering wealth management through a digital store front. As the human component has been removed from the equation, algorithms based on portfolio theory provide portfolio recommendations upon profiling the user of such services. Tests on parameters of the Black-Litterman Model will be run between September 2007 and December 2009, the financial crisis. The aim is to understand how efficient the parameters are able to steer the model to reflect the investor preferences, and how Black Litterman portfolios would have performed during turbulent economic times to test the efficiency claim by providers of automated advisory services.
The topic of the thesis is ‘‘Identification of success patterns of the most successful SAP SFSF VARs as a base to recruit new high-potential partners. A way to achieve time to revenue efficiency for new partners joining the SAP ecosystem.’’. The whole approach is based on SAP SE, an international company providing enterprise application software with a focus on cloud solutions. The objective of the thesis is to help SAP SE to expand their cloud partner ecosystem and achieve time to revenue efficiency for new partners joining SAP ecosystem. The research question explores what are the success patterns of SAP TOP 20 SuccessFactors (SFSF) value-added resellers (VARs). The aim is to use the insights as a template to recruit new partners who show high potential for future success in reselling SAP SFSF (cloud) solutions. Currently, SAP is facing a challenge to recruit partners who are successful as VARs for cloud solutions in the small and medium size enterprises (SME) market. So far, SAP focused on increasing its market coverage by continuously expanding its Ecosystem, while the quality of the recruited partners was neglected. As a result, SAP invested a lot of resources in terms of time and money trying to onboard partners who could not deliver the expected impact. Recruiting partners who have the right patterns will decrease the resources that SAP spends on onboarding and training process while at the same time the partners will generate the revenue faster. However, SAP needs to have a clear view what a high-potential partner looks like. Therefore, it could be said, that the topic of the thesis is crucial for SAP further channel development and expansion, invested resources and indirect revenue. In order to answer the research question, the whole study is divided into seven chapters. The theoretical framework provides a general idea about the importance of partners for reselling cloud services to SMEs and what are the factors and practices that make partners successful. The empirical research explores the common success patterns of the Top 20 most successful SAP SuccessFactors value-added resellers. The author came to the conclusion that in order to be achieved time to revenue efficiency, the company should recruit only those partners who are representing the following set of success patterns: international presence, quality webpage, human capital management as a core line of business, strong digital and event marketing.
The present study was conducted in the International Purchasing Department at the Lidl Stiftung & Co. KG which is the headquarters of the international grocery retail discounter Lidl. The subject was defined by the author in cooperation with Mr. Robert Maier, executive manager for non-food and brand, and Ms. Silvia Carazo Soto, manager for the product range development in the Lidl non-food sector. The present study has two major purposes: Firstly, to investigate how customers perceive the non-food products and sector at Lidl and secondly, to identify what characteristics they value and would like to see improved in the Lidl stores.
The goal of this present study is to determine various proposals to optimize the non-food sector of Lidl stores in order to increase customer satisfaction and sales. Data and information material for this research were gathered through the author’s mentors, colleagues, meetings, an empirical survey, internal company presentations, the company homepage, the university’s EBSCO online research database, various business press as well as scientific publications.
In the first part, a theoretical background on the subject as well as company insights into the non-food division is provided. These show that the spending power of consumers has increased, consumers are becoming progressively demanding and that Lidl is faced by strong competitors on the food retail market.
The thesis then presents the empirical study conducted by the author from 30 November 2015 until 12 December 2015. Three hundred customers in ten different Lidl stores in four German federal states were interviewed face-to-face. The survey included fifteen questions regarding the customer’s shopping behavior at Lidl, the customer’s satisfaction with regards to a non-food purchase as well as customer expectations, experience and improvement proposals of the non-food sector.
The survey results show that 77% of all participants had bought non-food products at Lidl during the six months before the survey date. Of all these participants, 75% were either very satisfied or satisfied with their non-food purchase. Furthermore, it was concluded that Lidl lives from its price-performance ratio and promotion via the Lidl leaflet in-store or distributed to home. Inferential, the survey results suggest that the product presentation and the store atmosphere need to be optimized as well as the product availability. Moreover, the results indicated that customers think that up-to-date Lidl leaflets, information boards, product brochures and a mirror need to be available at the non-food sector.
In conclusion, on the basis of the results of this research, the author recommends optimizing the non-food sector in the Lidl stores by means of five different proposals. First of all, to improve the customer experience in a Lidl store by providing a “five senses experience” and secondly to optimize in-store promotion by integrating speed-bumps and optimizing the creation and presentation of product posters, banners and product paper models. Thirdly, the author recommends introducing a digital terminal as an operation tool to order and purchase non-food products that are sold out or not available in a Lidl store with the possibility to choose a home or store delivery, to search products on the Lidl homepage and to watch non-food product videos. Furthermore, the terminal includes a built-in shelf to collect paper product brochures. Fourthly, in order to optimize the product presentation of non-food products, two proposals for a sample product presentation are made. Primarily by means of a non-food module which is attachable to a non-food table in order to present a sample either on a coat hanger or a built-in shelf or by means of a hallstand with an integrated mirror. In addition, the author presents the option of a digital mirror. The fifth proposal is a category management LED lighting module installed above the non-food tables to facilitate the customer orientation in the non-food sector. In addition, the author presents three further proposals including executing customer satisfaction survey periodically, optimizing employee training and improving the Online Shop.
In conclusion, the thesis argues that Lidl is prepared to optimize the non-food sector in the interest of increasing customer satisfaction, attracting new customers, staying competitive and trendy and increasing sales. The author recommends focusing on providing an optimized customer experience in the Lidl stores, thereby primarily focusing on the most important sense, sight. For this, an optimized sample product presentation is primarily of highest interest followed by a better in-store promotion. The present thesis hopes to offer the Lidl Stiftung & Co. KG useful ideas on how to optimize the non-food sector and thus contribute to Lidl’s company success.
Strategic Responses of Premium-Segment German Autos to The Global Climate Change for Thai market
(2016)
The global climate change has become an important challenge in automotive industry because CO2 emissions from the fossil fuel combustion of vehicles contribute very much to climate change, especially global warming. Consequently, the world automotive trend is moving to environmental friendly cars. Thailand has faced various catastrophes caused by climate change, especially hazard drought, floods and heat waves, so environmental friendly cars are also needed in Thailand. Since Thailand is one of the major markets of the German luxury automakers in Southeast Asia, this study investigates the competitive environments of Thailand automotive industry and forecasts the implementation of environmental friendly cars, especially flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs), hybrid cars and electric vehicles (EVs). The analysis is based on the integration of valid secondary sources and expert interviews. It is found out that Thailand automobile industry is significantly attractive for the German luxury automakers in both production and domestic sales because of the availability of skilled labour, the rise of middle and upper middle class income earners, the integration of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), better developed infrastructure than other ASEAN countries, the government supports and the increasing demand of autos in Thailand and other ASEAN countries. Furthermore, Thailand can be further developed to be a production centre to export cars to other ASEAN countries and to be a market leader to align other ASEAN markets for a better and effective management as one big market. In order to respond to the force of new tax policy based on CO2 emissions, issues of climate changes and not to lose their competitive position to those Japanese automakers, within the next 5 years, the German luxury automakers should increase their product portfolio of hybrid cars in Thailand, especially plug in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Simultaneously, flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) should be also launched because of the already existing flexible fuel products of the German luxury automakers as well as the high capability of ethanol production and the increasing use of E85 in Thailand. After 2020, some EV models should be launched in Thailand. The demand for EVs in Thailand will rise because people will be willing to adopt EV technology after the launch of PHEVs in 2016 and the number of charging stations will be increased. Moreover, the use of solar cells to produce electricity for EV charging will increase because Thailand is a hot country and it is very environmental friendly.
Stakeholder analysis as an instrument for a successful development for a departmental strategy
(2016)
Functional strategy development is a vital key lever for any manager to provide direction, and to define the purpose and the value contribution of his organization. In this context, the increasing usage of stakeholder analysis in today's business world confirms the realization that stakeholders' input is an essential tool to shape and influence the decision making process. To that effect, obtaining input on their perceptions, beliefs, intentions and interests represents a valuable instrument for managers to furthermore facilitate the implementation of organizational objectives and the development of a functional strategy.
This paper reviews the fundamental aspects of functional strategies and stakeholder analysis, followed by theoretical approaches of research design and data collection methods, as well as organizational change. In relation to these concepts, it introduces a business area of concern and explains the research framework. A thorough investigation of the research outcomes, their potential origins and boundary conditions will lead to recommendations of corrective measures.
The paper proposes the business area concerned to face a major root problem, which suggests being the main cause for multiple related problems that were all detected in the course of the research.
Development of a strategic control concept to monitor and steer strategy executive in the STO Group
(2016)
This thesis aims to find out what are the career related self-perceptions of female researchers and scientist working or studying in the biomedical field in Finland and Germany. The literature research, statistics and empirical evidence collected by in-depth interviews are used to enlighten the cultural differences, environmental influencers and importance of self-esteem in career development. These in-depth interviews are arranged as individual narratives, which are then further analyzed in the data part. The main findings in the paper point out, that the support from the system provides better chances for women in Finland to combine family and the career, but many of the challenges are still rising form the lack of self-confidence and the tendency to avoid self-promotion. The both sides of working in the industry versus academy are as well looked into. Suggestions for new policies include better information for academics about employment possibilities in industrial the sector, positive role models who especially encourage women to combine work and family, and feedback and coaching in order to motivate women.
The field of entrepreneurship and its framework, the entrepreneurial opportunity process, are still young and maturing research areas that receive increasing attention from numerous authors in their academic reviews. While some researchers focus on the generic entrepreneurial opportunity process in order to gain additional insights into the phenomenon, others examine one of the entrepreneurial directions, such as social entrepreneurship or commercial entrepreneurship more closely. So far, a dichotomous approach towards the two types of entrepreneurship has been postulated by contemporary researchers that distinguishes them as two varying approaches.
This master thesis comprises both entrepreneurial directions and investigates their course throughout the entrepreneurial opportunity process, including the nature of the opportunities, their discovery and the decision to exploit an opportunity. The aim is to get a broader picture of the phenomenon of social and commercial entrepreneurship, its differences and similarities throughout the process and thus, examine the dominant dichotomous approach.
Primary and secondary data is gathered from case studies and interviews with entrepreneurs and derived from the information obtained, as well as from existing literature. Seven propositions are postulated that indicate possible differences and similarities regarding the two entrepreneurial approaches. Based on the findings from the testing of the propositions, this research paper concludes that the concepts of social and commercial entrepreneurship hold certain differences, Nevertheless, similarities are prevailing so that a dichotomous approach cannot be supported. The entrepreneurial directions can be displayed on a continuum rather than on extreme ends.
Finally, in order to provide possible future research objectives, an outlook section, containing a critical view on the tie between the entrepreneur and the opportunity is enclosed. It is suggested that the entrepreneur-opportunity nexus is much stronger in the social entrepreneurial context than in the commercial entrepreneurial context.
Although the market share of a specific airline is very often a rough estimation, it is still of great importance for the airline top management. In order to make the right strategic decision, management should be aware of its current position and its competitors. This information is important to decide on the airline’s fleet assignment, revenue management and planning and scheduling. A variety of different models exists for market size and market share forecasting. Since no single model provides accuracy, airlines usually combine and compare the results of different approaches. Generally speaking, market share can be estimated using different starting parameters, such as flight frequency, fare, quality of service, number of airplane’s seats, time of departure, etc. The market share depends also on its competitors’ strategy and current economic situation. As it is almost impossible to take into consideration all these parameters in one model, different techniques very often provide different results, and it is the task of the airline network planners to calibrate and validate the model. In this Master Thesis I consider market share as a parameter whose value is between 0 and 1 and which is calculated as a ratio of passengers travelled by a specific airline to a total number of passengers travelled between a given pairs of cities. This Master Thesis presents two objectives. First, it gives an introduction to the history of the airline industry. It analyzes the main factors affecting the demand, gives and overview of the airline network management and presents the most popular models for market size and share forecasting. Second, it estimates the airlines’ market shares for a given set of city pairs for 2013 and 2014 and finds the formula which can be used for future network planning. The estimation is conducted using the Multinomial Logit (MNL) model.