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Course of studies
The creation of a positive organizational culture has become of increasing interest during the past decades. Various studies have assessed the impact of organizational culture and employee satisfaction in relation to individual and organizational performance. A cross-comparison of these studies is difficult, as the results strongly depend on the definition of the investigated variables. Additionally, the concept of organizational culture remains a unique concept within the group and is influenced by the respective organizational structures and processes.
Therefore, this bachelor thesis attempts to investigate the concept of organizational culture and its determinants in general, as well as making the case of the critical im-portance of organizational culture, specifically for the company MS Plastic Welders, LLC (MSPW).
In this context, to form a comprehensive analysis and theoretical framework, secondary data was examined. In line with the qualitative findings, the application of a descriptive employee survey at MSPW intended to examine the employees’ perceptions towards their job satisfaction and the overall working environment. The aim of the study was to uncover the main areas for improvement, forming the basis of leading a positive culture change. Following the survey, conclusions about the organizational culture at MSPW were drawn and put into perspective in the form of recommendations for the company. The survey results indicated that the company needs to communicate a clear organizational mission and additionally needs to determine and communicate their organizational values, in order to clearly direct the employees’ mindsets, behavior and actions. After determining the organizational direction, the internal structures and processes need to be aligned to support the desired behavior patterns and in order to enhance the long-term organizational performance perspectives through positive culture change.
With the rise of the internet and the flood of information it provides at no cost, print is no longer the main source of information. The German magazine market has been highly affected by this change. Publishers are faced with declining sales volumes, loss of advertising income and increasing costs. The implementation of Augmented Reality technology could make print magazines less static by providing the opportunity to add extra content and create an interactive reading experience. However, so far the use cases of this technology in print magazines have been rare, which might be due to the deficiency of information publishers have about its likelihood of success. To reduce this information gap and provide some recommendations for publishers, a web survey and expert interviews were conducted to establish the consumer perspective on an implementation of AR technology and to provide a potential future outlook based on the opinions of German AR solution providers. It was concluded that an implementation of AR would lead to a value addition for consumers and would result in an increase in purchase intention. Despite also resulting in an improved perceived image of the magazine, it should only be implemented if it does not lead to an increase in price or the reduction of editorial content, to avoid losing readers, who will not access the additional content. The substantial costs involved in implementing AR as well as existing technological limitations, which affect the ease of use for consumers, will likely prevent many publishers from realising such an implementation. AR glasses will play a significant role in the decision if AR technology will have a future in German print magazines according to the interviewed experts, in case they are accepted by the general public.
Influence of tidal volume on ventilation distribution and oxygenation during one-lung ventilation
(2018)
Effects of Non-Driving Related Task Modalities on Takeover Performance in Highly Automated Driving
(2018)
It has been common for retail firms to simultaneously operate multiple channels.
However, customers are increasingly demanding a seamless shopping experience and
cross-channel strategies have gained in importance for retailers across industries. It has
become evident that successful integration of online and offline channels can increase
customer loyalty and ensure a retailer’s long-term profitability. Although opportunities
presented by cross-channel retailing are diverse, until today only few retail companies
have successfully implemented such a strategy, as they face firm- and customer-related
limits. Thus, the purpose of this bachelor thesis is to provide a general understanding of
the concept of cross-channel retailing and to examine how new technologies can link
retailers’ sales channels on the one hand, but also pose major challenges on the other.
A literature review using academic journals, trade publications and academic books
provides valuable insights on the changes in customer shopping behaviour due to the
prevalence of new technologies and the consequences for retailers. Furthermore,
opportunities and limits of cross-channel retailing are critically examined following a
customer-centric approach. Primary research is conducted to illustrate customers’
experience with Artificial Intelligence in the form of a chatbot implemented by an US
apparel retailer. The thinking aloud method is used to gain insights into participants’
thought processes and to analyse the chatbot’s potential to replicate the experience
offered in a physical store. Findings include that showrooms and emerging technologies
such as artificial intelligence, big data analytics and beacons may present an opportunity
for retailers in the apparel industry, while privacy concerns, technology acceptance,
demographics and firm-related challenges need to be taken into account.
This bachelor thesis explores the opportunities of Talent Scouting at ZF Friedrichshafen AG in terms of a cross-divisional internal talent management measure in line with future requirements and the frame of a CoE function. It deals with the definition of talent within the scope of Talent Scouting, ZF specific demands with regard to matching internal talents with key positions and the general framework that must exist in order for Talent Scouting to be successful.
The thesis is supported with primary and secondary research data. A theoretical framework is set up through a comprehensive literature review and used as a foundation for a qualitative data research approach. The literature review comprises the talent definition within the business scope, the frameworks of TM and a first look at Talent Scouting. Furthermore, relevant internal TM measures at ZF are examined. The research includes expert interviews conducted with ZF internal employees. The gained insights are then discussed and concluded into recommended actions for a Talent Scouting process at ZF.
Major findings include a new understanding of talent and the need for a transparent process to encourage and enforce internal mobility division-wide. Additionally, the requirement for an overall coherent TM strategy is accentuated. This is emphasized with demands for a cultural and organizational mindset change. Additionally, a talent life cycle is established and the concept of a Talent Conference is considered. Further topics discussed include the use of big data, staffing rules in placement processes and possibilities on increasing visibility of talents.
Finally, the thesis provides a brief outlook on the potential of people analytics and system-aided processes for HRM in the future.
Fast and flexible – today's two most desired traits within the business environment. The quickly rising technological advancement makes it difficult for organizations to keep up with their productivity. Owing to the digitalization, organizations have to rethink their structures and processes to be able to adjust to the constantly changing environment and ultimately continue to stay a successful force. A “one-size-fits-all” solution does not exist, which makes the initiatives time-consuming and difficult.
Since digitalization comes with major challenges that have to be tackled to decrease the gap in potential business productivity, the first objective of this paper is to identify relevant action points for organizations, together with the examination of the best practice of agility and its structural and cultural traits.
Further, this work aims to comprehend the structural and cultural traits of the case of [company name]. This is approached by a mixed method empirical analysis. First, by qualitative in-depth interviews with the first and second level managers based on the preceding theoretical framework of Spiral Dynamics and a concept of organizational culture analysis. Second, by a quantitative online survey with the remaining workforce based on the model of Competing Values Framework, assessing not only the current but also the by the workforce desired structural and cultural traits.
The model of Spiral Dynamics defines differing predominant core value systems of mankind, whereas challenges that cannot be accomplished with current behaviors initiate the evolution to another core value system – just like digitalization does with the case of [company name]. The Competing Values Framework is a scientifically justified concept to analyze organizational culture.
The last objective of this paper is to develop a set of tailored recommendations towards agile work approaches for the case of [company name] based on the preceding analysis and the theoretical framework of a scientifically justified change management process.
The conducted research reveals that the organization’s culture mainly shows traits of a traditional organization, with top-down decision-making and task assignments, selective transparency, silo-communication and a lack of interdisciplinary collaboration, which results in the predominant core value system of Success. Additionally, the analysis of the desired traits reveals a congruency with agile organizational traits, or in other words, the predominant value system of Synergy. With respect to the results, the study makes seven recommendations, incorporating the theory of a successful change initiative. Together with specified action examples, the way towards the desired predominant value system is paved.
Globalisation and technological advancements over the last decade have changed the way that business organisations operate. In response to these developments many companies have opted for a global strategy which usually entails a form of standardisation. This thesis will focus on standardisation of human resources software. There are many articles and journals on the field of human resources management, the impact of technology of human resources and standardisation of processes in general but very little literature on standardisation of human resources software despite the huge role that it plays in supporting global HR strategy.
Using mainly qualitative research and primary first-hand experience this thesis will look into the factors affecting standardisation of human resources software. The assumption is that standardisation of HR software is the only option for global strategy and that it will increase efficiency, reduce costs and create other benefits for an organisation.
The research shows that when technical and non-technical factors are not equally considered standardisation of HR software is likely to take longer than intended and according to the measurements put in place it may fail completely or the perceived benefits are not fully realised. Additionally, constant technological innovations could redefine standardisation and the role of HR software in an organisation.
Social media has become inseparable from our daily lives thanks to the widely use of internet and mobile technological advancement. Travel and tourism has benefited a lot from social media, especially the travelers. Not only can they find travel-related information on social media platforms, but they can also discuss and exchange necessary and relevant opinions and information.
The purpose of this research study is to examine how social media influences where German millennials determine their holiday destination. This dissertation analyzes to what extend social media influences the individual German millennial’s decision and whether reviews and comments affect their decisions.
The research study comprises of 5 chapters which represent the analytical process from beginning to end. The first chapter is the introduction, then literature reviews, then the methodology for primary research of this research is identified and explained. Results from the online questionnaire are then presented followed by an analysis and interpretation. Finally, the conclusion and limitation of the research have been discussed.
This research study concludes that social media does influence German millennials when they use social media to compare the holiday destinations in comparison to those who do not use social media for this purpose. It is clear that social media is the main source of information when they are looking for holiday destination information and is preferred compared to travel books and travel agencies. The results have shown that TripAdvisor is the most used holiday destination information page among other social media platforms. Furthermore, most of German millennials are passive users of travel-related social media platforms. That means they only consume information but do not necessarily write reviews or comments after their holiday experience.
Renewable energies play an increasingly significant role both in politics in Germany and especially in the energy market. The latter meanwhile is determined by the prices of the different energy sources in the mix of the German market. The goal of the present work is to analyse the influence of renewables on energy prices on the Spot and the Futures market and to find indicators, that help to better predict energy prices and therefore could be decisive for the time of purchase. Due to the limited scale of this thesis and because of the leading role of wind and solar energy, the main focus is on these two energy sources. Therefore, a quantitative data analysis by means of Pearson’s correlation coefficient is performed. The results are analysed to find main influencing factors on energy prices. Using the results, it can be concluded by what kind of event the resulting price changes are caused and how these events can be forecasted.
While Africa presents huge markets for foreign software, sales in these markets have been decreasing over the years. This downward movement in sales can be attributed to the challenges software companies are facing in these markets.
Using the case of TeamViewer GmbH in South Africa and Nigeria, this paper seeks to examine these challenges and give possible recommendations on how to improve sale. It also would analyze the opportunities present in these markets for foreign software.
Through an interview with customers and re-sellers in the South African and Nigerian markets, we uncover that, high prices, competition, unawareness of subscription, to name a few, are some of the challenges resulting in poor sales. Also, using the political, economical, social, technological, legal and environmental (PESTLE) model of analysis, an overview of the socio-economic and political situation in these markets were examined. The findings from this paper would serve as a spring board for further research on this topic.
Optimization of an omni-channel strategy in fashion retail – the case of Hunkemöller International
(2018)
In fashion retail, omni-channel management has become an important strategy to offer the customer a seamless shopping experience across various channels. Customers want to shop from anywhere and at any time. Therefore, retailers integrate their operations among all channels and manage them simultaneously. The customer´s interaction with the brand along various touchpoints is thereby an important factor, since the number of touchpoints along a customer´s journey is increasing. This work analyzes a fashion retailer that is already executing an omni-channel strategy, to find challenges that the company is facing and thus an approach for optimization. This is done for the example of Hunkemöller International B.V., a Dutch lingerie retailer, which is dedicated to consistently improve its omni-channel strategy.
The following work examines current literature of omni-channel management in fashion retail and sets up a framework of success factors. These are compared to the current state of the company´s omni-channel strategy through qualitative research in form of an expert interview. This research is followed by more inter-views, which give insights to the challenges that stores are facing while execut-ing omni-channel activities. In addition, the work focuses on the purchasing phase of a customer´s journey and builds a framework to investigate customer touchpoints in the respective phase. Quantitative research is carried out through an in-store customer survey that gives insights on challenges from customer´s side and on customer´s attitude towards omni-channel. Thereby a customer touchpoint analysis is conducted. The conclusion presents recommendations for Hunkemöller on how to face the challenges and optimize the current omni-channel strategy. Limitations of the research and points for future research are discussed in the end.
What Are the Barriers for Asylum Seekers and Refugees Who Want to Enroll at a Swiss University?
(2018)
Globalization brought high competition in the market. Therefore, international Marketers started to use a strategy of linking a product to its Country of Origin to get a potential competitive advantage on their product. Previous studies have found that the effect of Country-of-Origin on consumer´s product evaluation, perception and purchase intention. However, it was limited to find the County-Of-Origin effect on different age groups especially in Germany.
The purpose of this research was to analyze the effect of Country of Origin on German consumer´s product evaluation and different age groups. Projective test was adopted for designing the questionnaire and Italy, China and France were selected as the country. In the end, the data was represented by statistical analysis and graphic representation.
This research comes to the conclusion that the Country of Origin either has an impact or has no impact on German consumer´s product evaluation. Their evaluation showed various results based on country and product information such as Country image, Country of Manufacturer image, product category and brand. Therefore, this research was not able to define the general Country of Origin effect on German consumer´s product evaluation. However, this research will give an insight for designing a future research and a more comprehensive understanding of the Country of Origin effect on age groups.