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Climate change is currently one of the biggest challenges both in terms of danger to natural habitats, wildlife, and humanity. To tackle climate change, we need to reduce our carbon emissions in a fast and decisive way. This thesis studies one of the potential solutions to do so: green hydrogen. More specifically, its potential development by 2030 in Spain using INKA 4.0 scenario planning software.
Green hydrogen shows to have a wide range of applications, from transport to heating and industry with great potential to decarbonize many sectors. It does come, however with a number of important hurdles mainly related to cost, scalability and technical difficulties that will need to be addressed for it to be successful. With this, 10 descriptors were created generating three scenarios to be studied. The most consistent of them, a successful development of green hydrogen in Spain by 2030 is characterized by having all of its descriptors in a favoring state while the other two have some or all in a hindering state, making its development not successful within the established timeframe. Concluding that due to the great challenge the development of green hydrogen is, its success needs to have all factors supporting it.
Frugality has become a prerequisite for success in a low-resource environment, a reality exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. When it comes to consumer needs, the priorities affordability and functionality are increasingly coming into focus. This study examines how frugal products are performing in developed markets, whether they meet consumer needs, and ultimately if there is a demand for these products.
The aim of this paper is to assess the status of Frugal Innovation (FI) in developed markets, using Germany as an example, and thus consumer behavior, in order to better evaluate the current status and related potentials based on this. The link between FI and environmental and social sustainability can be traced back to and limited to the minimal use of resources. Against the backdrop of the current economic and political situation, these factors represent one of the most significant competitive advantages of today.
This multi-method experiment helps to understand the consumer behavior towards frugal products as well as the opinions and attitude towards it. As a result, it can be said that there is interest in innovation in general as well as FI. The respective buying decisions were balanced, what means that frugal products do not necessarily outperform non-frugal ones, but they are in strong competition. It can be concluded that there will be an increasing demand for frugal products in developed markets such as Germany, especially for certain product categories.
Change from face-to-face to online mode of lectures due to the Covid-19 pandemic affected greatly the day-to-day life of students of Hochschule Furtwangen University. Therefore, this research paper aims to find out how student productivity has been affected by switching from face-to-face lectures to online or hybrid lectures. In this context, student productivity is defined through input and output, where input is students' time invested in lectures, research, group work, learning, and participation in class, and where output comes from the knowledge that the student has acquired as a result, measured by the grades of the examination or study performance. Hypothesis that the switch from face-to-face lectures to hybrid or fully online lectures has led to an increase in student productivity was formed for this research paper and for that reason, empirical research was conducted. Interviews with several students were performed to identify dimensions affecting student productivity as the basis for the student survey. Dimensions identified are Learning Facilities, Technology Use, Interaction Process, Student Participation and Study Time. The survey was conducted with a random sample of 149 students and analysed using SPSS software. Interviews with HFU professors were carried out to present experts’ opinions on this topic. Lastly, the grade statistics of HFU programmes were analysed to identify output of productivity. Results of the student survey suggest that a total of four dimensions were identified as relevant components of the input and output of the productivity of the students at HFU in connection with the change of the lecture mode, while the dimension Learning Facilities did not show a correlation to the student productivity. Grade statistics improved in winter semester 2020/2021 compared to the winter semester 2019/2020. Expert interviews suggested that the improvement in grades could be attributed to more time spent studying or lower standards of grading. Main hypothesis cannot be completely accepted or rejected, therefore, future research on whether students’ productivity increased in the switch from face-to-face to online mode is necessary.
The purpose of the study is to identify the profile of a start-up founder. In particular, it investigates whether there are some determined personality characteristics which are common among start-up founders. The present paper is questioning which neuropsychological traits and brain areas are responsible for entrepreneurial behavior. Therefore, the main focus was on the correlation between brain areas and individual attitudes or behaviors. After explaining the related basics about the human brain, it is important to locate some key tasks or activities in specific brain regions. Neuroimaging tools such as fMRI and EEG are particularly helpful to explain the reason for specific behaviors because they determine the presence of connection between cognitive processes and brain areas. In the present paper, EEG will be taken into consideration since this method can provide some practical insight into differences between entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs. The most important characteristics of entrepreneurs are defined in order to show theoretically whether there is a fundamental difference between entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs on a neuropsychological level. Even though there are elements which are emphasized in the personality of start-up founders, further research is required to prove that these aspects determine indisputably entrepreneurial behavior.
The longevity industry has been expanding for several years now, with the goal to prolong not only the lifespan of people but also their healthspan. One of the most remarkable techniques in the field is the CRISPR Cas-9 gene-editing tool, which owing to its flexibility and efficiency, allows humans to develop new treatments to prevent or cure a great variety of diseases. This paper aims to forecast the future state of the CRISPR Cas-9 technology in Germany in 2035 by using the INKA 4 scenario manager software. A total of five areas of influence –– i.e. scientific, economic, demographic, ethical, and legal –– were identified. From those, 11 descriptors were created based on relevant scientific literature and were introduced in the INKA software to develop the scenarios. This process resulted in three clearly differentiated scenarios that exhibit high probabilities of a positive outlook for the CRISPR-Cas9 technology in Germany by 2035.
Financial technology, popularly known as Fintech, has disrupted and revolutionized the financial service sector. Today, institutions such as banks are adapting digital transformation with the help of technological devices. There is no doubt that Fintech has transformed the way we bank. Nevertheless, there has been a growing need of understanding the future of financial institution with a holistic approach. Regulatory and governmental support towards maximizing opportunity, minimizing risk, and integrating financial inclusion is needed to accelerate the economy and attain sustainable development.
The following thesis aims to study financial inclusion and how to achieve it in the Fintech industry. It comprises of four areas of influence; market, social, technology and regulatory while emphasizing on the economic development, social progress, uplifting digital finance and robust regulatory system in the globalized financial market. The research aims to close the gap among the regulatory, economic, technological and social aspects of Fintech and then develop a pathway to attain financial inclusion. In addition, the objective of the research is to provide a comprehensive strategic plan towards a prespecified future in finance. This was achieved with the help of normative scenario planning. The result was calculated using scenario planning software INKA 4. The result consisted of four distinct scenarios supporting the pathway to implement financial inclusion in Fintech sector by the year 2030.
The German banking landscape is currently undergoing a paradigm shift of an unprecedented magnitude. As the financial world is changing, the future of German banks is highly uncertain. A multitude of present-day driving factors will shape the banking world of tomorrow. Therefore, this thesis aims to investigate and analyze the future of the German banking sector until 2030. The concept of scenario planning serves as underlying method for this research. Based on current factors influencing the German banking sector, the present thesis systematically develops coherent future scenarios. The generation of these scenarios is performed with the help of the scenario software INKA 4. This enables to assess a comprehensive picture of the future environment and the interactions between external influencing factors. Based on the most consistent future scenario, implications for the strategies of German banks are derived. As a result, German incumbents can question their strategic orientation and position themselves optimally for the future.
Entrepreneurship research faces a crossroads and a new approach is needed to better understand entrepreneurial behavior. Incorporating neuroscience to comprehend the entrepreneurial mindset seems promising. Nevertheless, the potential of neuroscience for entrepreneurship research is only slowly being realized. Based on an extensive literature review, this thesis examines the emerging role of neuroscience with respect to entrepreneurship. Referring to the model of the entrepreneurial process, this thesis investigates how entrepreneurs discover, exploit, and finally capture opportunities. In this context, explanations regarding trait, expertise, adaptation, and mindset of the entrepreneur are relevant for further examination. Moreover, decision-making in uncertain situations is analyzed. In this context, the dynamic interplay between the reflective and reflexive system is considered. Ultimately, this thesis provides recommendations for organizational innovation to enhance entrepreneurial
activity.