Open Access

This bachelor thesis is dedicated to the topic of insurance in the outdoor sports sector. The range of services offered by personal liability insurances, business liability insurances, association liability insurances and accident insurances were examined. For this purpose, all insurance terms and conditions available or obtainable in spring 2021 by companies organized in the German Insurance Association (Gesamtverband der Deutschen Versicherungswirtschaft e.V.) were compiled and examined for commonalities and differences. Exclusions, inclusions, and special features by the insurance companies were also considered. The results are presented in a tabular overview. As a result, it was possible to determine that in the case of personal liability insurances, coverage for all types of sports is basically provided by all insurance companies without distinction. Deviations can only be found in the areas of horses/riding, water sports and air sports. Only in this spectrum personal liability insurers each make their own offer, which can clearly distinguish them from their competitors. In the case of business liability, no generalized regulations could be identified, except that the respective business purpose is insured. Thus, specialized outdoor sports companies or outdoor events of other companies are insured. In conclusion, competition among insurance companies is likely to be most pronounced in business liability insurances. Association liability insurances lag behind these major liability areas because sports associations can obtain coverage from a major insurer. The offers by the insurance companies focus on the purpose of the association and are evaluated individually. With the exception of air sports activities, accident insurances indiscriminately insure all bodily injuries that occur as a result of an accident in a private context in outdoor sports. In general, outdoor sports activities of all kinds are always insured or can be insured through appropriate rate or contract negotiations.

Important prior studies regarding customers purchasing behaviour proved that customers tend to avoid products showing extreme deflections in attributes and feel more comfortable purchasing articles with a balance in attributes (compromise option). Hence, for marketers, supermarket chains etc., it can be of an advantage knowing whether this effect can also be measured or even be amplified in where the spatial middle of a shelf is occupied with the compromise option. We hypothesized that the tendency towards the compromise option, eventually even higher in the spatial middle position, can also be observed in an in-store experiment with real-life circumstances. In order to fulfil our study, we worked with a hardware store in southern Germany. In total, we sold 610 items consisting of 5 different products with each 3 alternatives. The result corroborated our hypothesis partly as it showed in some cases, the compromise option was indeed preferred when in the middle of a choice set. Nevertheless, in many cases, products on extreme position with “extreme” attributes were preferred. Leading to the conclusion that other factors like the brand may have higher importance in purchasing decisions.

This thesis explores how meat-eating consumers may be able to rationalize the consumption of conventional meat by believing to substitute a certain amount of it for organic meat. The underlying rationale is that the positive associations elicited by the organic label and the favorable beliefs consumers have formed about organic meat enable them to use it as a moral license. Building on cognitive dissonance theory, this work specifically investigated whether (1) meat-eaters perceive organic meat better than vegetarians and (2) meat-eaters overestimate how much organic meat they consume. German meat-eating and vegetarian participants were recruited for a study (n=156) to answer these questions. The results show, first, that organic was generally rated as better than conventional meat on all dimensions surveyed, and to a greater extent by meat-eating than by vegetarian respondents. Second, meat-eating participants on average reported estimates of organic meat consumption that were significantly higher than the population mean, indicating that consumers may not eat as much organic meat as they believe. Overall, the findings of this study suggest that organic meat might be used to rationalize unsustainable food choices.

The aim of this research is to investigate the impact of potential change in consumer behaviour on the carbon footprint in the beverage industry. This research comprises two fundamental components. The first component establishes a scientific basis through an in-depth literature review by referring to the main concepts. The second component comprises a research study based on the hypothesis of whether consumers who engage in climate-neutral behaviours also demonstrate conscious beverage consumption. The findings of the literature review illustrate that the beverage industry contributes to high levels of emissions and global plastic pollution. Not only does this endanger marine and terrestrial ecosystems, but also humans. For example, through microplastics that enter organisms and contribute to illnesses. The results imply that the impact of human activities will influence environmental development. The nature of consumer behaviour is considered to be the key to society's impact on the environment. Findings obtained through the research study emphasise that environmental awareness exists among the respondents. Furthermore, it is indicated that a statistical relationship exists between climate neutral consumption patterns and conscious beverage consumption. By fundamentally changing the way beverages are consumed, emissions can be mitigated and consequently the goal of achieving climate neutrality in the beverage industry can be achieved. This furthermore contributes to the achievement of global climate neutrality and supports sustainable development.

The current mechanisms and information sources for international students in Germany are insufficient. This thesis aims to evaluate the need for potential substitutes of preexisting information sources. Specifically, it analyzes if a commercial service provider can operate as a successful alternative. To investigate current mechanisms and their shortcoming, former information sources were assessed and evaluated. Additionally, five expert interviews were conducted gaining a time accurate evaluation of the present situation. The results show that current information sources are too bureaucratic and restricted in their actions. Nonetheless, the findings also display that there is a great need for optimal and effective access points. This thesis concludes with an analysis of a likely business model, and how it would successfully operate within the Chinese market. Conclusively, a commercial service provider has the optimal prerequisites to fulfill the current demands of international students.