Bachelor's Thesis Summer Term 2025
Bachelor's thesis supervision Summer term 2025
Before you consider to apply for thesis supervision at the BIM chair, please carefully read the following:
1) Do not write your thesis under our supervision if at the same time you plan to work full time, do an internship, travel the world, or still need to do a large number of other courses! The thesis is an integral part of your study program and, thus, should be in the focus of your attention. You will need all the time to be able to deliver the best package (we fully understand that most of you have a student job and this is perfectly doable). All students that despite our warnings still started a full-time job or internship etc. struggled with finishing their thesis in time and delivering the desired quality. YOUR thesis should be YOUR first priority!
2) Only write your thesis under our supervision if you are commited, motivated, and responsible as well as willing to accept new challenges! If you consider to write your thesis at the BIM chair you should be well-organized, be able to motivate yourself to achieve your goals, and be willing to independently learn new skills (e.g., learn new statistical approaches largely on your own). Writing your thesis with us inlcudes to go beyond what you have learned in your seminars and lectures. We expect that you are proactive and motivated. Our job is to reduce uncertainty. Be prepared for all meetings and show us that you invest effort and time to solve issues yourself. This is YOUR thesis, work for it!
3) We are not your personal assistant. Our job is to supervise your thesis with respect to the topic and method as well as the general content and process (e.g., literature search, writing, etc.). It is not our job to remind you of deadlines, to fill out your documents, or to replace your own efforts to understand the submission procedure. All this information is publicly available on the website of our faculty, specifically the examination office. We are not your internet search engine substitude. This is YOUR thesis, YOU need to organize it!
Registration form Bachelor's thesis: Click here
Submission procedure of your Bachelor's thesis: Click here
General information for your study program (including all information in case of illness): Click here
4) Time problems on your side do not create time pressure on our side! It is part of the mission of the BIM chair to provide students with timely answers to their questions as well as a timely feedback and grading after submission. Time constraints on your side do NOT create time issues on our side. Our aim is to answer questions and request via email within two working days. We are usually much faster than that but if you send your question Friday late in the afternoon you cannot expect an answer on the same day. Organize yourself and try walking in the shoes of the members of the BIM chair. The same applies to the situation once you have submitted your final thesis. If you want to start a job or internship, have visa requirements or travel plans, if you want to/need to move out of your apartment, or if you want to get back your semester fee etc. this is all your business and your responsibility. We have eight weeks to finish the grading of your thesis (see the study regulations) and while we aim for a much shorter time, it will not always be possible to finalize within two weeks. Each member of the BIM chair at any given point in time during the year is supervising at least five Master's thesis students, five Bachelor's thesis students, seminars, scientific projects, and supervised internships etc. We simply cannot take into account all particularities for each and every supervised student as this otherwise would fill our schedule completely. All submitted theses are graded on a first come, first served basis. If you need your grade as soon as possible make sure to submit early. YOUR issues, YOUR business!
Application: To participate in the Bachelor's Thesis Seminar, please apply via the Office of Study Affairs' registration form and via the E-Learning platform. For more information, click here.
Topic: Once you are assigned to the BIM chair, you will receive an e-mail asking for your most preferred topics. The topic preferences you send us should not be changed, as we will try to assign you to a supervisor considering your first priority.
Supervision approach: An important aspect of the Bachelor's thesis is to work independently on the topic - individual supervision meetings should not exceed two to three appointments of 30 minutes each (not including a meeting to specify the topic). In the meetings, your supervisor is not a substitute for your own efforts to solve problems. Thesis supervision does not include prior review of parts of the thesis or a "first draft". All thesis supervision meetings take place face-to-face on campus.
The thesis should include a minimum of 25 text pages plus references, tables, and figures etc. Students provide an overview of their findings in a 15 minute presentation held after submission of the final thesis. We will ask questions and discuss the findings afterwards (about 10 minutes). Depending on the regulations of your specific study programme, you can write the thesis in English or German (check the IBE and IM regulations, respectivly). Given that the literature is in English, we recommend to write in English.
Questions: Please read the above carefully. If you have any questions not answered by the above information, contact Ida-Anna Thiele (ida-anna.thiele@ovgu.de).
Important dates summary:
Issue of topics: April 7th-17th 2025 (usually, students can work on their first preference; start of the two-week reading period is the day after)
Mandatory kick-off meeting on campus: in the first week of the lecture period of the summer term 2025 (tba)
First meeting with supervisor: Until April 25th 2025
Registration of the thesis by students: Until May 12th 2025
Thesis submission: Latest by June 27th 2025
Thesis defenses: tba
Bachelor's thesis topics Summer Term 2025
Below, you can find the current list of topics. These are broad topics and they need to be specified in the individual meetings with your supervisor. Own research ideas are very welcome, but also need to be discussed sufficiently in advance.
Topic 1: Beyond the numbers: A comparative study of indexes assessing countries’ frameworks
Understanding the formal institutional and economic environment of countries is crucial for international businesses. Institutions form the fundamental structures that shape economic and social interactions in a country. Various indexes have been developed to assess different aspects of these environments, providing valuable insights into economic stability, legal frameworks, and international connectivity. Examples of relevant indexes:
- DHL Global Connectedness Tracker: This index measures the extent of a country's integration into the global economy. It evaluates international trade, capital flows, information exchange, and migration patterns to assess a country’s connectedness with the rest of the world.
- Rule of Law Index: This index assesses the degree to which laws are transparent, enforced, and applied equally in a country. It evaluates factors such as judicial independence, corruption control, and property rights.
- Economic Freedom Index: This index evaluates the overall economic environment of a country based on criteria such as business freedom, investment freedom, and financial freedom. It measures how government policies support or hinder economic activity.
- World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index: This index provides insights into regulatory environments by analyzing factors such as business registration, contract enforcement, and access to credit.
- Corruption Perceptions Index: This index measures perceived levels of corruption in the public sector, offering insights into the effectiveness of governance and regulatory institutions.
The objective of this thesis is to identify various indexes that measure the institutional and economic environment, describe their methodology and scope, and conduct a comparative analysis. By doing so, the thesis will provide insights into the strengths and limitations of different indexes, their applicability in various contexts, and their potential implications for international business and policy-making. The main research questions are: What are the main indexes used to assess the institutional and economic environment of countries? What are the differences in methodology, scope, and focus among these indexes? How do these indexes compare in terms of reliability, coverage, and usability?
Topic 2: Mapping the world: A critical review of country categorizations in IM/IB research
Countries are frequently categorized into different groups based on various criteria for research and practical purposes. These categorizations help in reducing complexity based on economic, social, political, and cultural country characteristics among others. Example categorizations are: Western vs. Non-Western countries, Eastern vs. Western countries, developed vs. developing countries, global north vs global south, industrialized vs. newly industrialized vs. non-industrialized countries, low income vs. mid income vs. high income countries, cultural clusters (e.g., GLOBE, Schwartz, Ronen/Shenkar, World Values Survey), and geographic classifications (e.g., North America, South America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, etc.). The objectives of this thesis are a) to identify the most widely used country categorizations in international management/international business (IM/IB) research, b) examine their purpose and categorization criteria, c) compare and contrast these categorizations, and d) draw best practice usage recommendations and research implications. Additionally, the thesis should provide detailed listings of which countries fall into each category based on the latest available data. The methodology for this thesis includes conducting a thorough review of IM/IB literature (i.e., the seven main IM/IB journals) to map the use of these categorizations. Further, reputable data sources (e.g., World Bank, United Nations, and International Monetary Fund) should be used to categorize countries based on most recent data. The expected outcomes of the thesis are a detailed understanding of how countries have been be categorized and the underlying rationale, providing a structured comparison and detailed listings that will aid academic research as well as new insights into the similarities and differences between various categorizations, assisting researchers in making informed study design decisions.
Starting literature
Gupta, V., Hanges, P. J., & Dorfman, P. (2002). Cultural clusters: Methodology and findings. Journal of World Business, 37(1), 11-15.
Khan, T., Abimbola, S., Kyobutungi, C., & Pai, M. (2022). How we classify countries and people—and why it matters. BMJ Global Health, 7(6), e009704.
Ronen, S., & Shenkar, O. (2013). Mapping world cultures: Cluster formation, sources and implications. Journal of International Business Studies, 44, 867-897.
Vanderstraeten, J., & Matthyssens, P. (2008). Country classification and the cultural dimension: a review and evaluation. International Marketing Review, 25(2), 230-251.
Topic 3: Blockchain technology and smart contracts in the context of export operations: A critical assessment
This Bachelor's thesis will provide a critical assessment of the use of blockchain technology and smart contracts in the context of export operations. The thesis will begin by providing an overview of the blockchain technology and smart contracts as well as an overview of the current state of how to use these technologies are used in export operations. The thesis will then present case studies of companies using blockchain technology and smart contracts in their export operations, including an analysis of the implementation and the benefits and challenges faced. The findings of the case studies will be discussed and analyzed in the context of the literature reviewed. Finally, the thesis will provide recommendations for companies looking to implement blockchain technology and smart contracts in their export operations.
Starting literature
Allianz (2022) How digitalization is key to maximizing export opportunities. https://www.allianz-trade.com/en_global/news-insights/business-tips-and-trade-advice/how-digitalization-helps-maximize-export-opportunities.html
Aránguiz, M., Margheri, A., Xu, D., & Tran, B. (2021). International Trade Revolution with Smart Contracts. The Digital Transformation of Logistics, 169–184.
Bangkok Post (2016) How Blockchain will improve international trade
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/1076436/how-blockchain-will-improve-international-trade
Böhmecke-Schwafert, M. (2024). The role of blockchain for trade in global value chains: A systematic literature review and guidance for future research. Telecommunications Policy, 102835.
Chang, S. E., Chen, Y. C., & Wu, T. C. (2019). Exploring blockchain technology in international trade: Business process re-engineering for letter of credit. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 119(8), 1712-1733.
Sinha, D., & Roy Chowdhury, S. (2021). Blockchain-based smart contract for international business–a framework. Journal of Global Operations and Strategic Sourcing, 14(1), 224-260.
Topic 4: Crossing Borders: Developing an International Orientation Index for DAX and MDAX firms
As globalization continues to shape the business landscape, understanding the degree of international orientation among firms is crucial for assessing their global competitiveness. This project proposes the development of an International Orientation Index (IOI) to measure the global engagement of German DAX and MDAX companies. In the first phase of the Bachelors’ thesis, students will conduct a thorough review of existing academic literature on international orientation to establish a solid theoretical foundation for the index. Based on these insights, they will develop a methodology for the IOI, defining relevant dimensions and determining appropriate weighting criteria. Potential dimensions could include global market presence (e.g., foreign revenue share, number of subsidiaries), workforce & talent mobility (e.g., percentage of foreign employees, expatriate programs), international leadership & governance (e.g., share of foreign board members, headquarters abroad), global R&D & innovation (e.g., foreign R&D spending, international patent filings), international branding & digitalization (e.g., multilingual websites, global brand recognition), and supply chain & partner networks (e.g., percentage of foreign suppliers, foreign direct investments). These aspects serve as a starting point for further refinement based on academic findings. Once the index is developed, the second phase of the project involves applying it to all DAX and MDAX firms. Students will collect publicly available data from sources such as annual reports, corporate websites, financial databases, and M&A reports to systematically assess each company's international orientation. The results will be analyzed to create a ranking of firms and identify key trends across industries. This Bachelor’ thesis topic offers students practical experience in academic research, index construction, and data analysis, making it an excellent opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge in a real-world business context.
Starting literature
Eibe Sørensen, H., & Koed Madsen, T. (2012). Strategic orientations and export market success of manufacturing firms: The role of market portfolio diversity. International Marketing Review, 29(4), 424-441.
Knight, G. A., & Kim, D. (2009). International business competence and the contemporary firm. Journal of international business studies, 40, 255-273.
Moen, Ø., Heggeseth, A. G., & Lome, O. (2016). The positive effect of motivation and international orientation on SME growth. Journal of small business management, 54(2), 659-678.
Topic 5: Antecedents of organizational commitment during expatriation: A systematic literature review
Organizational commitment is defined as the psychological attachment to the employing organization. The objective of this bachelor’s thesis is to provide an overview of a set of 3-4 antecedents of commitment during expatriation (e.g., perceived organizational support, cross-cultural training, social support, among others). The thesis includes a comprehensive critical review of the most common definitions, conceptualizations, and measurements of commitment and the investigated antecedents. The thesis should further include an abstract, an introduction to the topic (including a short summary of the results), a detailed and replicable description of the literature search and review process, the results of the literature review, a vote-counting of outcomes (if applicable), and a discussion of the findings and their implications for the field. The systematic literature review requires a thorough literature search, coding, and analysis of articles on the antecedents of commitment in the expatriation context (i.e., conceptual articles, qualitative studies, and quantitative studies).
The literature search involves the use of a variety of databases and should be guided by predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The identified studies will be critically evaluated and analyzed to extract and synthesize the main findings. If possible, different types or dimensions of commitment should be analyzed separately. If a sufficient number of quantitative empirical studies have examined the relationships between antecedent variables and commitment in the expatriation context, a vote-counting approach should be applied (i.e., a minimum of five studies for a relationship). The vote-counting approach refers to counting the number of studies that support or refute a particular hypothesis on an association (e.g., social support is positively associated with commitment) to provide a quantitative assessment of the current state of the literature and would help to identify areas of agreement and disagreement among the studies. The literature review aims to identify gaps in the current research and suggests areas and methodological approaches for future study.
Starting literature:
Florkowski, G. W., & Fogel, D. S. (1999). Expatriate adjustment and commitment: The role of host-unit treatment. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 10(5), 783-807.
Gregersen, H. B., & Black, J. S. (1992). Antecedents to commitment to a parent company and a foreign operation. Academy of Management journal,35(1), 65-90.
Van der Laken, P. A., Van Engen, M. L., Van Veldhoven, M. J. P. M., & Paauwe, J. (2019). Fostering expatriate success: A meta-analysis of the differential benefits of social support. Human Resource Management Review, 29(4), 100679.
Topic 6: IT capabilities and knowledge management capabilities: A systematic literature review
IT capabilities, simply defined, refer to a firm’s ability to use IT-based resources and are predominantly researched as a multi-dimensional construct. While IT capabilities have been studied extensively in relation to firm-level outcomes (e.g., firm performance, organizational agility) in the past, their direct relation to further firm capabilities, such as knowledge management capabilities, has received less attention. Knowledge management capabilities refer to a firm’s ability to identify, acquire, and exploit knowledge. The objective of this bachelor’s thesis is to provide an overview of the previous research investigating the relationship between IT capabilities and knowledge management capabilities. The thesis includes a comprehensive critical review of the most common definitions, conceptualizations, and measurements of IT capabilities and knowledge management capabilities. The thesis should further include an abstract, an introduction to the topic (including a short summary of the results), a detailed and replicable description of the literature search and review process, the results of the literature review, a vote-counting of outcomes (if applicable), and a discussion of the findings and their implications for the field. The systematic literature review requires a thorough literature search, coding, and analysis of articles on the role of IT capabilities for firms’ knowledge management capabilities (i.e., conceptual articles, qualitative studies, and quantitative studies).
The literature search involves the use of a variety of databases and should be guided by predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The identified studies will be critically evaluated and analyzed to extract and synthesize the main findings. If a sufficient number of quantitative empirical studies have examined the relationships between IT capabilities and knowledge management capabilities, a vote-counting approach should be applied (i.e., a minimum of five studies for a relationship). The vote-counting approach refers to counting the number of studies that support or refute a particular hypothesis on an association (e.g., IT capabilities are positively associated with knowledge management capabilities) to provide a quantitative assessment of the current state of the literature and would help to identify areas of agreement and disagreement among the studies. The literature review aims to identify gaps in the current research and suggests areas and methodological approaches for future study.
Starting literature:
Gold, A. H., Malhotra, A., & Segars, A. H. (2001). Knowledge management: An organizational capabilities perspective. Journal of Management Information Systems, 18(1), 185-214.
Mao, H., Liu, S., Zhang, J., & Deng, Z. (2016). Information technology resource, knowledge management capability, and competitive advantage: The moderating role of resource commitment. International Journal of Information Management, 36(6), 1062-1074.
Marchiori, D. M., Rodrigues, R. J. D. A. G., Mainardes, E. W., & Popadiuk, S. (2024). Information technology capabilities: A bibliometric vision of the conceptual and intellectual structures and the past and future research directions. VINE Journal of Information and Knowledge Management Systems, ahead of print.
Turulja, L., & Bajgoric, N. (2018). Information technology, knowledge management and human resource management: Investigating mutual interactions towards better organizational performance. VINE Journal of Information and Knowledge Management Systems, 48(2), 255-276.