Bachelor's Thesis Winter Term 2024
Bachelor's thesis supervision Winter term 2024
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 proavtive 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!
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 Thesis Seminar, please apply via the Office of Study Affairs' registration form and via the E-Learning platform. For more information click here.
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. 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.
Important dates summary:
Issue of topics: October 7th-10th 2024 (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: October 16th 2024
First meeting with supervisor: Until October 18th 2024
Registration of the thesis by students: Until November 5th 2024
Thesis submission: Latest by December 20th 2024
Thesis defenses: between January 13th and January 17th 2025
Bachelor's thesis topics Winter Term 2024
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: 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 2: Adopting a common corporate language: A critical review of the literature
Intel plans to use English as a corporate language in the new factory in Magdeburg. In the realm of organizational communication and management, the adoption of a common corporate language stands as a pivotal factor influencing internal operations and external interactions. This thesis endeavors to delve into this critical aspect by conducting a thorough review of existing academic literature. The premise of adopting a common corporate language revolves around the notion that effective communication within an organization is contingent upon shared linguistic frameworks. However, the process of establishing such a language is multifaceted and its implications extend beyond mere linguistic coherence. This research aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge surrounding the adoption of a common corporate language. It will critically review the literature, exploring various dimensions including the conceptualization of a common language, strategies for implementation, challenges encountered, and the impact on organizational dynamics. The methodology involves a systematic literature review, encompassing a wide array of sources ranging from theoretical frameworks to empirical studies. Through meticulous analysis and synthesis of findings, this thesis seeks to uncover insights into the complexities of corporate language adoption and its implications for organizational behavior and performance. Moreover, the thesis aims to identify gaps in existing research, paving the way for future investigations in this domain. Students interested in delving deeper into specific areas such as cross-cultural communication, knowledge management, or organizational change may find ample opportunities for exploration within this overarching topic.
Starting literature
Marschan-Piekkari, R., Welch, D., & Welch, L. (1999). Adopting a common corporate language: IHRM implications. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 10(3), 377-390.
Fredriksson, R., Barner‐Rasmussen, W., & Piekkari, R. (2006). The multinational corporation as a multilingual organization: The notion of a common corporate language. Corporate Communications: An International Journal, 11(4), 406-423.
Topic 3: Blockchain technology and smart contracts in the context of export operations: A critical assessment
This bachelor 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 literature on blockchain technology and smart contracts, as well as an overview of the current state of export operations. The thesis will then present a case study of a company using blockchain technology and smart contracts in their export operations, including an analysis of the implementation and the benefits and challenges faced. The thesis will also include a survey or interviews with industry experts to gather data on the current and potential future use of blockchain technology and smart contracts in export operations. The findings of the case study and survey 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.
Topic 4: Fit lies in the eye of the beholder? A critical assessment of the corporate culture of Intel and work value orientations of German employees
This bachelor thesis aims to critically assess the corporate culture of Intel and the work value orientations of German employees. Specifically, the thesis will explore the concept of "fit" in the context of Intel's corporate culture, and examine whether the fit between the company's culture and the work value orientations of its German employees is perceived differently by different stakeholders. The thesis will begin by providing an overview of the literature on corporate culture and work value orientations, and will then present a case study of Intel, including an analysis of the company's culture and its employees' work values. The thesis will also include a survey or interview of employees to gather data on their perceptions of fit within the company's culture. The findings of the case study and survey will be discussed and analyzed in the context of the literature reviewed. Finally, the thesis will provide recommendations for improving the fit between the corporate culture and work value orientations of Intel's German employees.
Topic 5: Helpless abroad? Perceived organizational support and expatriate work-related outcomes: A systematic literature review
Perceived organizational support (POS) is defined as the extent to which expatriates believe that they will receive support from their organization during their overseas assignments (e.g., support to adjust to the new country). The objective of this bachelor’s thesis is to provide an overview of the previous research investigating the relationship between expatriates’ POS and their work-related outcomes (e.g., job performance, job satisfaction, well-being, turnover intention, among others). The thesis includes a comprehensive critical review of the most common definitions, conceptualizations, and measurements of organizational support and the investigated work-related outcomes. 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 POS 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 a sufficient number of quantitative empirical studies have examined the relationships between POS and work-related outcomes 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., POS is positively associated with job satisfaction) 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:
Kawai, N., & Strange, R. (2014). Perceived organizational support and expatriate performance: Understanding a mediated model. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 25(17), 2438-2462.
Sarfraz, M., Nisar, Q. A., & Raza, A. (2023). Expatriates' adjustment and performance in risky environments: The role of organizational support and rewards, risk propensity and resilience. Personnel Review, 52(4), 1126-1145.
Sokro, E., Pillay, S., & Bednall, T. (2021). The effects of perceived organisational support on expatriate adjustment, assignment completion and job satisfaction. International Journal of Cross Cultural Management, 21(3), 452-473.
Topic 6: 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 7: Role stressors and expatriate work-related outcomes: A systematic literature review
Role stressors, such as role novelty, role ambiguity, or missing role clarity, are known to cause uncertainty about the work role. The objective of this bachelor’s thesis is to provide an overview of the relationship between role stressors and a set of 3-4 expatriate work-related outcomes (e.g., cross-cultural adjustment and its facets, job performance, job satisfaction, turnover intention, among others). The thesis includes a comprehensive critical review of the most common definitions, conceptualizations, and measurements of the most commonly assessed role stressors and the investigated outcomes. 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 outcomes of role stressors 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 role stressors and work-related outcomes 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., role novelty is negatively related to cross-cultural adjustment) 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:
Bhaskar-Shrinivas, P., Harrison, D. A., Shaffer, M. A., & Luk, D. M. (2005). Input-based and time-based models of international adjustment: Meta-analytic evidence and theoretical extensions. Academy of Management Journal, 48(2), 257-281.
Saleem, S. (2012). Antecedents and outcomes of expatriate adjustment: A meta-analysis and structural equation modeling (Publication No. 20122) [Doctoral Dissertation, University of Vienna]. Retrieved July 19, 2024, from https://utheses.univie.ac.at/detail/20122
Singh, S. K., Tarba, S. Y., Wood, G., Bozionelos, N., Del Giudice, M., Pereira, V., & Latan, H. (2022). Adjustment and work outcomes of self-initiated expatriates in the United Arab Emirates: Development and testing of a model. Journal of International Management, 28(3), 100953.