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This thesis deals with the question of which success factors apply to social media marketing. German start-up companies are examined for this purpose. The investigation is based on ten semi-structured expert interviews, which are evaluated using a qualitative content analysis. The results show that there are many success factors and that companies proceed differently in many areas when implementing social media marketing measures. Important success factors are a tailor-made, company-specific social media strategy with a clear formulation of goals, integration of social media marketing into the corporate strategy, openness to new social media trends, credibility and reputation, compliance with data protection, the correct handling of criticism, use of social media as a market research tool and a long-term social media strategy. However, the significance of the results should not be overestimated, since this is a qualitative study with a limited range and only examines individual cases. Further research on the success factors could be based on quantitative studies or group discussions in which experts or users or customers are interviewed. Another possibility is the qualitative examination of the user-generated content.
Künstliche Intelligenz (KI) hat sich in den letzten Jahren in der Gesellschaft stark ver-breitet und auch in Unternehmen einen zunehmenden Einsatz gefunden. Bekannt für den Einsatz sind meistens große internationale Konzerne, welche eine führende Position in den Märkten einnehmen. Um Deutschland als KI-Standort zu stärken, hat deshalb die Bundesregierung 2018 beschlossen, mit 5 Milliarden Euro deutsche Unternehmen in der Verwendung von KI zu fördern. Stand September 2021 wurden von diesen allerdings nur 346 Millionen abgerufen, wodurch sich die Frage stellt, wie besonders kleine und mittlere Unternehmen (KMUs) in Deutschland mit dem Thema KI umgehen.
Ziel dieser Arbeit ist es deshalb, die Perspektive der KMUs auf Akzeptanzkriterien, Hindernisse und Potenziale des Einsatzes von KI zu untersuchen. Um die Forschungs-fragen zu beantworten, wurde eine qualitative Interviewstudie mit fünf KMUs durchge-führt, welche im Anschluss mit dem Ansatz der qualitativen Inhaltsanalyse nach May-ring ausgewertet wurde.
Die Arbeit zeigt, dass Unternehmen ein großes Interesse am Thema KI haben und sich der Einsatz immer weiter verbreitet. KMUs sehen viel Potenzial durch den Einsatz der neuen Technologie, sehen aber noch einige Hindernisse, die es zu überwinden gilt.
Digital Transformation is a main enabler for technological change in today’s society and corporate structures. Companies of all sizes have to face up the change. The com-plexity of the innovations is constantly growing. More and more information and knowledge are needed to build a basis for renewal. Different capabilities, such as highly qualified employees, material resources and the correct handling with these information, constitute the background for the advancement. Compared to large companies, small and medium sized companies (SMEs) are struggling more with these circum-stances. This leaves potential capabilities to optimize daily routines unused.
Challenges here are different internal and external barriers. Examples for that are the lack of IT expertise and innovation culture. Hence it is very important, to show SMEs the advantages of the innovation process within the scope of digital transformation. Cost savings, improvement of IT infrastructure or optimization of their business processes, are drivers that should be adopted in the awareness of SMEs.
Recommendations for action are needed, also with the support of information management. This includes information management, strategic management for external an internal information and the selection of an appropriate IT infrastructure. However dynamic management skills and sufficient IT expertise also complement the digitization process.
This becomes clear from the literature analysis following the principles of Webster and Watson (2002). The Concept mapping and the concept matrix serves to support the process. They are presenting the key words and showing the most important works of the bachelor thesis. The argumentation of the bachelor thesis based on this.
A growing flood of advertising and information as well a limited capacity to collect information present a challenge to marketing today. Marketing in general is very important for the success of a company. But the classic marketing theory which ignores the special characteristics of young companies dominates. A new company with a new idea and a new product meets an existing market with customers and established competitors. For an innovation-related founding context this is a special challenge.
In this bachelor thesis the subjects, entrepreneurship and marketing will be discussed first. In addition the special characteristics of young companies, the so-called liabilities will be explained. The meaning of the term entrepreneurial marketing is explained by detailed consideration of the close and wide conceptual understanding. Afterwards the comparison clarifies the difference to the classic marketing. As part of the literature review, the current state of research will be presented and the practical use will be examined in more detail based on the central approaches. The approaches are the guerrilla marketing, ambient marketing, sensation marketing, viral marketing and ambush marketing. How entrepreneurial marketing with the central approaches is used in a start-up company is analyzed by a qualitative investigation in the form of a case study.
The case study shows that unconventional marketing measures and low use of medium can have a large effect. The entrepreneurial marketing therefore offers an alternative to classic marketing because it pays attention to the special characteristics of a young start-up company. This bachelor thesis shows that the entrepreneurial marketing can convert the weaknesses of young founding companies into strengths and lead to superiority over the competition.
In this thesis criteria and requirements for a successful collaboration platform for the improvement of communication between scientific institutes of the railway industry distributed worldwide are developed and evaluated. First, an introduction to collaboration platforms and their current market situation and trends will be given. The result-ing knowledge will be used for a qualitative content analysis in the form of interviews with the target group of the planned collaboration platform. Based on the basic knowledge and the interviews carried out, hypotheses for communication in scientific institutes will then be formed. These hypotheses serve to create a questionnaire for a quantitative survey of the target group. The following analysis of general collaboration platforms and those of the railway industry provides further insights and describes requirements for a successful conception of a collaboration platform.
A subsequently planned conception of this platform cannot be carried out within the scope of this research work due to a lack of meaningful results and information. The planned quantitative content analysis was too complex for the chosen research context. In this research work, the quantitative questioning will be prepared for the following research work in this topic area. Further work results will be evaluated and made available for the following research work.
Abstract
This bachelor thesis delivers a comprehensive overview of the topic Internet of Things (IoT). With the help of a first literature review, important characteristics, architectures, and properties have been identified. The main aim of this bachelor thesis is to determine whether the use of IoT in the transport of food, considering the compliance with the cold chain, can provide advantages for companies to reduce food waste. For this purpose, a second literature review has been carried out with food transport systems without the use, as well as with the use of IoT. Based on the literature review, it is possible at the end to determine a theoretical ‘ideal’ system for food transport in refrigerated trucks. The respective used technologies are also mentioned. The findings of several authors have shown that often significant improvements can be achieved in surveillance, transport in general, or traceability of food, and ultimately food waste can be reduced. However, benefits can also be gained using new non-IoT-based technologies. Thus, the main knowledge of this bachelor thesis is that a theoretical ‘ideal’ transport system contains a sensible combination of technologies with and without IoT. This system includes the use of a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) for real-time food monitoring, as well as an alarm function when the temperature exceeds a maximum. Real-time monitoring with GPS coupled with a monitoring center to prevent traffic jams is another task. Smart and energy-efficient packaging, and finally the use of the new supercooling-technology, make the system significantly more efficient in reducing food waste. These highlights, that when choosing a transport system, which is as efficient and profitable as possible for food with refrigerated transport, companies need not just rely on the use of IoT. On this basis, it is advisable to combine the systems and technologies used so far with IoT in order to avoid as much food waste as possible.
Literaturanalyse und Darstellung aktueller Forschungsschwerpunkte zum Thema Entrepreneurial Strategy
(2019)
Entrepreneurial Strategy ist in der Literaturwelt weit verbreitet. Dieser Begriff fand schon im 20. Jahrhundert seine Anwendung und zieht sich bis ins heutige Zeitalter weiter. Diese Beständigkeit und Entwicklung des Entrepreneurs und dem Wunsch nach einem eigenen Unternehmen trieben die Diskussion dieses Themas voran. Die Wahl der passenden unternehmerischen Strategie ist eine der wichtigsten Entscheidungen, die ein Unternehmer treffen muss. Diese Problematik sorgte für eine Analyse und genaue Forschung der Entscheidungen und Einflussfaktoren. Resultate davon wurden festgehalten und interpretiert um die Branche der Entrepreneure zu fördern und somit die Wirtschaft anzutreiben. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird zunächst ein Grundverständnis für die wichtigsten Begrifflichkeiten ausgearbeitet. Grundlage dieser Bachelorarbeit ist jedoch, anhand einer Literaturanalyse nach Webster und Watson (2002) einen Einblick in die Forschung der Entwicklung von Entrepreneurial Strategy zu geben und den aktuellen Stand herauszuarbeiten. Anahnd dieser Literaturanalyse werden Referenzen, Konzepte und die Notwendigkeit von Strategien verdeutlicht und die Rolle in einem Start-Up erklärt. Aus der Analyse und dem Vergleich zu älteren Veröffentlichungen geht hervor, das der Prozess der Strategiefindung eine Differenzierung in zwei Teile aufweist. Es wird unter dem Strategiesuch- und dem Strategieauswahlprozess uinterschieden. Merkmale, die früher als Allgemeine Einflussfaktoren für die Wahl der Strategie angenommen wurden, werden in der heutigen Literatur den genauen Prozessen und Phasen zugeteilt. Das Resultiert, das Merkmale, wie die persönlichen Eigenschaften, die Umgebung und das Humankapital eines Unternehmers mehr Einfluss während dem Suchprozess haben als während der darauffolgenden Auswahl. Zudem wurden für die Auwahl Methoden und Richtlinien entwickelt, die dem Unternehmer helfen sollen seine Alternativen zu sortieren und daraus zu wählen.
Increasing innovation is the main reason of a changing daily work. The interaction of progressing digital technologies and our working society has originated the term “New Work”. “New Work” implies, that like spare time work time becomes part of the world of live. In this context, the self-responsibility, self-determination and self-realization of an individual in the professional as well as in the private environment is important.
The subject of this bachelor thesis is to evaluate the meaning of “New Work”. Also the components and the background is considered in detail by the literature analysis in order to answer the first research question "What is the meaning of the term “New Work" in research and practice?". For this purpose, the central contents of digitalization and technology, structure of work as well as work attitude of “New Work” are taken up and explicitly examined. What perception and what benefits employees and entrepreneurs have in relation to these contents is analyzed in the present bachelor thesis on the basis of a qualitative study. The collected results from the expert interviews also provide a comparison between entrepreneurs and employees understanding, attitude and feelings towards “New Work”.
The interviews show, that “New Work” has a positive influence on the personal and the professional development of individuals. In addition, “New Work” has created new perspectives and requirements for workers and employers. “New Work” is focusing on goal-oriented working attitude and displaces time-oriented work. Through the realization and implementation of these new perspectives and requirements, it results in a fulfilling feeling in the working and living world. Caused by the abolishment of boundaries, “New Work” can be realized. Due to a satisfying profession, the sense and purpose of the work is no longer questioned. The “New Work” development leads to a cultural revolution based and digital changes.
Digitalisation and further media development are core processes of the current digital age. In order for companies to benefit from technical progress, their employees must have or are expected to acquire the relevant skills. Companies therefore are faced with the task of not being overwhelmed with the mass of innovations and opportunities and, in the best-case scenario, of being able to use them to improve their own performance.
Small and medium-sized enterprises represent 99% of all enterprises in Germany. Though, it has not been further established, how the majority of small enterprises and their employees participate in this development. The research question therefore consists of two parts. On the one hand: "Is the promotion of employees' skills taken care of in micro-enterprises?" and on the other hand: "Where are the opportunities and challenges for companies of this size?”
In order to answer the research question, a qualitative research method was used, the guideline-based interview. The interviewed companies were all in the media and IT sector. Thus, the recorded and transcribed data provided a real insight into the current situation in micro-enterprises.
The responses to the interviews showed that companies with very small numbers of employees are more dependent on their employees than others. So, the commitment of the employees is decisive for the success of the company itself. It is the management's task to promote this and ensure employee satisfaction.
Companies that pay more attention to employee development are therefore more recommendable for career starters who need and/or want to develop themselves and their entire horizon of experience.
Entrepreneurship plays a vital role in scientific literature and in public debates. Especially in these hightech and digitized times it happens more and more frequently that young entrepreneurs with a good idea make the breakthrough and set up an established company. Basically, there are an increasing number of start-ups and a trend towards independence. The economy of a country depends on young entrepreneurs in order to remain economically competitive in international competition. It follows that young entrepreneurs must be encouraged and supported. This support is expressed in various stages of foundation and through various fields of action. In the meantime, there are many offers for start-up support. These networks satisfy different fields of action along a foundation. However, a structured overview of these networks on which a young founder can orient himself and gain easily access to the offers of the networks, is missing until then.
This work attempts to present these offers clearly on a map and to categorize and present the commitment in the respective fields of action. In addition to this main objective, the following three key questions are investigated and answered in this work:
1. How can the Entrepreneurship Networks be assigned to the respective fields of action of Entrepreneurship Education?
2. What is the benefit of such a classification for potential entrepreneurs in detail?
3. Are these Entrepreneurship networks missing an important step? Might they improve their offer? Does the value chain cover every need a young entrepreneur might have?
For this purpose, the respective fields of action of the networks are first separated from each other along a founding and defined individually. Subsequently, a combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches was used to filter and analyze the contents of the websites of the networks. The results of this investigation were transformed in a classification
The aim of this work is to produce a map that displays the existing networks in the world clearly. The map also contains information that is more detailed and the classifica-tion of the networks in the respective fields of action.
This bachelor thesis examines methods of Social Network Analysis in the context of in-house collaboration platforms and gives an overview of appropriate metrics based on findings in literature. Within this literature analysis advantages in analyzing these enterprise social networks for companies are pointed out. Also possible problems, for example relating to data protection, will be explained. Based on dynamical long-term analysis of the network of UniConnect it was detected, that measures of centrality show the connectedness of an actor. These measures allow drawing conclusions concerning position and function of the employee in the company. Furthermore the complexity of the network can be determined through clique analysis. By viewing at the gradual development of the network, it is possible to identify persons, who are strongly interconnected within a short period of time. These employees have strategic importance relating to knowledge management and the dissemination of information within the company.
How entrepreneurs become successful with their business ideas has been a topic of discussion within entrepreneurial research circles for many years. Business success has been related to psychological characteristics and many research findings have explained how people become entrepreneurs and furthermore, how they find success in regards to their business ventures. People always wanted to know what defines an entrepreneur and more importantly, what is needed to become a successful entrepreneur. Curious minds began to search for the recipe for success. Personality Traits have been researched for years, leading to the discovery of many diverse and distinct forms which are still recognized today. Researchers compared the Behavioral Approach or the analysis of demographical characteristics to success.
This raises the question of what an entrepreneur needs to become successful which is made more difficult due to the fact that entrepreneurship and who an entrepreneur is can be difficult do define exactly. Entrepreneurs are diverse and distinct individuals that each possess their own characteristics, behavior and reasons for starting a business. Many people assume that it is just someone who starts their own business. While partially correct, this only scratches the surface of what it is to be an entrepreneur.
This thesis answers the following three research questions: 1. Which personality traits were found in the almost sixty years of researching? 2. What triggers do entrepreneurs need for starting a new business? 3. Which factor makes the entrepreneur successful with their business idea? Also, reading the thesis, one may gain a better understanding of what entrepreneurship is, what defines an entrepreneur and what one needs to become a successful entrepreneur.
In this thesis the reviewing literature method developed by Wolfswinkel et al. (2011) was used to identify suitable literature and references for the main chapters. For that the five stages of the grounded-theory method for reviewing the literature were used in an iterative fashion. In step one inclusion and exclusion criterias for literature were defined. Then literature was searched matching the criterias of step one. In step three the samples were refined. Then in step four the found literature was analyzed and coded before the results of this research was presented in the following text. Many entrepreneurial personality traits were discovered and confirmed during the studies conducted over the last sixty years, these include but are not limited to Need for Achievement, Locus of Control, or risk taking propensity. Motivation is clearly the main trigger to start your own business. During the studies reasons were discovered of how and why an entrepreneur may become successful outside of posessing the right combination of traits. For example: having human, financial and social capital, an entrepreneurial behavior and the right economic conditions to start a business that will survive for more than five years.
The subject of this thesis was to analyse the involvement of classical creativity techniques and IT tools in different phases of the innovation process. In addition, the present work deals with the integration of Design Thinking and TRIZ into the innovation process. The aim was to define a specific innovation process based on diverse existing Innovation process models from the literature. This specific innovation process should serve as a basis for the analysis of integration of creativity techniques, IT tools, Design Thinking and TRIZ. Summarizing it can be said that the application of creativity techniques and IT Tools is admissible and useful in every phase of the innovation process. In this work it was shown that the design thinking method can be integrated in the early stages of the innovation process. Also, the process model of TRIZ, which differs from traditional innovation processes, can be combined with classical innovation processes.
Nutzung von Big Data im Marketing : theoretische Grundlagen, Anwendungsfelder und Best-Practices
(2015)
Die zunehmende Digitalisierung des Alltags und die damit verbundene omnipräsente Datengenerierung bieten für Unternehmen und insbesondere Marketingabteilungen die Chance, Informationen in bisher ungekannter Fülle über ihre Kunden und Produkte zu erhalten. Die Gewinnung solcher Informationen aus riesigen Datenmengen, die durch neue Technologien ermöglicht wird, hat sich dabei unter dem Begriff Big Data etabliert.
Die vorliegende Arbeit analysiert diese Entwicklung im Hinblick auf das Potenzial für die unternehmerische Disziplin des Marketings. Dazu werden die theoretischen Grundlagen des Einsatzes von Big Data im Marketing identifiziert und daraus Anwendungsfelder und Best-Practice-Lösungen abgeleitet. Die Untersuchung basiert auf einer Literaturanalyse zu dem Thema Big Data Marketing, welche neben verschiedenen Studien und Befragungen auch Expertenmeinungen und Zukunftsprognosen einschließt. Die Literatur wird dabei zunächst auf die theoretischen Grundlagen des Konstrukts Big Data analysiert.
Anschließend wird die Eignung von Big Data Lösungen für den Einsatz in Unternehmen geprüft, bevor die Anwendung im Bereich des Marketings konkretisiert und analysiert wird. Es wurde dabei festgestellt, dass anhand der theoretischen Aspekte von Big Data eine starke Eignung für den Einsatz im Rahmen des Marketings besteht. Diese zeichnet sich vor allem durch die detaillierten Informationen über Verhaltensmuster von Kunden und ihre Kaufentscheidungen aus. Weiterhin wurden potenzielle Anwendungsfelder identifiziert, welche besonders im Bereich der Kundenorientierung und der Marktforschung liegen. Im Hinblick auf Best-Practice-Lösungen konnte ein grober Leitfaden für die Integration von Big Data in die Unternehmensorganisation entwickelt werden. Abschließend wurde festgehalten, dass das Thema Big Data eine hohe Relevanz für das Marketing aufweist und dies in der Zukunft maßgeblich mitbestimmen wird.
Durch eine systematische Literaturanalyse sollen die wichtigsten Aspekte des Phänomens Crowdsourcing abgedeckt werden. Da die Summe an Forschungsfragen relativ breit gefächert ist, soll der Fokus der Arbeit auf die im Folgenden aufgelisteten Fragen gelegt werden: Was ist unter dem Begriff Crowdsourcing gezielt zu verstehen? Wie lässt sich das Phänomen Crowdsourcing von anderen angrenzenden Konzepten trennen? Wo liegen die Gemeinsamkeiten und wesentlichen Unterschiede zwischen den einzelnen Konzepten? Welche Ausprägungsformen von Crowdsourcing sind in Theorie und Praxis vorzufinden? In welchen Bereichen kommt Crowdsourcing zum Einsatz? Welche Unternehmen setzen Crowdsourcing erfolgreich um? Welche Plattformen zur Unterstützung von Crowdsourcing sind vorhanden? Welche Ziele bzw. Ergebnisse sollen mit dem Einsatz von Crowdsourcing erreicht bzw. erzielt werden? Wie läuft der Crowdsourcing-Prozess ab und in welche Phasen lässt sich dieser unterteilen? Wie sieht die Wertschöpfung durch Crowdsourcing (a) allgemein und (b) speziell für Unternehmen aus? Welche Chancen und Potenziale sowie Risiken und Grenzen entstehen dabei den Unternehmen? Was lässt sich in Zukunft im Bereich des Crowdsourcing noch verbessern, das heißt in welchen Bereichen besteht noch Forschungsbedarf?
This thesis deals with quality assurance of model-based SRS, in particular SRS-Models and SRS-Diagrams. The interesting thing about model-based SRS is that they are generated by a documentation generator based on the following input data: SRS-Model, SRS-Diagrams and texts external to the model. Therefore to assure the quality of the documentation the quality of their four factors must be assured, which are the SRS-Model, SRS-Diagrams, external texts and the documentation generator. The thesis" goal is to define a quality connotation for SRS-Models and -Diagrams and to show an approach for realizing automatically quality testing, measurement and assessment for the modelling tool Innovator.
In the age of Web 2.0 the internet as a platform to provide services or sell goods gained more attention in companies. Especially for customer support customer forums can be a useful tool for companies. By providing customer forums, companies can reduce their support costs dramatically. Nevertheless, it is often difficult for companies to measure the success of customer forums. In the research literature the determinants of success of customer forums have seldom been studied. The purpose of this bachelor thesis is to fill this research gap by applying the model of Lin and Lee to measure the success of online-communities on customer forums. In addition, metrics for measuring the success of this model are discussed. The discussion of this topic leads to the conclusion that the model of Lin and Lee is mostly applicable for customer forums, and provides a useful approach to measuring suc-cess both in theory and in practice. This could be demonstrated by the example of the 1&1 customer forum. The metrics that were found in the theoretical part were quite relevant in practice. Nevertheless, future research should focus more on monetary indicators to also make success of customer forums financially assessable.
In this thesis, the methods of a feasibility study are applied to analyze whether or not the foundation of an academic based startup focusing on IT-consulting is possible. For this purpose the concept of consulting, the demand for the offering of consulting services as well as the relevant market are analyzed. Furthermore, empirical research through face-to-face interviews with IT-companies located in the region of Koblenz is utilized in order to gain further insight about the feasibility of said business venture. The result of the research is to be presented in a concrete recommendation for further actions.
Beim Bitcoin handelt es sich um eine dezentrale virtuelle Währung in einem Peer-to-Peer Netzwerk. Die digitalen Münzen wurden 2008 durch Satoshi Nakamoto erfunden und seit 2009 in Umlauf gebracht. Das angestrebte Ziel des Bitcoin sind Transaktionen zum Erwerb virtueller und realer Güter ohne das Einwirken von Finanzintermediären. Dadurch können Transaktionskosten minimiert werden. Das Vertrauen in solche dritte Parteien wird dabei durch ein mathematisches Konzept ersetzt und durch das Bitcoinnetzwerk und all seine Nutzer sichergestellt. Obwohl die digitalen Münzen eigentlich als Tauschmittel konzipiert wurden, ist der aktuelle Anwendungsbereich noch sehr gering. Die Kursentwicklung hingegen erfuhr seit Anfang 2013 mehrere Berg- und Talfahrten auf den Handelsplattformen für den Bitcoin. Während sich viele wissenschaftliche Arbeiten mit den technischen Aspekten im Bereich der Informatik befassen, klafft im ökonomischen Kontext noch eine große Lücke. Was macht ein Zahlungsmittel eigentlich aus und wie ist der Bitcoin im volkswirtschaftlichen Sinne einzuordnen? Mit diesen Fragestellungen wird sich in dieser Ausarbeitung auseinandergesetzt. Als Vergleichsgröße wurden dabei, auf Basis sorgfältig ausgewählter Literatur, die Aspekte realer Währungen nach ihren Funktionen, Eigenschaften und Formen untersucht. Anschließend wurden die technischen Grundlagen der virtuellen Währung dargelegt, um ebenfalls den Bitcoin darauf anzuwenden. Dabei hat sich gezeigt, dass die digitalen Münzen als virtuelle Währung, gegenüber realen Währungen, noch deutliche Defizite aufweisen. Eine besonders gravierende Schwachstelle stellt dabei die hohe Volatilität des Kurses dar. Sie sorgt dafür, dass der Bitcoin mit einer solchen Instabilität nicht die Wertaufbewahrungsfunktion gewährleisten kann. Da dies ein ausschlaggebendes Kriterium zur Erfüllung der Geldfunktionen darstellt, kann der Bitcoin ebenfalls nicht die Rolle als Zahlungsmittel erfüllen, wie es bei den realen Währungen der Fall ist.