Bachelor's theses at our Chair are generally written as systematic literature reviews and may cover a range of research areas, in particular Strategic Management, Strategic Innovation Management, Digital Transformation, Strategic Sustainability Management, and the strategic success factors of new ventures.

Below you will find a selection of possible topics as a guide. You are also welcome to submit your own topic proposals.

Submitting a topic proposal does not constitute a guarantee that one of the proposed topics will be assigned. During the first supervision meeting with your assigned supervisor, the topic proposals and their specific framing will be discussed jointly.

Strategic Management

1. “Analyzing the Impact of Corporate Culture on Strategy Implementation: A Systematic Literature Review”

This systematic literature review aims to dissect the intricate relationship between corporate culture and the implementation of strategic initiatives. It will examine how an organization’s cultural values, norms, and behaviors influence the success or failure of strategic execution, focusing on how cultural alignment affects employee engagement, operational effectiveness, and strategic outcomes. The review will cover diverse organizational settings, providing a comprehensive analysis and exploring the alignment between internal culture and external strategic demands.

Keywords: Corporate Culture, Strategy Implementation, Organizational Alignment

2. “Short-Termism in Strategic Management: Antecedents, Consequences, and Managerial Responses”

This thesis examines the phenomenon of corporate short-termism from a strategic management perspective. Short-termism, defined as a managerial preference for short-term decisions that undermine a firm's long-term interests, has become a growing concern for firms navigating capital market pressures, investor scrutiny, and competitive dynamics. This thesis synthesizes existing literature to identify the key antecedents of short-termism and its consequences for strategic decision-making. Building on this foundation, the thesis derives managerial approaches to counteract myopic behavior and align short-term performance pressures with long-term strategic goals.

Keywords: Short-Termism, Corporate Governance, Strategic Decision-Making, Long-Term Value Creation

3. “The Role of Social Capital in Driving Strategic Innovation and Competitive Advantage”

As firms increasingly rely on collaboration and knowledge exchange, social capital has become a key enabler of strategic innovation and sustained competitiveness. This thesis explores how organizations build, leverage, and maintain internal and external social capital to foster innovation and adaptability in dynamic business environments. Drawing on social capital theory (e.g., Nahapiet and Ghoshal, 1998) and the resource-based view of the firm, the study will analyze how relational and structural networks contribute to knowledge creation, strategic flexibility, and long-term value creation.

Keywords: Social Capital, Strategic Innovation, Dynamic Capabilities

4. “Personality at the Top: How TMT Personality Composition Shapes Strategic Decision-Making and Innovation”

Top management teams (TMTs) play a decisive role in shaping organizational outcomes through their collective personalities and behavioral tendencies. This thesis explores how personality traits within the TMT influence strategic decision-making, innovation intensity, and firm adaptability. Building on Upper Echelons Theory (Hambrick & Mason, 1984) and the Big 5 Personality model, the study investigates whether personality diversity within the TMT enhances or hinders strategic innovation and performance.

Keywords: TMT Personality, Innovation, Strategic Decision-Making, Personality Diversity

5. “The Role of Intuition in Top Management Decision-Making: A Systematic Literature Review”

This thesis examines the role of intuition in top management decision-making. It synthesizes existing research on how executives and top management teams use intuitive judgement when making strategic decisions. It focuses on the different loci and forms of intuition within top management teams and explores their various functions as well as the conditions under which intuition is most effective. The thesis aims to provide a structured overview of the current state of research and contribute to a deeper understanding of intuition as a central element of strategic decision-making.

Keywords: Intuition, Top Management Teams, Strategic Decision-Making

6. “Executive Cognition and Cognitive Bias: Implications for Firm Performance”

This thesis examines how executive cognition shapes firm performance, focusing either on cognitive models (e.g., mental frames and schemas) or on cognitive biases (e.g., overconfidence, optimism, hubris) in strategic decision-making. It reviews how these cognitive processes influence executives’ interpretation of information, strategic choices, and organizational outcomes. The study may also consider how biases and cognitive structures interact and under which conditions they enhance or constrain decision effectiveness.

Keywords: Mental Models, Cognitive Bias, Strategic Decision-Making

Strategic Sustainability Management

7. “Green Innovation and Corporate Performance: A Systematic Literature Review”

This literature review assesses the impact of green innovation on corporate performance across various industries. It explores how the integration of sustainable technologies and practices not only promotes environmental responsibility but also creates new business opportunities. The review will delve into the role of green innovations in product development and supply chain optimization, and their effects on organizational sustainability and governance. By synthesizing findings from existing literature, this review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the trends and broader impacts of green innovation on corporate performance.

Keywords: Green Technology, Green Innovation, Corporate Social Responsibility

8. “Corporate Social Responsibility in Controversial Industries: A Systematic Literature Review”

Controversial industries, such as tobacco, alcohol, gambling, or fossil fuels, face increasing pressure from regulators, investors, and society to operate responsibly. Integrating CSR strategies has become an important tool for these industries to improve their reputation, manage risks, and demonstrate corporate responsibility. This thesis will focus on ESG reporting practices, stakeholder perceptions, and the effectiveness of these strategies in enhancing corporate sustainability and legitimacy.

Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibility, Controversial Industry, Stakeholder

9. “The Role of Different Stakeholder Groups in Shaping Corporate Sustainability Practices: A Systematic Literature Review”

This thesis examines how different stakeholder groups influence corporate sustainability practices. It focuses on key stakeholders such as customers, investors, employees and regulators, and analyses how they shape corporate decisions and sustainability outcomes. Alternatively, it may explore how organizations communicate and engage with these stakeholders in the context of sustainability, including strategies, channels and challenges of effective stakeholder communication.

Keywords: Stakeholder Engagement, Corporate Sustainability, Stakeholder Theory

Digital Transformation

10. “Leadership Dynamics in Driving Digital Transformation”

This research focuses on technology leadership roles such as Chief Information Officers (CIOs), Chief Technology Officers (CTOs), and Chief Digital Officers (CDOs) in orchestrating digital transformation within organizations. It investigates how these senior executives leverage technological advancements to reshape business models, enhance customer experiences, and improve operational efficiencies. The thesis will examine the challenges and successes of digital transformation initiatives, considering the strategic importance of technology leadership. Analysis in this area can leverage perspectives from organizational and strategic management theories, particularly the Upper Echelons Theory (e.g., Hambrick and Mason, 1984).

Keywords: Digital Transformation, Technology Leadership, Innovation Management

11. “Tradition in Transition: The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Family Firms”            

This thesis examines the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in family firms, focusing on the unique challenges and opportunities that arise from their distinct organizational structures and values. It investigates potential benefits of AI for improving efficiency, innovation and competitiveness, while also considering barriers such as limited resources and resistance to change. The thesis aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current research on AI adoption in family firms and to deepen the understanding of the factors that facilitate or hinder the integration of AI technologies in a rapidly evolving digital environment.

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Family Firms, Organizational Structure

Strategic Innovation Management

12. “Leading for Innovation: How C-Level Diversity Shapes Strategic Renewal and Creativity”

C-level executives play a central role in shaping a firm’s innovation trajectory through their strategic vision, cognitive framing, and tolerance for risk. This thesis investigates how top management characteristics — such as experience, diversity, and cognitive orientation — affect innovation outcomes and strategic renewal. Drawing on Upper Echelons Theory (Hambrick & Mason, 1984), the study examines the mechanisms through which C-level decision-making drives or constrains innovation.

Keywords: Strategic Leadership, Upper Echelons Theory, Innovation Management, Executive Cognition, Strategic Renewal

Strategic Success Factors of Young Ventures

13. “The Impact of Founding Team Composition on Startup Success”

This research delves into how the diversity in skills, experiences, and backgrounds of founding team members impacts the strategic trajectories and success of startups. It examines the critical role of team composition in fostering innovation, driving growth, and navigating competitive environments. Analysis in this area will draw upon perspectives from human resource management theories, such as the Human Capital Theory (e.g., Becker, 1964).

Keywords: Founding Teams, Startup Success, Team Composition

14. “Strategic Framing in Entrepreneurial Ventures: How Linguistic Frames Shape Startup Success”

This thesis examines how founders and startups use strategic frameworks to shape their business models, market positioning, and organizational identity. It places particular emphasis on how these framing strategies, for example highlighting innovation, social impact, or differentiation from competitors, influence the growth, perception, and success of young ventures. This thesis will draw on recent research on framing in entrepreneurship and demonstrate how the effects of framing vary depending on market conditions.

Keywords: Entrepreneurial Framing, Organizational Identity, Startup Success

15. “Success Factors of Crowdfunding Campaigns: A Comparative Analysis”

This thesis examines the key factors that influence the success of crowdfunding campaigns, with a focus on either campaign-level characteristics or platform-specific features. It synthesizes existing research on how elements such as project design, founder attributes, communication strategies, and social networks shape funding outcomes. Alternatively, the study may explore how differences in platform design—such as funding models, governance mechanisms, visibility algorithms, and community features—affect campaign performance. The thesis may also consider how these dimensions interact in reducing information asymmetry and building trust between creators and backers.

Keywords: Crowdfunding, Campaign Success, Entrepreneurial Finance

If you have relevant contacts at a company, it is also possible to write a practice-oriented bachelor's thesis in cooperation with that company. The application process is the same as for a regular bachelor's thesis and takes place via our online form. All information on the application can be found in the corresponding section on this page.

We recommend first agreeing on a possible topic with the company and then submitting it as a topic proposal as part of your application. In the comment field of the online form, please indicate which company is involved and how far discussions with the company have already progressed.

If we are able to offer you a supervision slot, the student, the chair, and the company will jointly determine whether the requirements for a practice-oriented bachelor's thesis are met. Final approval to proceed with the practice-oriented bachelor's thesis is granted once all parties have reached agreement.

Under examination regulations, the practice partner has no say in the assessment of the thesis. Contractual agreements between students and companies are likewise irrelevant under examination law and fall solely within the students' own responsibility.

Before registering your thesis with the Examination Office, you must first apply at the chair. Applications are submitted via our online form and are possible within the application periods listed below.

Please note that the application periods at the chair differ from the registration periods at the Examination Office. You can find the respective deadlines in the following overview.

*Note for students registering via SAP: The registration quarters listed for the Examination Office are not relevant under examination law for registering the thesis in SAP. The application periods at the chair remain unaffected by this and must still be observed.

Once we have received your application, we will generally review it within ten working days. During this period, we kindly ask you to refrain from enquiring about the status of your application. In addition to the time of application, the selection process also takes into account how well the topic fits and which courses you have taken at the chair. As soon as we stop accepting further applications for a given quarter, we will announce this on this page.

Once your application has been accepted, the bachelor's thesis is registered with the Examination Office online via FlexNow, SAP, QISPOS, or by form, depending on your degree programme and the date you began your studies. The specific registration process differs depending on the system used. All information on examination registration and the registration system designated for your degree programme can be found here.

An overview of the application process up to the collection appointment can be found here:

The procedure for issuing the topic and the start of the processing period differ depending on your degree programme and the date you began your studies.

Issuing of the topic for students using FlexNow and QISPOS:

In the quarter in which the topic is issued, you submit the guidance card (Leitkarte) to your supervisor after the first supervision meeting. You will receive the completed guidance card stating the topic as well as the start and the legal end of the processing period on the day the processing period begins. The processing period of 8 weeks starts when the topic is issued. If the bachelor's thesis is written alongside your studies (i.e. fewer than 168 ECTS credits had been completed at the time the topic was collected), the processing period may be extended to 12 weeks upon the student's request. To do so, please tick the corresponding box on the guidance card and enclose a transcript of records (no older than 3 days). The chair will review the request and determine the processing period.

Issuing of the topic for students using SAP:

Once you have received binding acceptance, submit an application via SAP. There, enter your proposed topics as well as your first examiner and confirm your entries. Shortly before your processing period begins, the first examiner reviews the registration, adjusts the final topic, and confirms it in SAP. After final approval by the Examination Office, the official processing period of your thesis begins. Following this approval, the processing period of 8 weeks - or 12 weeks if the thesis is written alongside your studies - starts.

Public holidays falling within the processing period are credited accordingly and added to it. Nevertheless, the submission date is decisive for the assignment to the respective quarter, regardless of any credited public holidays. Please take this into account when calculating your desired submission date. You can find the online calculator for determining your processing period here. If you wish to extend the processing period, for example due to illness, please inform your supervisor and submit an official application directly to the Examination Office.