Office hours by appointment!

Open topics for theses (as of 01.03.2025)

1) Analysis of the current state of research on the use of humanoids and social robots from a behavioral perspective with a focus on the healthcare
goal is a comprehensive research on the current research and development level as well as comparative preparation of relevant literature and studies.

Target group: Bachelor and Master (Madi, Dima, Map)

2) Conducting an acceptance study on social robots for communication and information tasks in inpatient healthcare.
A Furhat robot connected to a generative language model will be operated in the waiting area of ​​Braunfels Hospital. The reactions and acceptance of the participants will be analyzed within the framework of a methodologically sound behavioral study.

Target group: Master (Madi, Maim, Map, dima)

3) Development of an internationally oriented business model for drone- and AI-supported logistics, inspection, and monitoring services in conjunction with Mobile Private Networks in the primary sector and for raw material extraction (already in progress).
Raw material extraction companies often operate in remote regions and therefore have limited IT infrastructure. At the same time, the extraction areas often extend over large and sometimes inaccessible areas. This results in particular challenges, for example, in the inspection of machinery and equipment, their safety monitoring, and in various logistics tasks (e.g., inventory).
The use of AI-supported drones allows parts of these processes to be automated. This generally requires so-called Mobile Private Networks (MPNs) or campus networks based on 5G. The thesis aims to evaluate and design possibilities for developing a corresponding business model. The Business Model Canvas serves as the methodological basis.

Target group: Master (Madi)

4) Development of a business model for the use of the social robot Furhat in conjunction with generative AI models (in progress)
Robotics is considered a promising field of application for AI systems. Currently, many manufacturers are primarily focused Major physical, labor-intensive tasks (e.g., warehouse management or assembly work). The use of robots for communicative service tasks, on the other hand, is still receiving little attention.
This thesis aims to develop a concept for building a corresponding business model using the Business Model Canvas.

Target group: Bachelor and Master (Madi, Dima)

5) Development of a chatbot for communication with an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system as a backend for an online shop (in progress)
The rapid development of generative AI systems will fundamentally change the internet and its use in the near future. In contrast to currently leading systems (Frontier AI), the focus here is on integrating local data sources – while taking data protection into account.
A relevant technological approach is so-called "Retrieval Augmented Generation." This allows local documents to be integrated into on-premises, open-source language models. Initial frameworks already enable the implementation of such systems without in-depth programming knowledge. THM Business School has relevant experience in this area.
Building on previous projects, a thesis will investigate to what extent such a framework can be used to integrate databases from commercial applications. The database of an online shop for dietary supplements can be used as a concrete practical example.

Specific requirements: SQL knowledge (such as that taught in the Business Intelligence module) is required for this topic!

Target group: Master (Madi, Mauf, Dima)

Scharf, P., Keller, S.: PPS implementation in medium-sized production companies. In: VDI-Z 03, Düsseldorf: Springer-VDI-Verlag, 1999

Keller, S.: Development of a method for the integrated modeling of structures and processes in production companies. VDI-Verlag, Düsseldorf (Dissertation). 2000

Keller, S.: eNORM - Standards management for manufacturing companies and industry associations. In: Journal for DIN 40. Beuth-Verlag. Berlin. 2001

Keller, S.: Capacity planning – planning small-batch production efficiently and promptly. In: Maschinenmarkt 24. Vogel-Verlag. Würzburg. 2001

Keller, S.: Holistic e-business strategies for Medium-Sized Companies . In: VDI-Z 08. Springer-VDI-Verlag. Düsseldorf. 2001

Keller, S.: E-Procurement – ​​Current State of Use in Manufacturing Companies. In: Proceedings of the 2nd Siegen Forum for Logistics Electronic Procurement – ​​Application Potentials, Perspectives and Limitations. Siegen. 2002. Keller, S.:

The Plagues of the Digital Age. In: Study and Practice. Giessen. 2003

Keller, S.: Planning and controlling in single-unit and small-batch production. In: Industrieanzeiger 09. Konradin-Verlag, Leinfelden-Echterdingen. 2005

Keller, S., Trayser, B.: Online banking in user testing. bank und markt 03. Knapp & Richardi Publishers, Frankfurt. 2005

Keller, S.: Physician networks and integrated care: Between aspiration and reality. In: Deutsches Ärzteblatt 109, Berlin/Cologne 2012

Keller, S.: Concerted pharmacotherapy in physician networks. In: Health Economics & Quality Management, Issue 3. Thieme-Verlag, Stuttgart, May 2012

Keller, S.: Modern IT developments and their influence on the economy and society; pp. 23–52; in: Digitalization: Data hype with loss of value?: Ethical perspectives for a key technology; Haupt, R. and Schmitz, St. (eds.); SCM-Hänssler 2019

Keller, S., Lorenz, A.: Study on the state of knowledge and use of artificial intelligence in the Central Hessian economy and the adjacent Siegerland region - Analysis of the AI ​​maturity of companies within the framework of a qualitative study; THM University Publications

Consultation hours by appointment

Please contact me via email to schedule an appointment. My office hours are currently held primarily virtually (via Zoom).

Research areas / Research interests

My research interests lie at the intersection of digital transformation and aim primarily to support companies (of all sizes) in identifying digitalization measures and addressing the challenges of digitalization. This includes, among other things:

• Digital skills
• Maturity of digitalization in companies (especially SMEs)
• Low-code / No-code - Applications, potential and competence requirements
• Opportunities and risks of digital transformation
• Digitization of business processes / Digital business models
• Use of enterprise application systems as an important component of digital transformation
• Success factors of digitization projects
• Shadow IT

Theses - Bachelor's and Master's theses

If you are interested in having me supervise your thesis, I look forward to hearing from you. You are welcome to your own topics suggest These topics can conceptual/theory-based and/or empirical work, as well as highly practice-oriented projects, for example, in close collaboration with a partner company. All theses can be written in either German or English (unless otherwise specified).

Are you interested in one of the presented topics or would you like to suggest your own? Then simply contact me informally via email with a brief statement of motivation or topic description (if it's your own topic). Please attach a current transcript of records to this email . Remember to contact me well in advance. This should be at least one month before you plan to begin work on the project , but earlier is also welcome.

Current topics:
You can now find my current topics for theses in my Moodle course:

Theses - Prof. Christian Leyh

Publications

My publications can be found here:
https://www.thm.de/w/forschung/publikationen/prof-dr-christian-leyh

Curriculum Vitae (CV) / CV

Head ("Founding Director") of the Master'sstudy programDigital Business [Info videos: short, long]
Member of the MajorTeam Digital Business
Member of the Competence Center for Economics and Management Science (WuMS)
(Deputy) Member of the departementCouncil

Areas of expertise:

• Digital business models and processes
• Digitization and digital transformation
• Digital Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital

By appointment, please contact us via email

• Work majors :
  • Business information processing
  • Project management
  • Business process management
  • Use of modeling languages ​​in organization and software/database development
  • Data management, data architecture design
  • Database management systems
  • Software Engineering
• Foreign Affairs Officer of the departement for Great Britain and Ireland
• Member of the THM working group on internationalization to promote the internationalization of the university (across departement )
• Publicly appointed and sworn (ö.buv) experts for information processing - systems and applications
• Member of the Information Processing Expert Committee of the Chambers of Industry and Commerce

Please register in advance via email

My publications can be found here!

current open Master's or Bachelor's topics

Research assistant in the Digital Business Major at the departement . Supervision of exercises for the lectures "Database Modeling and Database Design" (ORACLE), Project and Business Process Management. Lecture in the module Fundamentals of Digitalization - Industry 4.0.

Courses:

• Business informatics and data analysis / IT applications (e.g., MS Excel)
• Business informatics and digital business (e.g. web development/programming)
• Standard software for finance and controlling (SAP ERP, Fiori)
• Development of modern software systems
• Conception and development of software systems
• Fundamentals of Business Administration
• IT-oriented business administration
• Organizational Theory / Information Management
• E-commerce and digital marketing