In Part 26 of the Alumni Stories, we introduce Dr. Marc Güntermann, Global Head of Sales Strategy at the Volkswagen Group. After completing his degree in Business Administration at the University of Münster, where he graduated as a Diplom-Kaufmann, he earned his doctorate from Steinbeis University Berlin (Dr. rer. oec.) with a focus on empirical research into customer loyalty. He further expanded his international perspective through the Senior Executive Programme at London Business School. Professionally, he has held various leadership roles within the Volkswagen Group and Audi AG, including positions in Sales, After-Sales, as well as Strategy and Transformation in Germany and North America. These experiences shaped his understanding of international markets, differing customer behaviors, and data-driven decision-making. Today, Dr. Güntermann is Global Head of Sales Strategy at the Volkswagen Group, where he is responsible for the company’s global sales strategy with a strong focus on data orientation, transformation, and sustainable growth.

In Teil 26 der Alumni Stories stellen wir Dr. Marc Güntermann vor. Nach seinem Studium der Betriebswirtschaftslehre an der Universität Münster, das er als Diplom-Kaufmann abschloss, promovierte er an der Steinbeis University Berlin (Dr. rer. oec.). Ergänzend vertiefte er seine internationale Perspektive im Senior Executive Programme der London Business School. Beruflich war er in verschiedenen Führungsfunktionen innerhalb der Volkswagen Group und der Audi AG tätig. Heute ist Dr. Güntermann Global Head of Sales Strategy der Volkswagen Group und verantwortet die weltweite Vertriebsstrategie des Konzerns mit einem klaren Fokus auf Datenorientierung, Transformation und nachhaltiges Wachstum.

This semester, the Department of Information Systems once again had the pleasure of welcoming Dr. Nathalie Mitev as part of the Visiting International Professor (VIP) Program of the School of Business and Economics. Since 2015, she has been an integral part of our international academic community and has been coming to Münster twice a year to teach doctoral seminars.

This semester, she led the seminar “Qualitative Research Methods,” in which participants explored various qualitative research methods as well as approaches to data collection and were able to apply them to their own dissertation projects.

Dr. Nathalie Mitev is currently affiliated with Université Paris Dauphine – PSL in France. She teaches master’s and doctoral students at universities around the world, particularly in the areas of qualitative research methods and academic writing. Her research focuses on information systems management and digital organizational change.

At the end of the seminar, the doctoral students took the opportunity to thank Dr. Mitev for her great commitment. Despite high temperatures and considerable travel delays, she once again made the journey to Münster to share her expertise with the participants. Dr. Mitev said she was “very touched” by the gesture. With the gift, the doctoral students expressed their appreciation for her many years of dedication and her committed teaching.

Die Einkommensteuer steht wieder im Zentrum der politischen Debatte. Vor Bekanntgabe der Ergebnisse des Koalitionsausschusses wurden vor allem der Grundfreibetrag, der sogenannte Mittelstandsbauch und der Spitzensteuersatz diskutiert. Doch aus Sicht von Prof. Dr. Nadine Riedel von der Universität Münster greift diese Diskussion zu kurz: Gemeinsam mit den Ökonom:innen Martin Jacob und Dominika Langenmayr plädiert sie am 30.06.2026 in der Frankfurter Allgemeinen Zeitung (FAZ) für eine umfassende Vereinfachung des deutschen Einkommensteuersystems.

This publication presents, for the first time, an overview of the teaching activities at the University of Münster. The faculty portraits invite you to experience the conviction that university instruction is a key pillar of higher education. Under the guiding theme “Thinking About Economics as Relations”, the profile of the School of Business and Economics highlights how modern teaching in business and economics is shaped in Münster: interactive, practice-oriented, and closely connected to current societal developments.

Mit dieser Publikation bietet die Universität Münster erstmals einen Einblick in die Vielfalt der Lehre als das Fundament eines jeden Studiums. Die Fachbereichsportäts sind eine Einladung an alle, unsere Universität als einen Ort guter Lehre zu erleben und gemeinsam zu gestalten. Unter dem Leitgedanken „Wirtschaft in Zusammenhängen denken“ zeigt das Porträt, wie moderne Lehre am Fachbereich Wirtschaftswissenschaften in Münster gestaltet wird: interaktiv, praxisnah und eng mit aktuellen gesellschaftlichen Entwicklungen verknüpft.

Prof. Dr. Manfred Krafft has been appointed as a Data Editor at the Journal of Marketing (JM) — one of the most influential and widely read academic journals in the marketing discipline, published by the American Marketing Association (AMA). As a Data Editor, Prof. Krafft joins a select team of scholars supporting the journal's commitment to research transparency, data quality, and methodological rigor, ensuring that empirical work published in the JM meets the highest scientific standards. 

Prof. Dr. Manfred Krafft wurde zum Data Editor des Journal of Marketing (JM) ernannt – einer der einflussreichsten und meistgelesenen wissenschaftlichen Zeitschriften im Bereich Marketing, herausgegeben von der American Marketing Association (AMA). Als Data Editor gehört Prof. Krafft einem ausgewählten Team von Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftlern an, das die Zeitschrift in ihrem Anspruch auf Forschungstransparenz, Datenqualität und methodische Strenge unterstützt und sicherstellt, dass empirische Arbeiten im JM höchsten wissenschaftlichen Standards entsprechen.

Dr. Verena Monschang, former doctoral researcher and postdoctoral researcher at the Chair of Empirical Economics headed by Prof. Dr. Bernd Wilfling, has been appointed to the Junior Professorship “Statistics and Prediction in Economics” at Kiel University as of June 1, 2026.

Dr. Verena Monschang, ehemalige Doktorandin und Postdoktorandin am Lehrstuhl für Volkswirtschaftslehre, insbesondere Empirische Wirtschaftsforschung unter der Leitung von Prof. Dr. Bernd Wilfling, wurde zum 1. Juni 2026 auf die Juniorprofessur „Statistik und Prädikation in den Wirtschaftswissenschaften“ an der Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel berufen.

From June 15 to 17, several members of the Department of Information Systems participated in the European Conference on Information Systems (ECIS) 2026 in Milan. Under the conference theme “Reimagining Digital Technology for Business, Management, and Society”, they presented their current research on topics such as digital sustainability, artificial intelligence, process mining, human-AI collaboration, and digital transformation.

In total, the department was represented with eight papers:

• Navigating The Twin Transition: A Paradox Perspective On Concurrent Digital and Sustainability Change – Daria Stumkat, Jan Stockhinger
• Actor-Networks In Corporate Digital Sustainability Initiatives – David Stanlein, Lea Püchel, Enni Juntunen, Tobias Brandt
• Non-Profits Digital Transformation: Understanding Organisational Identity Dynamics – Maria Julia Torres, Lea Püchel, Markus P. Zimmer, Tobias Brandt
• Unpacking The Role Of Individuals In Process Mining: A Literature Review and Research Framework – Julian Dyong, Sandro Franzoi, Jan vom Brocke
• Schnitzel-Prediction: Designing Human-AI Collaboration For Cafeteria Demand Forecasting – Justus Cappel, Timo Strohmann, Mara Burger, Dr. Marleen Voß, Jan vom Brocke
• How Generative AI Drives Field-Level Change In Management Consulting – Robin Killewald, Thomas Haskamp
• When We Cannot Stop The Data Flow: The Emotional Life Of Data In A Children’s Daycare Center – Lea Püchel, Tobias Brandt
• The AI-Enabled Circular Economy: Extracting and Synthesizing Design Knowledge – Linda Sagnier Eckert, Christoph Hoppe, Timo Strohmann, Anne Ixmeier, Daniel Heinz

In addition, Shariga Sivanathan moderated the panel “Pathways to a Resilient IS Community: Are We There Yet?”

Particularly noteworthy were the awards received by Miriam Herding and Jan Stockhinger as Best Reviewers, as well as Lea Püchel as Best Associate Editor.

Members of the department were also actively involved in the conference organization: Jan vom Brocke served as Conference Co-Chair, Lea Püchel contributed to the ECIS Sustainability Initiative, and Katrin Bergener supported the conference as Social Media Communication Co-Chair.

Beyond the academic exchange, ECIS 2026 also offered numerous networking opportunities, including the traditional ERCIS@ECIS reception.

The 38 new students gathered at the beginning of the programme at the Große Ledder seminar and conference hotel in Wermelskirchen to spend their first days of study together with the programme directors, Prof. Dr. Peter Kajüter (University of Münster) and Prof. Dr. Martin Nienhaus (RUB), as well as the ASBM team, in the picturesque Bergisches Land region. The first day focused on getting to know one another: with great team spirit and enthusiasm, the students worked together to solve complex construction tasks and puzzles, among other activities. A particular highlight was the evening discussion round with experts from professional practice.

On 11 and 12 June 2026, the Institute of Public Economics once again held its Brussels Seminar under the direction of Prof. Dr. Johannes Becker. Following its successful premiere last year, 18 bachelor students once again travelled to the political centre of Europe.

Am 11. und 12. Juni 2026 fand erneut das Brüssel-Seminar des Instituts für Finanzwissenschaft unter der Leitung von Prof. Dr. Johannes Becker statt. Nach seiner erfolgreichen Premiere im vergangenen Jahr reisten auch in diesem Jahr 18 Bachelorstudierende in das politische Zentrum Europas.

Die 38 neuen Studierenden kamen zum Auftakt im Seminar- und Tagungshotel Große Ledder in Wermelskirchen zusammen, um gemeinsam mit den Studiengangleitern Prof. Dr. Peter Kajüter (Universität Münster) und Prof. Dr. Martin Nienhaus (RUB) sowie dem ASBM-Team die ersten Studientage im malerischen Bergischen Land zu verbringen. Der erste Tag stand ganz im Zeichen des Kennenlernens: Mit viel Teamgeist und Spaß wurden u. a. komplexe Konstruktionsaufgaben und Rätsel gelöst. Ein besonderes Highlight war die abendliche Diskussionsrunde mit Expert:innen aus der Praxis.

Family and friends, current and former colleagues, staff and students gathered at the Fürstenberghaus on 19 June 2026 for the inaugural lecture by Honorary Professor Dr Christian Böing. Following a welcome address by Dean Prof. Dr Thomas Langer, Prof. Dr Manfred Krafft delivered the laudatory speech, in which he described Christian Böing as a “positive role model for young people”. Böing then shared insights into ten exciting years of Marketing Analytics @SBE and expressed his gratitude to his family, colleagues and the School.

Familie und Freund:innen, aktuelle und ehemalige Kolleg:innen, Mitarbeitende und Studierende kamen am 19. Juni 2026 zur Antrittsvorlesung von Honorarprofessor Dr. Christian Böing ins Fürstenberghaus. Auf die Begrüßung durch Dekan Prof. Dr. Thomas Langer folgte Laudator Prof. Dr. Manfred Krafft, der Christian Böing attestierte, ein "positives Vorbild für junge Menschen" zu sein. Dieser gab anschließend Einblicke in zehn spannende Jahre Marketing Analytics @FB4 und bedankte sich bei Familie, Weggefährten und Fachbereich.

To support the development of high-resolution global biomass maps, the AI4Forest project has been granted access to the computing resources of JUPITER at Forschungszentrum Jülich, Europe’s first exascale supercomputer. In total, the project will have access to 120,000 GPU hours, which will be used to process large volumes of Earth observation data.

AI4Forest is a German-French research cooperation that investigates how cutting-edge artificial intelligence methods can help to better understand, monitor, and respond to the stresses on forest ecosystems caused by climate change. The project is coordinated by Philippe Ciais (Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, Université Paris), Alexandre d’Aspremont (Department of Computer Science, École Normale Supérieure), Fabian Gieseke (Department of Information Systems, University of Münster), Sebastian Pokutta (Zuse Institute Berlin), and Cornelius Senf (Earth Observation for Ecosystem Management, Technical University of Munich).

The goal of the proposal for computing resources is to create a global aboveground biomass (AGB) map that builds on the research group’s previous work: ECHOSAT; European satellites (Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2); Japanese satellites (ALOS Palsar-2); American sensors (GEDI); and German satellites (Tandem-X DEM).

Above-ground biomass comprises the plant biomass above the soil surface. AI4Forest focuses in particular on trees, as they store large amounts of CO₂ and are simultaneously increasingly exposed to various threats such as drought, heat, fires, or pest infestations.

Traditionally, biomass has been primarily measured or estimated through on-site field surveys. AI4Forest aims to improve such estimates on a global scale using satellite data and artificial intelligence, and to make them available more efficiently.

Creating such maps requires a great deal of computational power. Access to high-performance computing resources is crucial for processing large amounts of data and training complex AI models. The research group is especially pleased to be able to rely on JUPITER for this work.

Links related to this news

AI4Forest

Supercomputer JUPITER

On May 29, 2026, Business Contacts once again opened its doors, bringing together students and companies from the region as well as from across Germany at the Oeconomicum of the University of Münster. The career fair offered numerous opportunities for personal conversations, career orientation, and the establishment of valuable professional connections for the future. More than 40 companies introduced themselves to visitors and provided information about internships, working student positions, trainee programs, as well as entry-level and career opportunities. The event focused particularly on direct interaction, which was actively embraced by both students and company representatives.

Am 29. Mai 2026 öffnete die Business Contacts erneut ihre Türen und brachte im Oeconomicum der Universität Münster Studierende und Unternehmen aus der Region sowie aus ganz Deutschland zusammen. Die Karrieremesse bot zahlreiche Möglichkeiten für persönliche Gespräche, berufliche Orientierung und den Aufbau wertvoller Kontakte für die Zukunft. Mehr als 40 Unternehmen präsentierten sich den Besucherinnen und Besuchern und informierten über Praktika, Werkstudierendentätigkeiten, Traineeprogramme sowie Einstiegs- und Karrieremöglichkeiten. Dabei stand insbesondere der direkte Austausch im Mittelpunkt.