As part of their project seminar, four Master's students from different parts of the world successfully developed and presented solutions for automating the end-to-end use cases of the quote-to-invoice process based on the test cases provided for the company d.velop. The aim of the project was to rationalise the test process, ensure accuracy and efficiency and at the same time reduce manual effort. This should facilitate the validation of critical functionalities in connection with quotations and invoices.

Over the course of the winter semester, the students successfully automated the end-to-end process from quotation creation to invoicing using Microsoft Power Automate. ‘Throughout the project, we encountered several challenges at different stages. Before diving into automating, we first needed access to the company's internal platforms and had to understand the overall process. However, resolving access and credential issues took longer than expected. In the meantime, we familiarised ourselves with the functions and capabilities of Power Automate to ensure that we could use them effectively later. In the end, everyone gained access, and the process was fully automated!’ says Sabina Rahimova, participant of the seminar.

The students were accompanied by Miriam Möllers and Prof Benedikt Berger, who provided them with valuable advice. They were also supported by d.velop employees, who provided weekly feedback. According to Sabina, co-operation and communication were the driving forces behind the success of the seminar.

About the company d.velop

d.velop is a German software company specialising in enterprise content management (ECM) and digital document management solutions. The company offers software for document management, digital workflows, contract management and cloud-based content services to help companies streamline processes, improve collaboration and ensure compliance.

Dr. Verena Monschang und Prof. Dr. Bernd Wilfling (beide vom Lehrstuhl für Empirische Wirtschaftsforschung) haben ein neues ökonometrisches Verfahren entwickelt, das die Genauigkeit von Wirtschaftsprognosen verbessert. Ihr Ansatz optimiert sowohl einzelne Vorhersagen als auch kombinierte Prognosen, indem er ungenutzte Informationen systematisch verwertet. Eine empirische Studie mit S&P 500-Daten zeigt deutliche Verbesserungen bei Volatilitätsprognosen. Die Ergebnisse wurden im Journal of Forecasting veröffentlicht.

As part of a project seminar, six students from the Information Systems master's program presented their innovative prototypes, which were developed in collaboration with the Marquardt Group - a leading company in the field of switching and sensor systems based in the Black Forest.

The seminar was led by Dr Thomas Haskamp and accompanied by Niklas Kloth. The focus was on the application of the design thinking method for user-centred solutions to complex problems. Over a period of more than six months, the students worked in two teams to develop forward-looking concepts.

Team 1: FlowWise - Efficient use of water in the home

The first team, consisting of Jonas Reinhard, Leon Schlösser and Mubariz Ahmad, focussed on ecological challenges in the smart home sector. Their prototype is a retrofit solution that is installed between the shower hose and tap and helps to reduce heating costs by optimising showering behaviour. Their research has shown that heating water has a significant impact on energy costs, particularly in Germany. The system developed enables detailed monitoring and adjustment of water consumption to conserve valuable resources. Gamification elements were also introduced to increase user acceptance.

Team 2: Vellastra - safety solution for older people

Marwin Kralemann, Lukas Gerwens and Sandesh Kumar, forming the second team, developed an innovative solution to support older people in their everyday lives. Existing aids such as emergency buttons or care services often reach their limits and face challenges. In view of demographic change and the desire of many senior citizens to live independently within their own four walls for as long as possible, their system utilises UWB (ultra-wideband) radar technology. This detects presence and movement patterns in a room and recognises potential falls. The device can be easily integrated into existing lamp sockets. In an emergency, relatives or emergency services are notified immediately via an app to improve the safety and quality of life of older people.

Positive response from Marquardt

The final presentation was very well received by the Marquardt representatives. The practical implementation of the prototypes and the detailed analysis of user needs were particularly emphasised. Anabelle Marquardt and her team praised the innovative strength and creativity of the students and described the seminar as a complete success.

About the Marquardt Group

The Marquardt Group, based in the Black Forest, is a globally active company specialising in the development and production of switches and switching systems. As a renowned supplier to the automotive industry, Marquardt sets standards in sensor technology and innovative technologies.

Bei der Promotionsfeier am 31. Januar 2025 durften sich 14 Nachwuchswissenschaftler:innen der Wirtschaftswissenschaftlichen Fakultät über den erfolgreichen Abschluss ihrer Promotion freuen. Die Doktorurkunden überreichte der Dekan der Fakultät, Prof. Dr. Thomas Langer. Im Rahmen der Feier wurden Lars Beckmann, Kristin Gisa, Sophie Christine Jansen, Miriam Klöpper, Niklas Kronemeyer, Malte Lüttmann, Till Münster, Lennart Prinz, Roxanne Raabe, Lena Schüler, Kevin Stabenow, Carolin Vollenberg, Fabian Wening und Feina Zou promoviert. 

Johannes Kriebel hat am Finance Center unserer Fakultät 2018 promoviert und sich 2024 für BWL habilitiert. Seit Oktober letzten Jahres war er Professor an der Universität Hamburg. In der vergangenen Woche ist er unerwartet und plötzlich verstorben. Wir trauern um einen hervorragenden jungen Wissenschaftler und behalten ihn als geschätztes Mitglied unserer Fakultät in Erinnerung. Unsere Gedanken sind bei ihm und seiner Familie.

How do top executives drive the green agenda of their firms? This study from Prof. Dr. David Bendig, Dr. Colin Schulz, and Dr. Maximilian Möhwald of the University of Münster, and Dr. Patrick Pollok of RWTH Aachen University, published in the Journal of Business Venturing, demonstrates that the transition towards a green strategy is inextricably linked to the present and future financial prosperity of Chief Executive Officers. The study emphasizes the manner in which financial incentives influence sustainability initiatives.

Wie treiben Top-Führungskräfte die grüne Agenda ihrer Unternehmen voran? Diese Studie von Prof. Dr. David Bendig, Dr. Colin Schulz und Dr. Maximilian Möhwald von der Universität Münster sowie Dr. Patrick Pollok von der RWTH Aachen University, veröffentlicht im Journal of Business Venturing, zeigt, dass der Übergang zu einer grünen Strategie untrennbar mit dem gegenwärtigen und zukünftigen finanziellen Wohlstand der Vorstandsvorsitzenden verbunden ist. Die Studie unterstreicht die Art und Weise, in der finanzielle Anreize Nachhaltigkeitsinitiativen beeinflussen.

"Welchen Einfluss haben Kraftstoffpreise auf die Durchschnittsgeschwindigkeit auf deutschen Autobahnen?“ Mit dieser Frage befassen sich Sebastian Specht, Dr. Jan Wessel, Dr. Till Kösters und Dr. Thomas Hagedorn vom Institut für Verkehrswissenschaft (IVM) in ihrem Gastbeitrag in der Reihe „Der Volkswirt“ der Frankfurter Allgemeinen Zeitung (FAZ) vom 10.02.2025. Der Artikel basiert auf den Forschungsergebnissen, die in ihrem wissenschaftlichen Artikel: „No Need for Speed: Fuel Prices, Driving Speeds and the Revealed Value of Time on the German Autobahn“ dargestellt werden.

Last Friday, nine students from the "Eduplay Hub" bachelor’s project seminar presented their newly developed learning platform with innovative AI features. The event took place at the headquarters of Provinzial Versicherung and was attended by about 30 interested people from different departments of the company.

The task of the project seminar was to create a modern and interactive learning platform that offers Provinzial employees a flexible and versatile learning experience. The platform includes webinars, in-person events, mandatory courses, and offers personalized learning paths and development opportunities. The aim was to create a  user-friendly solution that is both effective and motivating.

A key component of the presentation was the integration of gamification elements. These were meant to make the learning experience more fun and engaging. These include badges, achievements, and other incentives that help motivate users and allow them to track their progress. Additionally, an AI-powered course assistant (chatbot) was introduced to guide learners through the entire process, answering questions and providing personalized support.

The students presented their ideas and concepts to attendees and received   valuable feedback on both the practical aspects and the theoretical approaches  of the platform. The event was a resounding success and demonstrated what practical and forward-looking digital learning solutions can look like.

Seit Januar befinden sich die Serviceeinheiten des Dekanats wieder unter einem Dach. Bedingt durch den Umbau der Fachbereichsbibliothek Forum Oeconomicum waren verschiedene Bereiche wie das International Relations Center (IRC), das Career Development Center (CDC) und das Programmmanagement in den vergangenen Jahren zum Schlossplatz 3 umgezogen. Jetzt sind alle wieder zurück im Juridicum/Oeconomicum an der Universitätsstraße 14-16. Dr.

Since January, the service units of the Dean's Office have been back under one roof. Due to the renovation of the Forum Oeconomicum, the Library of the School of Business and Economics, various departments such as the  International Relations Center (IRC), the Career Development Center (CDC) and Programme Management for Business Administration, Economics and Information Systems had moved to Schlossplatz 3 in recent years.

Prof. Dr. Sebastian Hohenberg, holder of the Chair of Digital Transformation, is one of the new Associate Editors of the renowned Journal of Marketing Research (JMR) of the American Marketing Association (AMA). This makes the University of Münster the only German university to be represented among the associate editors. The Journal of Marketing Research, which is classified as an A+ publication, has been published since 1964 and is listed among the top 50 business journals by the Financial Times, among others. 

Prof. Dr. Sebastian Hohenberg, Inhaber des Lehrstuhls für Digitale Transformation, gehört zu den neuen Associate Editors des renommierten Journals of Marketing Research (JMR) der American Marketing Association. Damit ist die Universität Münster als einzige deutsche Hochschule bei den Mitherausgeber:innen vertreten. Das als A+ Publikation eingestufte Journal of Marketing Research erscheint seit 1964 und wird u.a. von der Financial Times unter den Top 50 der Wirtschaftsjournale geführt.

Prof. Dr. Thorsten Wiesel und apl. Prof. Dr. Sonja Gensler, Chair of Value-Based Marketing (IWM), are pleased to receive funding from the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture to support its research on sustainable nutrition as part of the DINER project. Running from January 2025 to December 2027, this collaborative initiative aims to develop an innovative, user-friendly, and personalized recommendation system that encourages more sustainable eating habits.

Prof. Dr. Thorsten Wiesel und apl. Prof. Dr. Sonja Gensler vom Institut für Wertbasiertes Marketing (IWM) freuen sich über eine Förderung des Bundesministeriums für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft (BMEL) für ihre Forschung zu nachhaltiger Ernährung. Ziel des von Januar 2025 bis Dezember 2027 laufenden Gemeinschaftsprojektes DINER (kurz für "Digitale Entscheidungshilfe für nachhaltige Ernährung") ist es, ein innovatives, nutzerfreundliches und personalisiertes Empfehlungssystem zu entwickeln, das zu nachhaltigeren Ernährungsgewohnheiten anregt.

Welche spannenden und vielseitigen Perspektiven ein Studium an der Wirtschaftswissenschaftlichen Fakultät ermöglicht, zeigen seit nunmehr einem Jahr unsere "Alumni Stories". In der gemeinsamen Interviewreihe mit unserem Ehemaligenverein, AlumniUM, teilen Absolvent:innen der Fakultät ihre Karrierewege und Erlebnisse an der Universität Münster. Zum Jubiläum der Reihe stellen wir Anja Guthoff vor, Expertin für Konzern-Risikocontrolling und Konzern-Kreditrisikostandards bei der DZ BANK AG. Nach ihrem erfolgreichen Studium am Institut für Kreditwesen/Finance Center Münster promovierte sie unter der Betreuung von Prof. Pfingsten. Im Interview gibt sie uns Einblicke in ihre Studienzeit und berichtet über ihr Engagement im mittlerweile liquidierten DZ BANK Mikrofinanzfonds und die damit verbundenen Herausforderungen. 

Besonders engagierte und fachlich herausragende Studierende frühzeitig zu fördern - das ist das Ziel des Deutschlandsstipendiums ProTalent. In diesem Jahr wurden mit 122 Förderern und 311 geförderten Studierenden gleich zwei neue Bestmarken aufgestellt. Dank der Unterstützung unserer Alumni konnte AlumniUM, der offizielle Alumni-Verein der Wirtschaftswissenschaftlichen Fakultät, als „Goldförderer“ auch dieses Jahr wieder einen wichtigen Beitrag leisten und sechs Stipendien finanzieren.

As part of the final presentation of the “Future Mobility Lab” project seminar, students presented a prototype and dashboard that helps Transdev employees make quick and informed decisions in crisis situations. The project, which focuses on the use of GenAI in crisis management in the mobility sector, was developed in collaboration with Transdev - a company of the Rethmann Group and Germany's second-largest rail and bus company.

The students developed a dashboard and programmed a Large Language Model (LLM) that uses real-time data and crisis manuals in critical scenarios - such as accidents, storms, or absenteeism - to provide sound decision support. In their presentation, they explained the underlying mode of operation, software architecture, and data structure. They provided insight into the evaluation of the LLM for the specific application.

The dashboard shows, among other things, the currently running trains and their delays. The interactive bot that allows user interaction was also presented. In a live demonstration, the students presented the functional prototype of the LLM/bot, which was extensively tested by the attendees. Edge cases were also analyzed and explored.

Five representatives from Transdev – including the Managing Director, Regional Manager, Data Lead and members of the Innovation Team – attended the presentation, underlining the strong interest in the collaboration and the project.

After the successful final presentation of the project seminar, the group embarked on a two-day excursion, which first took them to Transdev’s workshops and operations in Germany, and later to the Netherlands. The excursion began with a company presentation at Nordwestbahn, an important partner in public transport. Following this, the participants gained detailed insights into the maintenance and technology of the trains during a workshop tour. A particularly exciting part of the tour was the opportunity to not only inspect the technical details under the train but also to visit the train driver's cabin and even board the train to experience the technical infrastructure firsthand. The second part of the excursion took the group to the Netherlands, where they visited one of the largest E-bus fleets and its associated workshop. In addition, the participants were informed about the latest developments in electromobility at a training facility. A highlight of the trip was the opportunity for some participants to drive an actual passenger bus through Haarlem for around 15 minutes, under the guidance of an instructor. This unique hands-on experience provided invaluable insights into the operation of public transportation. After these impactful experiences, the group finally returned to Münster.

The project, focused on the use of GenAI in crisis management in the mobility sector, will now be presented internally to colleagues by Transdev's Data Lead.

For a year now, our “Alumni Stories” have been showing the exciting and varied prospects that studying at the School of Business and Economics offers. In the joint interview series with our alumni association, AlumniUM, graduates of the School share their career paths and experiences at the University of Münster. Part 13 of the Alumni Stories features Anja Guthoff, an expert in Group Risk Controlling and Group Credit Risk Standards at DZ BANK AG. After successfully completing her studies at the Chair of Banking/ Finance Center Münster, Dr. Guthoff pursued her PhD under the supervision of Prof. Pfingsten. In the interview, Dr. Guthoff not only provides insights into her time at university but also discusses her involvement in the now-liquidated DZ BANK Microfinance Fund and the challenges associated with it.

On Friday, April 4, 2025, the next “Master your Future” Infoday of the School of Business & Economics will take place in the "Schloss" of the University of Münster. We invite you to find out more about our Master's degree program in Information Systems as well as the programs in Business Administration, Business Development and Economics and experience highlights from our research and teaching. In addition to information stands and plenty of time for questions, we also offer a campus tour. On-site advice is available in German and English, the program will be mainly in English. Participation is free of charge, registration is now open and possible until March 21, 2025.

You can find out more about the program and register directly here.

Impressions of the succesful premiere in April 2024 can be found here.