List of Thesis Topic Proposals
These are our current thesis topics. Please note that the list may not be complete, as current issues are often distributed to inqiring students ad hoc. Please feel free to contact us with your individual topic requests!
The the topics are based on the requirements for master or diploma theses but but can usually be formed into a bachelor topic, too. If need be, please ask your potential supervisor. If special knowledge is needed for a certain topic, you can find a corresponding note in the topic description.
Backdoor Branching vs. Rapid Branching
Supervisor | Stefan Voß |
Topic description | In the recent literature concerning the exact solution of mixed integer programming problems, there is a number of proposals relating to the selection of sub-problems to be solved. Object of this thesis is to present and compare two of these strategies. |
Literature | (both papers are available at the secretary): R. Borndörfer, A. Löbel, M. Reuther, T. Schlechte, S. Weider (2013) Rapid Branching. Public Transport 5, 3-23. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12469-013-0066-8 M. Fischetti, M. Monaci (2013) Backdoor Branching. INFORMS Journal on Computing 25, 693-700. http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/ijoc.1120.0531 |
Notes | The thesis can be prepared in English or German. |
Bundle-Pricing: State-of-the-art
Supervisor | Stefan Voß |
Topic description |
Bundle pricing had been a hot topic in various areas especially in the late 1980s and early 1990s (see the reference below as an example).
Based on the specific choice more than one student may work on this topic. |
Literature | Optimal Bundle Pricing Ward Hanson and R. Kipp Martin Management Science Vol. 36, No. 2 (Feb., 1990), pp. 155-174 URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2661453 Abstract Bundle pricing is a widespread phenomenon. However, despite its importance as a pricing tool, surprisingly little is known about how to find optimal bundle prices. Most discussions in the literature are restricted to only two components, and even in this case no algorithm is given for setting prices. Here we show that the single firm bundle pricing problem is naturally viewed as a disjunctive program which is formulated as a mixed integer linear program. Multiple components, and a variety of cost and reservation price conditions are investigated with this approach. Several new economic insights on the role and effectiveness of bundling are presented. An added benefit of the solution to the bundle pricing model is the selection of products which compose the firm's product line. Computational testing is done on problems with up to 21 components (over one million potential product bundles), and data collection issues are addressed. |
Notes | This thesis should be prepared in English. |
Extending Channel Capacities in Panama and Nicaragua
Supervisor | Xiaoning Shi, Stefan Voß |
Topic description | From the first utilization of the Panama Canal in the late 1910s, the Panama Canal plays a significant role not only in world trade but also in the shipping industry as well as its progress regarding containerization. The decision to expand the Panama Canal would, to great extent, re-shuffle the situation and enhance the competition of the shipping industry. Even more so, we would see a major shift after finishing the Nicaragua canal. Besides a survey on the existing literature we attempt to focus on the impact of the expansion of the canal capacities on global container fleets by viewing them as players under incomplete information. |
Notes | This thesis should be prepared in English. |
How common and how large are cost overruns in transport infrastructure projects?
Supervisor | Stefan Voß, Robert Stahlbock |
Topic description | topicof this thesis is the acquisition and analysis of exemplary cases of cost overrun in transport-related infrastructure projects in the last ten years (eg BER, Stuttgart 21, Nuremberg U-Bahn, Container Terminal Wilhelmshaven etc.). |
Notes | The thesis can be prepared in English or German. |
Metaheuristics in Health Care Operations
Supervisor | Stefan Voß |
Topic description | The aim of this thesis is a compilation of current approximate methods for solving complex problems in the healthcare branch (eg, health care supply chain management). |
Notes | The thesis can be prepared in English or German. The topic can be modeled to either a bachelor or a master thesis. |
Information Sharing in Seaports
Supervisor | Leonard Heilig, Stefan Voß |
Topic description |
Rising competition among major seaports as well as investment and space limitations require a more efficient coordination of activities in port operations. As these activities are often carried out by different (competing) actors, information sharing has become essential to facilitate efficient port operations. Although information systems to exchange data have become available in recent decades, those actors are often in competition with each other and thus reluctant of sharing information. To begin with studying information sharing in seaports, the following aspects need to be discussed. First, how and why is certain information shared in seaports? In this context, industry examples and port community systems could be reviewed. Second, a classification scheme of the types of information shared in seaports needs to be developed. And finally, different alternative system models of information sharing, such as the information transfer model, third-party model, information hub model (see, e.g., Lee and Whang, 2000), should be discussed in the context of seaports. In the main part, the thesis should critically discuss the current issues of information sharing and provide a solution approach. This can be evaluated, for example, on basis of a comprehensive process analysis for a selected process (e.g., inter-terminal transportation – ITT), for instance, by using BPMN (Business Process Modeling Notation). After analyzing major issues, recommendations regarding the following questions should be given: What types of information can be shared to facilitate a better coordination in an ecosystem constrained by a culture of limited cooperation? What are the benefits and barriers/risks sharing this information? What organizational and behavioral changes should be addressed in order to increase information sharing? Another way to evaluate decision making on information sharing is the application of game theory. In this regard, the thesis should review game theory models that incorporate information sharing under competition (see, e.g., Ha and Tong, 2006). Given those models, a game theory model should be developed for seaports in order to evaluate strategic advantages and disadvantages of information sharing. This includes an evaluation of the equilibrium information sharing decision under different scenarios regarding the amount of information to be shared and corresponding risks/competitive disadvantages. |
Literature |
Ha, A. Y., Tong, S.: Contracting and information sharing under supply chain competition. Management Science 54(4), 701-715 (2008). Lee, H. L., Whang, S.: Information sharing in a supply chain. International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management 1(1), 79-93 (2000). |
Notes | The thesis can be prepared in English or German. |
Measuring the scale of quality in the service sectors
Supervisor | Stefan Voß, Robert Stahlbock, Xiaoning Shi |
Topic description |
We are interested in several students writing their bachelor or diploma/master thesis on this subject. While the methodology can be the same based on given literature specifying the idea of measuring service quality, the specific focus is differentiated according to specific fields of application:
If necessary, one might distinguish different user groups to make this more versatile, e.g., frequent vs. infrequent users, knowledgeable users vs. non-knowledgeable users, users with mobility restrictions. In addition, the place where public transport is offered makes a difference regarding user perception.
Moreover, we expect some empirical study using a given service quality framework (e.g., SERVQUAL or RATER developed by Parasuraman et al., 1988). The purpose is to measure the scale of quality in the specific service sectors mentioned. |
Literature |
Parasuraman, A./Zeithaml, V./Berry, L.: SERVQUAL: A Multiple-Item Scale for Measuring Consumer Perception of Service Quality, in: Journal of Retailing, Vol. 64, Nr. 1, 1988, S. 12 - |
Notes | The thesis can be prepared in English or German. |
GNSS based tolling: capabilities, challenges and opportunities
Supervisor | Stefan Voß |
Topic description |
Based on an overview of the current state-of-the-art regarding GNSS tolling (GNSS: Global Navigation Satellite System; see http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11066-013-9073-9) we seek to discuss the total cost of ownership of tolling systems.
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Notes | The thesis can be prepared in English or German. |
Waterside Throughput at Container Terminals
Supervisor | Stefan Voß |
Topic description | In this thesis we would like to investigate the possible throughput that may be achieved at major container terminals in different ports around the globe. As a first step we seek to investigate related throughput numbers for a proper selection of existing terminals. As a second step we would be interested to find appropriate performance indicators that allow us to give an estimate of the maximum possible throughput of related terminals. Finally, what would be a technically maximal throughput per kilometer? |
Notes | The thesis can be prepared in English or German. |