1. Master Dissertation Proposals
2018 – 2020 (MSc Business Engineering)
2018 – 2019 (MSc Business Economics, MSc Bedrijfseconomie, MSc Handelswetenschappen – management en IT)
Prof. dr. Geert Poels (UGentMIS)
12/26/2018

2. Themes / clusters of thesis topics
Enterprise (impact) modelling of technology/data- driven business transformation
IT governance modelling
User story modelling
Value co-creation modelling (niet voor HIR)
Enterprise architecture modelling (enkel HIR)
Business process architecture modelling (enkel HIR)
12/26/2018

3. Dissertation proposals for & 2018 – 2020 (MSc Business Engineering)
Theme 1 - Impact of technology/data-driven innovation on business models and business processes
Topic 1: Unlimited number of dissertations
Topic 2: 5 master dissertations (only for MSc Bus. Eng. - operations management) (n° 5 unlimited number of students)
Dissertation proposals for
2018 – 2019 (MSc Business Economics, MSc Bedrijfseconomie, MSc Handelswetenschappen – management en IT)
& 2018 – 2020 (MSc Business Engineering)
12/26/2018

4. Topic 1: Enterprise modelling of impact of novel technologies on business
What is the impact of X on the service offering, business model and business processes of Y?
X: IoT, big data analytics, augmented reality, blockchain, artificial intelligence, intelligent automation, …
Y: industry sector, SME or big company, start-up or established firm, commercial or public, ...
How can Enterprise Modeling techniques z1, z2, ... help in understanding and analysing this impact?
Choose your own topic: X, Y, zi (UNLIMITED)
2017: cloud computing, Internet of Things
2018: Big data analyics, augmented reality, unmanned vehicles
2019 – ongoing: blockchain, social media, artificial intelligence, intelligent automation, social networking, cloud technologies, 3D printing, NoSQL databases,..
12/26/2018

5. Example dissertations – submitted in 2017, 2018
Cloud Computing as a sustaining or disruptive technology: How can Enterprise Modeling help in analyzing the impact of Cloud Computing on business and operating models? (Jan Van Der Burgt)
Internet of Things as a sustaining or disruptive technology: How can Enterprise Modeling help in analyzing the impact of IoT on business and operating models? (Simon Dhaenens)
The impact of Internet of Things on business models, service offerings and business processes (Simon Mertens)
The impact of big data analytics on business models, service offerings and business processes (Charlotte Vandenbrande)
The impact of augmented reality on business models, service offerings and business processes (Lars Rosseel)
The impact of data and IoT driven unmanned vehicles on business models, service offerings and business processes (Hendrik Vervust)
12/26/2018

6. Generic steps in dissertation research methodology
Literature study on the chosen technology X
Study of Enterprise Modeling
Refining problem statement, research questions, and research methodology
X?, Y, Zi?
How to investigate the research questions?
Data collection (secondary – documented cases)
Backup: primary data collection – new cases)
Data analysis
Modelling, Analysing models, Comparing models and analyses
Synthesis
Formulating answers to research questions based on analysis results
Concluding
Knowledge contributed? Lessons learned? Limitations? Suggestions for further research
12/26/2018

7. Topic 2: Investigating the ‘Physical Internet’ – in collaboration with POM West-Vlaanderen en TomorrowLab
The ’Physical Internet’ (PI) is a metaphor for new modes of logistics models (storage, distribution, transportation) employing standardized modularisation (i.e., standard size containers and pallets) and routing (i.e., global uniform addressing), using advanced algorithms to match supply and demand of logistics services.
Expected benefits include improved efficiency, increased sustainability, and economic growth (e.g., new logistics brokerage services)
12/26/2018

8. Proposed master dissertations (MSc. Bus. Eng. - operations mgt.)
Systematic Literature Mapping state-of-the-art Physical Internet
Systematic Literature Review new business and operating models Physical Internet
Industry Survey state-of-the-practice Physical Internet
Towards a Physical Internet Ontology – Exploring the boundaries of the Internet metaphor
Physical Internet Case-Study: <choose your own case-study> (UNLIMITED n° OF TITLES)
12/26/2018

9. Theme 2 – IT governance modelling
3 master dissertations
Dissertation proposals for
2018 – 2020 (MSc Business Engineering) – 2019 (MSc Business Economics, MSc Bedrijfseconomie, MSc Handelswetenschappen – management en IT)
12/26/2018

10. Proposed master dissertations
Design of an information governance model for COBIT
Aligning COBIT with Enterprise Architecture (only for MSc. Business Engineering)
Aligning the ArchiMate language for Enterprise Architecture and the CORAS language for risk modelling (only for MSc. Business Engineering)
12/26/2018

11. Theme 3 – User story modelling
8 master dissertations
Dissertation proposals for
2018 – 2020 (MSc Business Engineering)
12/26/2018

12. Theme 4 – Value co-creation modelling
Unlimited number of dissertations
Dissertation proposals for
2018 – 2019 (MSc Business Economics, MSc Bedrijfseconomie, MSc Handelswetenschappen – management en IT)
12/26/2018

13. The Value Management Platform
Value Delivery Modelling - Application and evaluation of the Value Management Platform (VDMBee)
How can the VMP be extended as business change management and monitoring tool?
Case-study research:
The Dutch company VDMBee is interested in seeing new applications of VMP in order to explore new domains of decision- making, new kinds of business transformation and further integration of enterprise modelling tools.
The purpose of the thesis is to explore, in collaboration with VDMBee, a new application and evaluate how VMP performs in order to come with recommendations for improvement or extension.
Using analytical generalization, the insights obtained from this application and evaluation will also contribute to the academic knowledge on enterprise modelling and may generate research questions to be addressed by future research.
12/26/2018

14. Example dissertations – submitted in 2017, 2018
Further analysis of the VDML method for business architecture and enterprise engineering (Dennis De Langhe)
Application and evaluation of the Value Management Platform (Ruben Lovenweent)
12/26/2018

15. Theme 5 – Enterprise Architecture Modelling
3 master dissertations Dissertation proposals for 2018 – (MSc Business Engineering)
12/26/2018

16. Enterprise Architecture
Enterprise = designed system, but changes can be planned or emergent
Enterprise Architecture = what is essential about the enterprise (as a system) in relation to its environment (system stakeholders and their concerns)
Elements that constitute the system
Arrangement of these elements
Principles governing this arrangement and its evolution over time
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17. Enterprise Architecture Description
Basis for EA analysis, design, and management
ArchiMate = EA description language
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21. Proposed master dissertations
Value Modeling in ArchiMate
Case-study research (in collaboration with VDMBee)
Capability-based planning in Enterprise Architecture
Literature review & survey research (or case-study research)
Integrating the CARS method for strategic souring modelling in ArchiMate
Design Science research
12/26/2018

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24. Theme 6 – Business Process Architecture Modelling
3 master dissertations
Dissertation proposals for 2018 – (MSc Business Engineering)
12/26/2018

25. Design of a modelling approach for business process architecture (with UCLM, Spain)
Follow-up research on ‘top’ master thesis
Design Research project
Design of Business Process Architecture Viewpoints in ArchiMate
Strategic alignment of business process architecture
Tool development for business process architecture description
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