Master of Science module "Hands-on Digital Management Research"

Contents

A key component of an academic education is scientifc ways of working. But what is research? What does it take to design and execute a research project? This course allows you to get to know and apply management and information systems research hands-on. 

In addition to the selection of an exciting and relevant topic, the quality of scientific research depends on mastering  theories and methods. Thereby, researchers can ensure that their results are not only interesting, but also scientifically rigorous. The course aims to provide you with the basic theoretical and methodological skills required to conceptualize, conduct, and present their own research. For this purpose, in the lecture the students learn about important topics (e.g., the future of work, AI in business and society), methods (e.g., quantitative methods such as conducting an experiment or design science research) and theories from management and information systems research. The aim is to get to know these topics, methods, and theories and to practice and present their application in cases.

Learning Goals
  • Understand what research and science are about
  • Understand the basics of scientific theory
  • Discuss current research topics and methods in digital management and information systems
  • Know how to start a research process
  • Understand quality criteria for research papers
  • Develop your own research idea
Information session

The first course unit will be an Information Session for all students interested in this course. This session will take place on April 7 from 10:15 to 11:45 in S09. You will receive information about the course and its content during the information session.

Application
  • For organizational reasons, admission to this course is limited
  • The application process is based on students' previous experience (such as that gained in the context of final theses and seminars) and their motivation for research.
  • The application is possible here on the website from March 31 to April 8 (11:59 p.m.).
  • Application link to sign up: Click here to access the application form
  • Application is mandatory, even if the module is obligatory for students

Course organization

Basic concept

The course uses flipped classroom and blended learning concepts. As a student, you obtain various material for your time flexible, individual preparation. Afterwards, we support your learning process in a series of live sessions where you enter into discussion with the lecturers and your fellow students. Further, you engage in hands-on exercises for creating your  research projects and receive feedback.

Individual preparation is essential

For the live sessions, you need to prepare the content beforehand. Without preparation, participation in a live session is meaningless. Preparation means that you read/watch/listen to the provided material and perform the assigned tasks. You should not only consume it but actively process it: reflect on it, assess your agreement, dissenting opinion, and critique, take notes, form questions and build perspectives you want to remember and/or share in the live sessions. You will only be able to take advantage of the live sessions when you come prepared. The material for your individual preparation includes:

  • Reading material
  • Educational videos
  • Slides used in the educational videos and the live sessions
Live sessions

Live sessions will take place weekly on Tuesdays from April 7 to July 14, from 10:15 to 11:45 a.m. They will be held in person in S09.

    Instructions for grading

    Slide decks

    Session 1: Information Session (April 07, 2026)

    • We will discuss slide deck 0 on the course organization and the first section of slide deck 1 on scientific thinking. You might want to download the documents and (depending on your preferences) have a printout.
    • No further preparation is required.
    • The session will take place on-site in S09.

    Session 2: Theory (April 14, 2026)

    The session relates to slide deck 1 on scientific thinking. Please prepare the following materials:

    Session 3: AI-based Business Intelligence (April 21, 2026)

    The session focuses on AI-based Business Intelligence. Please prepare the following materials:

    Session 4: AI and the Future of Work (April 28, 2026)

    Session 5: Overview on Information Systems Research Methods (May 12, 2026)

    The session relates to slide deck 2 on overview on information systems research methods. Please prepare the following materials:

    For educators: Open educational resources (OER)

    • This page and most materials for this course are Open Educational Resources (OER) licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/).
    • When using this material, please attribute: University of Hohenheim, Chair of Digital Management (Prof. Dr. H. Gimpel), digital.uni-hohenheim.de
    • You may engage with this teaching and learning material in any of the following ways as long as you follow the license terms:

      • Retain: make, own, and control a copy of the resource
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    • Although you are not required to, we appreciate notice of your use of the material as it might help us in improving it: digital@uni-hohenheim.de
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