Background and Motivation

Smart City studies and rankings commonly rely on composite indices that aggregate multiple indicators into overall scores. Central to these indices are scoring rules and weighting schemes, which determine how individual indicators contribute to final results. While such approaches enable comparability and simplification, they are inherently based on a variety of methodological and normative assumptions.

These assumptions - such as the relative importance of dimensions, the linearity of aggregation, or the compensability between indicators - are often implicit and rarely made transparent. As a result, Smart City rankings may produce results that are difficult to interpret, sensitive to design choices, and perceived as unfair or arbitrary by participating cities.

In addition to methodological concerns, there is increasing criticism from municipalities regarding how rankings reflect their efforts and contextual conditions. Cities may question whether scoring and weighting logics adequately capture their strategic priorities, structural constraints, or development paths. Despite this, the empirical perspective of cities on scoring fairness and transparency remains largely unexplored.

Against this background, a systematic analysis of scoring and weighting logics - combined with an empirical assessment of how these logics are perceived by cities - represents an important contribution to the methodological robustness and legitimacy of Smart City assessments.

Research Objectives

The objective of this master thesis is to analyze how different scoring and weighting logics influence the outcomes of Smart City studies and how these logics are perceived by municipalities.

The thesis aims to:

• Analyze and compare scoring and weighting models used in existing Smart City studies and rankings;

• Identify and explicate underlying methodological and normative assumptions embedded in these models;

• Develop alternative weighting scenarios and aggregation logics;

• Conduct sensitivity analyses to assess how changes in weighting and scoring affect ranking outcomes;

• Empirically explore how municipalities perceive scoring fairness, transparency, and validity, and identify common points of criticism;

• Derive implications for the design of transparent, robust, and fair scoring systems in Smart City studies

Methodology

The thesis will follow a mixed-methods research approach, combining quantitative and qualitative elements:

• A structured literature review on composite indicators, scoring models, and weighting techniques in Smart City and related fields;

• Quantitative analysis of existing scoring models, including the development of alternative weighting scenarios;

• Sensitivity and scenario analyses to assess the robustness of ranking outcomes;

• Empirical data collection through qualitative interviews or surveys with municipal representatives to capture perceptions of fairness, transparency, and critique of scoring approaches;

• Integration of quantitative and qualitative findings to inform design recommendations

The methodological design will be tailored to the scope and requirements of a master thesis

Expected Contribution

This master thesis will contribute to Smart City research by providing a systematic and empirically informed analysis of scoring and weighting logics. By making underlying assumptions explicit and incorporating the perspectives of municipalities, the thesis will support the development of more transparent, robust, and legitimate assessment and ranking approaches in Smart City studies.

Interested students are invited to send an e-mail to: tim.bree (at) uni-due.de

Background and Motivation

Smart Cities are commonly described as socio-technical systems in which technological infrastructures, organizational arrangements, governance structures, and societal goals interact. To analyze, compare, and assess Smart City initiatives, numerous reference models and frameworks have been proposed in both academic research and applied practice. These models differ substantially in their scope, structure, and underlying assumptions.

While some Smart City models emphasize technological layers and digital infrastructures, others focus on governance, sustainability, or societal value creation. As a result, existing models often lack conceptual consistency, clear separation of concerns, or explicit design principles. Moreover, many models conflate the architecture of a reference model (i.e., its structural logic and dimensions) with concrete indicators or evaluation criteria.

There is therefore a need to systematically examine how a Smart City reference model should be architected in order to integrate technological, organizational, and societal dimensions in a coherent and extensible way. Rather than proposing yet another complete model, a focus on reference model architecture allows for a more fundamental and transferable contribution.

Research Objectives

The objective of this master thesis is to conceptualize the architecture of a holistic Smart City reference model. The focus lies on defining how such a model should be structured, rather than on populating it with concrete indicators or metrics.

The thesis aims to:

• Review and compare existing Smart City reference models and frameworks from academic literature and practice;

• Identify core dimensions, layers, and viewpoints commonly used to describe Smart Cities;

• Analyze how technological, organizational, governance-related, and societal aspects are represented and related in existing models;

• Derive design principles for a Smart City reference model architecture (e.g., modularity, extensibility, separation of concerns);

• Propose a conceptual architecture that specifies how dimensions, layers, and relationships in a Smart City reference model should be structured;

• Discuss how such an architecture can serve as a foundation for measurement, comparison, and evaluation approaches

Methodology

The thesis will follow a conceptual and theory-driven research approach, including:

• A structured literature review of Smart City models, reference architectures, and related frameworks;

• Conceptual analysis of model structures, dimensions, and underlying assumptions;

• Synthesis of findings into a coherent reference model architecture;

• Conceptual validation through comparison with existing models and use cases.

The methodological scope and depth will be aligned with the requirements of a master thesis.

Expected Contribution

This master thesis will contribute to Smart City research by providing a theoretically grounded and systematically developed reference model architecture. By clarifying how Smart City models should be structured at an architectural level, the thesis will support future work on indicator development, benchmarking, governance analysis, and comparative Smart City studies.

Interested students are invited to send an e-mail to: tim.bree (at) uni-due.de

Background and Motivation

Benchmarking and ranking studies are widely used to assess and compare Smart City development across municipalities. They aim to provide transparency, identify best practices, and support strategic decision-making. However, existing Smart City benchmarking approaches often rely on standardized indicator sets and uniform scoring mechanisms that insufficiently account for the heterogeneous conditions under which cities operate.

Cities differ substantially with regard to size, administrative capacities, financial resources, socio-economic structures, and geographic or institutional contexts. Ignoring these contextual factors can lead to distorted comparisons, misleading rankings, and dysfunctional incentives for municipalities. As a result, Smart City rankings are frequently criticized for lacking fairness, transparency, and analytical validity.

In response to these limitations, there is a growing need for benchmarking approaches that explicitly incorporate contextual factors and enable meaningful comparison between cities with similar structural conditions. Developing such context-sensitive benchmarking frameworks represents a central methodological challenge in Smart City research and comparative urban studies.

Research Objectives

The objective of this master thesis is to develop a context-sensitive benchmarking framework for Smart Cities that enables fair and analytically sound comparison across heterogeneous municipal contexts.

The thesis aims to:

• Analyze and critically review existing Smart City benchmarking and ranking approaches in academic research and applied studies;

• Identify key methodological weaknesses, with a particular focus on the treatment of contextual factors;

• Conceptualize methods for incorporating context into benchmarking, such as comparison groups, normalization techniques, or multi-dimensional assessment models;

• Develop a coherent benchmarking framework that balances comparability, transparency, and contextual sensitivity;

• Discuss the implications of the proposed framework for Smart City assessment and comparative urban analysis.

Methodology

The thesis will follow a conceptually and methodologically driven research approach, potentially combining:

• A structured literature review on benchmarking methodologies, ranking systems, and Smart City assessment frameworks;

• Comparative analysis of existing Smart City indices and ranking models;

• Conceptual modeling of alternative benchmarking logics (e.g., clustering, peer-group comparison, normalization);

• Optional exploratory data analysis to illustrate or assess selected design choices, depending on data availability.

The exact methodological focus will be defined in coordination with the supervisor and aligned with the scope of a master thesis

Expected Contribution

This master thesis will contribute to the methodological advancement of Smart City benchmarking by proposing a context-sensitive assessment framework that addresses key limitations of existing approaches. The results will provide transferable insights for the design of fair, transparent, and learning-oriented benchmarking systems in Smart City research and practice.

Interested students are invited to send an e-mail to: tim.bree@uni-due.de

Background and Motivation

Smart City initiatives are often associated with digital technologies and data-driven solutions. However, research and practice increasingly show that the success of Smart City development depends not only on technological capabilities, but also on governance arrangements, organizational structures, and coordination mechanisms between involved actors.

In the German context, municipalities differ significantly in how they organize Smart City activities. Some cities establish dedicated Smart City units or cross-departmental coordination bodies, while others integrate Smart City topics into existing administrative structures. In addition, governance arrangements are shaped by interactions between municipal administration, political leadership, public enterprises, private actors, and research institutions.

Medium-sized cities in particular face specific challenges, as they must balance growing strategic ambitions with limited organizational and financial resources. Public funding programs further influence governance structures by shaping priorities, responsibilities, and collaboration patterns. Despite their importance, these organizational and governance dimensions remain underrepresented in many Smart City assessments and studies.

Research Objectives

The objective of this bachelor thesis is to analyze and compare governance and organizational structures in Smart City development across selected medium-sized German cities, to be defined in coordination with the supervisor.

The thesis aims to:

• Describe and compare Smart City governance models in selected German cities with populations between approximately 100,000 and 600,000 inhabitants;

• Analyze the roles and interactions of key actors, including municipal administration, political leadership, public enterprises, private partners, and research institutions;

• Identify coordination challenges and collaboration mechanisms across organizational boundaries;

• Identify archetypical governance structures based on recurring patterns across cases;

• Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of different governance forms;

• Compare governance arrangements in cities with and without external Smart City funding.

Methodology

The thesis will follow a structured qualitative research approach, including:

• A structured literature review on Smart City governance and municipal organization;

• Case study analysis based on publicly available Smart City strategies, policy documents, organizational charts, and project descriptions;

• Structured comparison of cases along predefined analytical dimensions (e.g., organizational setup, actor roles, coordination mechanisms, funding context);

• Identification of governance archetypes and cross-case patterns

Expected Contribution

This bachelor thesis will provide a structured overview of governance and organizational approaches to Smart City development in medium-sized German cities. By identifying archetypical governance structures and their respective strengths and weaknesses, the thesis will contribute to a better understanding of non-technological success factors in Smart City initiatives and support more informed comparison and assessment of municipal Smart City approaches.

Interested students are invited to send an e-mail to: tim.bree@uni-due.de

Background and Motivation

Smart City studies and benchmarking initiatives increasingly rely on data provided directly by municipalities, often through surveys, questionnaires, and structured self-assessments. These instruments are intended to capture information on technological, organizational, and societal aspects of Smart City development. However, the willingness of cities to participate in such studies varies considerably, and response rates often remain limited.

One key reason lies in the perceived effort associated with data collection. Municipal administrations frequently face constraints in terms of time, personnel, data availability, and internal coordination. At the same time, the perceived benefits of participation - such as learning effects, comparability, or strategic guidance - are not always clear or immediate. As a result, even well-designed Smart City studies may struggle to achieve sufficient participation and data quality.

Understanding how municipalities perceive the effort and value of Smart City data collection is therefore crucial for designing surveys and studies that are both scientifically robust and practically feasible. In particular, cooperative and learning-oriented study designs require a careful balance between analytical ambition and administrative burden.

Research Objectives

The objective of this bachelor thesis is to analyze how municipalities perceive the effort and benefits associated with data collection in Smart City studies, and how these perceptions influence their willingness to participate.

The thesis aims to:

• Review existing municipal survey formats and data collection approaches used in Smart City studies;

• Identify organizational, technical, and informational barriers that hinder municipal data provision;

• Analyze factors that influence acceptance, motivation, and participation willingness among municipalities;

• Assess how survey design choices (e.g., length, complexity, required data types) affect perceived effort;

• Derive recommendations for designing Smart City surveys that balance data quality with feasibility.

Methodology

The thesis will follow a structured qualitative research approach, including:

• A structured literature review on municipal data collection, survey acceptance, and administrative burden;

• Document analysis of existing Smart City questionnaires and study materials;

• Qualitative interviews with municipal representatives involved in Smart City initiatives or data reporting, where feasible;

• Synthesis of findings into design principles and practical recommendations for survey-based data collection.

The methodological scope will be aligned with the requirements of a bachelor thesis.

Expected Contribution

This bachelor thesis will contribute to a better understanding of the practical challenges associated with municipal data collection in Smart City studies. By analyzing acceptance and perceived effort from a municipal perspective, the thesis will provide empirically grounded recommendations for improving survey design, increasing participation rates, and enhancing the overall quality of Smart City data collection efforts.

Interested students are invited to send an e-mail to: tim.bree@uni-due.de

Background and Motivation

Smart City initiatives aim to address a wide range of urban challenges, such as sustainable mobility, climate adaptation, flood protection, or energy transition. To monitor and evaluate progress in these areas, municipalities increasingly rely on indicator-based assessments and key performance indicators (KPIs). However, while numerous KPIs are discussed in academic literature and policy frameworks, many of these indicators are not systematically collected or readily available in municipal practice.

In particular, cities often face limitations in terms of data availability, data quality, and organizational capacity, which restrict the feasibility of comprehensive indicator-based assessments. As a result, Smart City studies frequently rely on proxy indicators or technology-driven metrics, while domain-specific and context-sensitive indicators remain underdeveloped or underutilized. 

Domain-specific indicator systems therefore need to balance analytical ambition with practical feasibility. They should reflect the specific characteristics of individual Smart City domains while taking into account which KPIs are realistically measurable and accessible for municipalities. Such systems can support more meaningful assessments and improve the interpretability of comparative Smart City analyses.

Research Objectives

The objective of this bachelor thesis is to develop and analyze an indicator system for one selected Smart City domain. The specific domain (e.g., mobility, climate adaptation, flood protection, energy) will be defined in coordination with the supervisor.

The thesis aims to:

• Identify and review relevant indicators and indicator frameworks for the selected Smart City domain in academic literature and applied studies;

• Systematically structure domain-specific indicators within a coherent indicator system;

• Analyze qualitative relationships and interdependencies between indicators within the selected domain;

• Assess the practical applicability and feasibility of the indicators from a municipal perspective, including data availability and collection effort;

• Derive recommendations for the design of domain-specific indicator systems for Smart City assessments.

Methodology

The thesis will follow a structured qualitative research approach, including:

• A systematic literature review focusing on indicators and KPIs for the selected Smart City domain;

• Conceptual analysis and structuring of indicators into a coherent indicator system;

• Qualitative assessment of indicator relevance, data availability, and feasibility, potentially supported by expert interviews with municipal practitioners;

• Synthesis of findings into a domain-specific indicator system proposal.

The methodological scope will be aligned with the requirements of a bachelor thesis.

Expected Contribution

This bachelor thesis will provide a structured and practice-oriented analysis of indicators for a specific Smart City domain. The results will contribute to a better understanding of how domain-specific indicator systems can be designed to balance analytical rigor with practical feasibility in municipal contexts.

Interested students are invited to send an e-mail to: tim.bree (at) uni-due.de

For more information: sitm.ris.uni-due.de/news/news/master-thesis-on-mapping-and-understanding-stakeholders-in-public-blockchains-24948/

For more information: sitm.ris.uni-due.de/news/news/master-thesis-on-governing-the-decentralized-a-comparative-case-study-of-the-governance-in-tezos-arbitrum-optimism-starknet-polkadot-ethereum-and-bitcoin-24949/

Vacant master thesis seeks to investigate and assess how municipal enterprises’ innovation culture influences the effectiveness of digital innovation activity

Against the backdrop of climate change and digitalization, cities all over the world are facing the need for a radical transformation towards “smartness” (Gimpel et al., 2021). To meet the increasing amount of customer expectations that cities are facing, municipal enterprises – such as electricity suppliers or waste management services – are continuously working on modernizing their digital service offerings and business models (Hosseini et al., 2018; Mora et al., 2019). Sometimes those offerings represent the replacement of analog tasks with digital tasks, for example, online appointment scheduling or the application of IoT sensors to enhance processes or estimate waiting times[1]. Such novel digital services are often the result of digital innovation activities (Hjalmarsson & Rudmark, 2012). Those innovation activities may be internally and externally driven, and in light of the smart city context, the complexity of the innovation process is increasing (Hjalmarsson & Rudmark, 2012).

This is among the reasons why digital innovations are increasingly critical to the success of municipal enterprises. Yet, the municipal sector could be characterized as rather non-innovative and reluctant to change (Hawlitschek, 2021). While the need for digital innovation is widely acknowledged, implementing the right measures (e.g., competence building, structural adjustments, new processes, and new forms of collaboration) is still a challenge to municipal enterprises. Further, measuring innovativeness is a challenging task (Hinings et al., 2018; Van Looy, 2021).

All those challenges as well as the rapid environmental developments are creating a very demanding situation for municipal companies, which are often characterized by highly bureaucratic processes, a strict matrix organization, and using static workflow processes that remain unchanged possibly even for decades. To this end, research finds that the innovation culture significantly impacts the degree of organizations’ innovativeness (Dobni, 2008; Dodge et al., 2017). However, less attention has been devoted to grasp the influence of municipal enterprises’ innovation culture on (digital) innovativeness. To address those challenges, municipal enterprises may benefit from a systematic approach to evaluate their innovation culture’s maturity level as well as degree of digital innovativeness and compare their maturity level to similar organizations.

To address this issue, we are looking for an engaged student who will address this topic within the scope of a master thesis. First, the student is expected to conduct a profound literature review and gather relevant findings from academia and practice. Further, those findings are to be extended by conducting interviews with representatives from German municipal enterprises to define and uncover the nature and relationships of municipal enterprises’ innovation culture and digital innovativeness. Subsequently, the student is expected to develop a measurement instrument (i.e., survey) that later allows measuring municipal enterprises’ innovation culture, its maturity level as well as its impact on the effectiveness of digital innovation activity.

References

Dobni, C. B. (2008). Measuring innovation culture in organizations: The development of a generalized innovation culture construct using exploratory factor analysis. European journal of innovation management.

Dodge, R., Dwyer, J., Witzeman, S., Neylon, S., & Taylor, S. (2017). The Role of Leadership in Innovation: A quantitative analysis of a large data set examines the relationship between organizational culture, leadership behaviors, and innovativeness. Research-Technology Management, 60(3), 22-29.

Gimpel, H., Graf-Drasch, V., Hawlitschek, F., & Neumeier, K. (2021). Designing smart and sustainable irrigation: A case study. Journal of Cleaner Production, 315, 128048.

Hawlitschek, F. (2021). Interview with Benjamin Scheffler on “The future of waste management”. Business & Information Systems Engineering, 63(2), 207-211.

Hinings, B., Gegenhuber, T., & Greenwood, R. (2018). Digital innovation and transformation: An institutional perspective. Information and Organization, 28(1), 52-61.

Hjalmarsson, A., & Rudmark, D. (2012). Designing digital innovation contests. In International Conference on Design Science Research in Information Systems (pp. 9-27). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.

Hosseini, S., Frank, L., Fridgen, G., & Heger, S. (2018). Do not forget about smart towns. Business & Information Systems Engineering, 60(3), 243-257.

Mora, L., Deakin, M., & Reid, A. (2019). Strategic principles for smart city development: A multiple case study analysis of European best practices. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 142, 70-97.

Van Looy, A. (2021). A quantitative and qualitative study of the link between business process management and digital innovation. Information & Management, 58(2), 103413.

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[1] Example: www.wbd-innovativ.de/projekte/intelligenter-recyclinghof