đź“Ś Key facts
đź’ˇ Background
The project "Leading Sustainability" from the Institute for Energy and Environmental Technology focuses on the role of the finance sector in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the machinery and plant engineering sector in developing and implementing sustainability strategies. In light of new EU regulations, which will require SMEs to report on their social and environmental impacts starting in 2026, these companies face significant challenges. They often have limited resources for sustainable initiatives and a restricted awareness and knowledge about their role in sustainability.
The project argues that the finance sector, led by the CFO or an equivalent responsible party, can play a key role in integrating sustainability into corporate strategy. "Leading Sustainability" aims to empower the finance sector through specific control and reporting tools that enable SMEs to effectively implement comprehensive sustainability strategies.
Key research goals include understanding current practices and challenges of SMEs in sustainability, evaluating sustainability-oriented strategies, and developing an action plan for the finance sector to successfully implement these strategies. The project emphasizes the economic viability of these sustainability efforts, pointing to potential for cost savings, increased competitiveness, and enhanced attractiveness to skilled workers.
In summary, the "Leading Sustainability" project addresses the need to empower the finance sector in SMEs to act as a driving force behind sustainability initiatives, focusing on the requirements and frameworks set by new EU legislation.
💡 Overview of available Bachelor’s (1&2) and Master’s (3&4) thesis topics
Topic 1: Driving Sustainable Practices: A Materiality Analysis Based on Industry Sustainability Reports (Bachelor’s thesis)
Based on the sustainability reports of large companies in the mechanical and plant engineering sector, a materiality analysis (“Wesentlichkeitsanalyse”) is used to identify industry-specific, relevant sustainability issues.
Method:
- Analyze sustainability reports of large companies (focus: mechanical and plant engineering)
- Conduct a materiality analysis (“Wesentlichkeitsanalyse”)
- Deduct and rank current industry-specific, relevant sustainability topics
Language: German or English
Start: anytime, asap
Topic 2: Sustainability Strategies: Identifying Best Practices for Small and Medium Enterprises (Bachelor’s thesis)
You will identify best practice case studies showcasing sustainability strategies. Your mission is to categorize and evaluate these practices.
Method:
- Identify best practice case studies of SMEs (focus: mechanical and plant engineering)
- Categorize and evaluate strategies regarding efficiency, consistency, sufficiency and potential other criteria, you identified
- Deduct exemplary patterns for industry-specific sustainability strategies
Language: German or English
Start: anytime
Topic 3: Revolutionizing Finance for Sustainable Business (Master’s thesis)
You will conduct expert interviews to clarify two key questions: Which relevant interfaces do the finance departments of SMEs have to other functions? Which fields of action does the finance department have to enable a successful implementation of sustainability strategies? Based on your findings, you will create a clear job description and plan for SME finance teams.
Method:
- Create a semi-structured interview guideline to answer key questions
- Conduct interviews with finance heads in mechanical and plant engineering industry (support will be offered in the acquisition of interview partners)
- Transcription and systematic analysis of interview results
- Deduction of a clear role description and action plan for finance departments of SMEs in relevant industries
Language: German is a must
Start: anytime
Topic 4: The Power of Data in Sustainable Reporting (Master’s thesis)
You will clarify the following key questions in expert interviews: What are essential data requirements of finance departments in SMEs for sustainability reporting? How does the data acquisition, availability, and management look like? Furthermore, you will research external data providers enabling the calculation of CO2 equivalents
Method:
- Research external data providers enabling CO2 calculation
- Create a semi-structured interview guideline to answer the key questions above
- Conduct interviews with finance heads in mechanical and plant engineering industry (support will be offered in the acquisition of interview partners)
- Transcription and systematical analysis of interview results
Language: German is a must
Start: anytime
🦾Who We Are
The Chair for Strategy and Organization is focused on research with impact. This means we do not want to repeat old ideas and base our research solely on the research people did 10 years ago. Instead, we currently research topics that will shape the future. Topics such as Agile Organizations and Digital Disruption, Blockchain Technology, Creativity and Innovation, Digital Transformation and Business Model Innovation, Diversity, Education: Education Technology and Performance Management, HRTech, Leadership, and Teams. We are always early in noticing trends, technologies, strategies, and organizations that shape the future, which has its ups and downs.
🧠Topics of Interest
- Leadership
- Finance
- Sustainability
🎓 Expectations
- German language skills are a plus since the project language is german.
đź“š Further Reading
📬 How to Apply
- Please send your complete application documents (CV, Transcript of Records, motivational letter) in one pdf file to jennifer.ettner@tum.de.
- Start date: please indicate your preferred start date in your application