Open topics

The following topics are currently open for Bachelor’s and Master’s theses.

Overview

Advancing the Design of Bots for Git-Based Organizing

#design-science

#literature-review

#programming

Thesis Advisor: Prof. Dr. Gerit Wagner

Summary: This thesis will focus on advancing the design of bots for Git-based organizing and document-based organizations (e.g., GitLab). The research aims to develop a meta-design theory of bot capabilities for sensing (e.g., event or cronjob triggers), enactment, and delegation. By exploring the interplay between triggers, scripts, and actor delegation, the thesis will conceptualize bots as dynamic agents that support and enhance document-based workflows. The theoretical foundation will draw on Actor-Network Theory, providing a socio-technical perspective on bot design in such settings.

Methods: The thesis will adopt a design science research approach, combining:

  • A review of existing tools, artifacts, and literature to identify gaps and opportunities in bot design.
  • Prototyping of bots with sensing, delegation, and enactment capabilities.
  • Evaluation of theoretical principles through iterative prototyping and empirical validation.

Expected Outcomes: The research will result in theoretically and empirically grounded design principles for bots in document-based organizing. These principles will provide actionable insights into how bots can be designed to effectively sense, act, and delegate tasks in Git-based environments. Prototypes developed during the research will serve as proofs of concept, showcasing how these principles can be operationalized in real-world applications.

Requirements:

  • Willingness to engage in prototyping and development (knowledge of Git and Python is an advantage).
  • Ability to conduct literature reviews and apply design science research methods.
  • Interest in exploring socio-technical theories, such as Actor-Network Theory.

References:

Peffers, K., Tuunanen, T., Rothenberger, M. A., & Chatterjee, S. (2007). A design science research methodology for information systems research. Journal of Management Information Systems, 24(3), 45–77.

Latour, B. (2005). Reassembling the social: An introduction to actor-network-theory. Oxford University Press.

Choudhury, P., Crowston, K., Dahlander, L., Minervini, M. S., & Raghuram, S. (2020). GitLab: Work where you want, when you want. Journal of Organization Design, 9(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41469-020-00064-x

Shaikh, M., & Vaast, E. (2023). Algorithmic interactions in open source work. Information Systems Research, 34(2), 744–765. https://doi.org/10.1287/ISRE.2022.1153

Application: This thesis is part of the #GITHUB-BOTS call-for-theses, expected to be completed between April 2025 and August/October 2025.

Investigating Fairness in Bot Interactions for Git-Based Organizing

#fairness

#ethics

#experiment

Thesis Advisor: Prof. Dr. Gerit Wagner

Summary: This thesis will explore how perceptions of fairness in bot interactions within Git-based organizing and document-based organizations (e.g., GitLab) are influenced by the procedural mode of action and interaction design. Specifically, it will investigate how actions such as opening issues, creating commits directly, suggesting or rejecting pull requests, and evaluating user contributions impact perceptions of procedural and interactional fairness. It may also examine how interaction design elements—such as tone, explanations, voicing concerns, and the disclosure of overriding options—shape user experiences and fairness perceptions. Theoretical underpinnings will draw from Organizational Justice Theory, the Computer as Social Actor Framework, and/or the Theory of Procedural and Interactional Fairness.

Methods:
The research will adopt an experimental approach, involving:

  • Development of prototypes simulating different bot actions and interaction designs.
  • Experiments to assess user perceptions of fairness under varying conditions (e.g., tone, transparency, decision types).
  • Data collection and analysis to identify patterns and derive actionable insights.

Expected Outcomes:
The thesis will generate insights into:

  1. How procedural modes of action (e.g., direct commits vs. pull request suggestions) influence fairness perceptions.
  2. The impact of interaction design (e.g., explanations, tone, transparency) on user experiences.
  3. Implications for the ethical and effective design of bots, contributing to improved user trust and collaboration in Git-based environments.

Requirements:

  • Interest in moral and ethical theories related to fairness and technology.
  • Willingness to develop prototypes (knowledge of Git and Python is highly beneficial).
  • Capability to conduct experiments, including participant recruitment, study design, and data analysis.

References:

Colquitt, J. A., Conlon, D. E., Wesson, M. J., Porter, C. O., & Ng, K. Y. (2001). Justice at the millennium: A meta-analytic review of 25 years of organizational justice research. Journal of Applied Psychology, 86(3), 425–445.

Nass, C., Steuer, J., & Tauber, E. R. (1994). Computers are social actors. Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems.

Safadi, H., Lalor, J. P., & Berente, N. (2024). The effect of bots on human interaction in online communities. MIS Quarterly, 48(3).

Application: This thesis is part of the #GITHUB-BOTS call-for-theses, expected to be completed between April 2025 and August/October 2025.