Constanze Isabella Hoffend

Context-aware services, such as location-based services, augmented reality applications, smart enterprise or assisted living applications, etc., constitute a cornerstone of the Future Internet. One important part of such applications is context information that describes the situation in which users consume the service. While earlier context referred mainly to location information provided by network operators, today new providers of context are emerging on the market together with a new context ecosystem. Based on in-depth case studies of emerging context providers conducted in the C-Cast project, this paper describes the emerging context market and ecosystem.

This paper provides the results of a state-of-the-art analysis of emerging context providers, conceptualizes a future ecosystem for context information, and describes the role of telecom operators in such ecosystems. The state-of-the-art analysis of emerging context providers focuses on three types of context providers: location information providers, social network sites, and wireless sensor networks. The results of the analysis are the basis for the conceptualization of a future ecosystem for context information, which is described and illustrated as a value network. The role of a context broker that mediates the relationships between producers and consumers of context information is identified as a missing part in the ecosystem. It is described how telecom operators can take on this role, which is an extension of their current business model.

In this paper, a concept for usage of social network information as context information is proposed. Social network information (or information from social network sites) is considered as a specific type of a user's social context. We start with the potentially most widely accepted definition of context and then examine selected categorizations of context types, particularly focusing on social context. With an online survey we analyze the current usage pattern of social network site (SNS) and how the information available there is perceived by users. The results of the survey and subsequent analysis suggest that information about products and services from one's social network contacts is perceived by users as trustworthy and relevant. Finally, based on the empirical results, a concept for inclusion of social network information into context information is proposed.

The "tone at the top" is widely recognised as a central pillar of high-quality corporate governance. As the company's "integrity DNA" it can have a significant impact on every aspect of a company's business. It is argued that the tone at the top has a pervasive effect on the reliability of the financial reporting processes, the quality of earnings, as well as operating performance, since all components of an organisation's control system are affected. In addition, an organisation's tone at the top directly influences its public perception and reputation. A positive attitude of the board of directors towards a constructive tone at the top might thus lead to the best long-term interests of the company.

Basierend auf Forschungskonzepten aus der Geschwisterforschung und primär basierend auf der Familiennischenforschung von Frank J. Sulloway, wird in dieser Dissertation die interne Nachfolge in schweizerischen Familienunternehmen untersucht. Diesbezüglich liegt der Fokus auf Unternehmerfamilien mit mehreren Kindern als potentielle Nachfolger.