DI Dr. Lisa Sonnleithner (LIT Cyber-Physical Systems Lab) dissertation titled “Analyzing and Improving Control Software Quality in Cyber-Physical Production Systems” focuses on how to redevelop software, find existing weaknesses, and how developers can visualize large software systems as implementing control software for cyber-physical production systems can be challenging, often confronting users with unresolved issues. The dissertation is an important step toward improving software quality in the field of cyber-physical production systems.

Dr. Johannes Thaller's (Institute for Controlling and Consulting) dissertation titled “Werte in Familienunternehmen und deren Einfluss auf Managemententscheidungen” examines both family businesses' sources of values in the GSA region and how they influence managerial decisions, particularly crisis management. The study delivers new insight by analyzing formative value dynamics and identifying explanatory approaches regarding these companies' heterogeneity. Thaller is delighted to receive the award and remarked: “The Award of Excellence is an acknowledgement of my research and serves as an incentive to continue working on important academic topics, as well as be extremely grateful for all of the support I received along the way.”

Endowed with €3,000 in prize money, the Award of Excellence has been presented since 2008 in recognition of the 40 most outstanding dissertations from the past academic year. The universities nominate the candidates.