ITAS 11-2022 Bachelor / Master Thesis: Application of design principles of interactive systems to a tool for multi-criteria decision analysis

Design principles are a very important concept to provide effective usability and barrier free access to applications, especially as stakeholder integration nowadays becomes more and more important in fields like the energy system transformation. The Institute of Technology Assessment and System Analysis at KIT is currently researching in these fields using tools for sustainability assessment within the project Multi-criteria decision analysis for sustainability assessment of energy technologies. In the framework of this master thesis, an existing multi-criteria decision analysis software “MCDA KIT tool” is to be enhanced using the theory of design principles for interactive systems.

• Conduct a literature review on the state-of-the-art of design principles for interactive systems focusing on the context of multi-criteria decision-making software.
• Assessment of the “MCDA KIT Tool” according to the findings to identify the opportunities to enhance the design of the user-interface of the tool.
• Re-design the user-interface of the “MCDA KIT Tool” (java programming).
• Evaluation of user-friendliness by collecting feedback from potential users

The work is open to candidates' own ideas and individual focal points.

Persönliche Qualifikation

• Studying at KIT (Bachelor or Master) in a relevant field (e.g. industrial engineering, business informatics or computer science)
• Profound skills in Java programming
• Knowledge in design principles of interactive systems
• Interested in Multi criteria decision analysis (MCDA) and sustainability assessment

Organisationseinheit

Contract duration

4-6 months, depending on study regulations

Contact person in line-management

For further information, please contact Dr. Martina Haase, phone +49 721 608-26094, email: martina.haase@kit.edu or Laura Mesa Estrada, phone +49 721 608-24278, email: laura.mesa-estrada@kit.edu.