Product Manager of the Future: How AI and Modern Product Development Are Transforming Product Management

Help Shape the Future of Product Management!

Artificial intelligence, data-driven decision making, and cross-functional development teams are fundamentally changing how products are created. At the same time, disciplines such as product management, systems engineering, and innovation management are becoming increasingly interconnected.

Together with SAP and IPEK, you will investigate how the role of the Product Manager is evolving and which competencies, methods, and tools will be critical for future product success.

Take the opportunity to combine academic research with the practical environment of one of the world's leading software companies and contribute to the future of product development.

What We Are Looking For

Digital transformation is reshaping product development processes across industries. Today's Product Managers do far more than prioritize features. They drive product strategy, coordinate interdisciplinary teams, leverage data-driven insights, and increasingly work with AI-supported tools.

Within this cooperative master's thesis, you will explore what the Product Manager of the Future may look like and how engineering design methods can inspire new approaches to creating successful products.

Your Task

Depending on your interests, the thesis may include one or more of the following activities:

• Systematic literature review on the future of product management
• Investigation of AI's impact on product management and product development
• Development of a competency framework for future Product Managers
• Conducting interviews and surveys with product managers, practitioners, and researchers
• Designing and validating new methods, workflows, or prototype concepts for product management
• Deriving recommendations for organizations such as SAP

Are You a Good Fit?

You are studying Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field. You are interested in topics such as:

Product Management and Product Development
Innovation Management
Artificial Intelligence
Systems Engineering
Human-Centered Design and Design Thinking
Empirical Research Methods

Your Benefits

• Direct collaboration with SAP and IPEK
• Insights into modern product development at a global technology leader
• Intensive academic supervision and coaching
• Opportunity to conduct expert interviews in industry
• Work on a highly relevant future-oriented topic
• Potential scientific publication of research results

Interested?

Then feel free to send your CV and latest transcript of records to felix pfaff ∂does-not-exist.kit edu and work with us to identify the most suitable focus for your thesis.