Development of Strategies for the Digital Transformation of Mid-Sized Airlines based on the example of Lufthansa CityLine

This thesis aims to develop strategies for a digital transformation within mid-sized companies, based on the example of Lufthansa CityLine (CLH). It focuses on process mining for operational excellence, a digitalization project within CLH. The results comprise of common topics that impact a digital transformation which are consolidated into categories. Strategies were developed within each category for a successful digital transformation. Digital transformation requires well-planned strategies, especially within a historically grown industry that is highly regulated and uses legacy technologies and systems. The strategies should address the reasons for a transformation, change management concepts, the team leading the transformation, etc. Research indicates that digital transformation requires high investments of resources, time and budget. Thus, the strategies should be defined by a combined top-down and bottom-up approach. Moreover, the payback time for the digital transformation is long and its benefits only visible with a time delay after its implementation. Hence, the right expectation should be set from the beginning with the top management who approve the investments, and the employees who make the effort to execute the transformation.

Studienbetreuer: Sascha Götte