Background

This master’s thesis is set within the context of Project MenschKI!, a KIT‑initiated, BMAS‑funded research initiative studying how GenAI affects employee productivity and well‑being in everyday work settings. While GenAI is often evaluated in terms of efficiency gains, this project focuses explicitly on human‑centred dimensions – how such tools can enhance well‑being, work satisfaction, confidence, and emotional balance, beyond mere productivity. In collaboration with industrial partners like NetzeBW, the wider project develops practical, employee‑empowering solutions (e.g. adaptive learning support and personalized interaction) for embedding GenAI responsibly and sustainably into work routines . Building on this, your thesis will conduct a qualitative field study to observe, capture, and reflect on actual use of a GenAI support tool by NetzeBW field technicians—emphasizing not only barriers and challenges, but especially positive, well‑being‑oriented outcomes as they interact with AI in physically demanding, real‑world tasks.

Objectives

The goal of this thesis is to conduct an in-depth qualitative study of how field technicians at NetzeBW use a GenAI tool during their daily work. The thesis involves:

• Conducting ethnographic shadowing / participant observation of technicians in the Stuttgart / Swabian Alb region.
• Identifying patterns of tool usage, challenges, and facilitating factors in real-world settings.
• Conducting retrospective interviews to validate and deepen the field observations.
• Analysing the collected data to develop a grounded understanding of the role GenAI plays in supporting fieldwork.
• Deriving implications for human-centred design and integration of AI in physical work environments.

Requirements

• Very good skills in German language (observations and interviews will be conducted in German).
• Willingness and ability to travel independently within the Stuttgart / Swabian Alb region.
• Interest in qualitative research methods and human–AI interaction.
• Prior experience with ethnographic research, interviews, or qualitative coding is helpful but not required.
• The work can be written in English or German

If you are interested in this topic or have further questions, please contact us with a short letter of motivation and your current transcript of records.