The Programme
The Programme
Entrepreneurial skills, when combined with deep technical knowledge, can lead to producing innovative ideas in the global competitive e-Business environment. This new postgraduate course aims at providing balanced and well-designed training in the principles of Information Technology (software and telecommunications) applied to e-Business and Marketing practices, as well as the essential managerial and financing skills needed to start-up and successfully run an e-Business. The 14-month course will appeal to graduates pursuing a career in a range of entrepreneurial, managerial and marketing positions in the ICT or other similar IT-oriented domain in the emergent creative economy. The syllabus provides a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical skills, focusing on e-Business/e-Commerce applications and the underlying technologies:
- Project management, leadership and team working
- Management and marketing
- Entrepreneurial skills and knowledge needed to develop start-up businesses
- Key skills on strategic decisions, regarding innovation and technology management,
- Essential communication skills
- Exercise practice-oriented teaching based on case studies and real-world examples
- Skills related to data analysis and evaluation
- Planning and time management
The MSc in e-Business and Digital Marketing programme promotes learning and teaching characterised by a diversity of resources and teaching styles and techniques, which recognise that the University operates in an ever-changing environment. Teaching and learning methods should assist the development of these skills, by encouraging not merely the capacity for abstract reasoning, but also the students' capacities for independent and self-motivated learning, problem-solving skills, and some of the knowledge and skills, which are common to employment in many fields.
This programme is designed for University graduates of Telecommunications, Informatics/Computer Science, and Electrical Engineering but also of Natural Sciences and Economic and Business Departments, with a background in ICT and a strong motivation to pursue a career in e-Business and Digital Marketing related domains.
The Structure
The MSc in e-Business and Digital Marketing (full-time) is a 14-month programme taught over three (3) terms. Lectures mainly take place on weekday evenings. It is also available in part-time mode over 26 months for those who cannot commit to a full-time programme either for work or other reasons. The programme is also available through distance learning.
Distance Learning teaching methods involve:
(a) Face-to-face or classroom based learning: Students will be required to be physically present at the University for a weekend at the beginning of each semester
(b) Synchronous learning: Student will have to attend remotely the classes which will be held regularly during each semester, weekday afternoons (about 2-4 times per week depending on the mode, always after 17:00)
(c) Asynchronous learning: Students will use online learning resources and will be assessed through a variety of diagnostic tools and formative assessment techniques
(d) Summative assessment: Students will be required to be physically present at the University for the final exams at the end of each semester.
Applications are open!
Programme brochure
Programme announcement
Downloads
Courses
Courses
During the second term students tailor their programme further by choosing elective courses. The choice of elective courses must sum up to 12 ECTS (2 courses). Some of the elective courses may not be offered in a particular year, depending entirely on student demand.
1st Term Core Courses
- ICT Management
- Digital Marketing
- Web Analytics
- Data Science for Business: Theory and Practice
- ICT Essentials
ICT Management
Instructor(s): | Dr Vassilios Peristeras |
Instructor(s): | Prof. V. Peristeras |
Teaching Hours and Credit Allocation: | 30 Hours, 6 Credits |
Course Assessment: | Exam & Coursework |
Aims
The purpose of this course is to provide a broad understanding of the importance of ICT systems in the modern business environment so that the management makes the right decisions on issues relating to information systems. The course focuses on issues of information systems integration within the organization, information systems utilization according to the organization’s capabilities and its implications on processes and individuals, as well as information resources management. Topics covered include process analysis, project analysis, production planning and scheduling, ICT systems and new business models, quality management, supply chain management, capacity and facilities planning. The course also develops basic macroeconomic theory to enable managers to critically evaluate economic forecasts and policy recommendations and then applies these concepts in a series of case studies.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completing this course, students will:
- Develop analytical skills in planning, evaluating and supervising a project in ICT
- Develop skills in Evaluating and Sustaining Production Quality in ICT
- Understand some basic elements of Supply Chain Management
- Develop skills in Human Resource and Workforce allocation and management
- Broaden their experience through several case study examples
Content
- Process and Project Analysis
- Production Planning and Scheduling
- Quality Management
- ICT Systems and New Business Models; E-Commerce, Decision Making
- Capacity and Facilities planning
- Workforce Scheduling
- Project Valuation and Financing
- Case Studies
Reading
E. Turban, L. Volonino, Information Technology for Management, 8th Edition, 2010, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Oz E. Management Information Systems, Course Technology, 6th edition.
J. Laudon, K. Laudon, Essentials of Management Information Systems, Prentice Hall, 8th edition.
M.H. Sherif, Managing Projects in Telecommunication Services, Wiley-IEEE Press.
Digital Marketing
Teaching Hours and Credit Allocation: |
30 Hours, 6 Credits |
Course Assessment: |
Exam & Coursework |
Learning Outcomes
- Understand digital marketing concepts, principles and strategies
- Learn the state-of-the-art in digital marketing practices
- Develop the knowledge to design a successful digital marketing strategy
Web Analytics
Teaching Hours and Credit Allocation: |
30 Hours, 6 Credits |
Course Assessment: |
Exam & Coursework |
Learning Outcomes
- Understand web analytics concepts, principles and strategies
- Learn the state-of-the-art in web analytics tools and technologies
- Develop the knowledge to utilize web analytics to gain competitive advantage
- Recognise the role of web analytics within the digital marketing landscape
- Identify, define and interpret commonly used web metrics and KPIs
Gain a practical understanding of common monitoring or analysis tasks and techniques used in web analytics and how to effectively use the resulting insights to support website design decisions, campaign optimisation, search analytics, etc.
Data Science for Business: Theory and Practice
Instructor(s): | Dr Vassilios Peristeras |
Instructor(s): Prof. V. Peristeras
Teaching Hours and Credit Allocation: 30 Hours, 6 Credits
Course Assessment: Exam Coursework
Aims
The course examines the impact of data science in modern private and public organisations and presents challenges, opportunities and trends in the field. The students will gain the necessary conceptual understanding of the uprising “data economy” with its underlying technological and business characteristics. Business cases will be presented and discussed, while specific business problems will be matched with new data technologies. Data/information management and interoperability topics will be also presented and discussed.
Learning Outcomes
On completing the course, students will be able to:
- Understand the scope of data science and the role/function of data scientists.
- Identify different types of data that are relevant in business environments.
- Know which data science solutions can address specific types of business problems.
- Be able to design a data governance policy.
- Understand challenges and opportunity in the data-driven economy and public policy.
Content
- Defining Data Science.
- Data-analytic thinking.
- Big/smart/open/linked/meta/reference/master data.
- Data interoperability.
- The data value chain.
- Business problems and data science solutions.
- Data governance.
- Data for policy.
- Data-driven economy.
Reading
- Data Science for Business, Foster Provost, Tom Fawcett, O'Reilly Media, 2013.
ICT Essentials
Instructor(s): | Dr Christos Tjortjis |
Instructor(s): | Prof. C. Tjortjis Dr. M. Gatzianas |
Teaching Hours and Credit Allocation: | 30 Hours, 6 Credits |
Course Assessment: | Exam & Coursework |
Aims
This course is intended for students with little or no background in computer technology. It offers a broad coverage of modern technology concepts, outlining the basic principles of computing. ICT Essentials is an introduction to a variety of technologies and their applications, such as:
- Computer Systems Architecture
- Operating Systems
- Software Architecture and Information Systems
- Databases and Storage Systems
- Computer Networks, the Internet & the World Wide Web
- Mobile Computing
- Data Science and Business Analytics
- Big Data and Cloud Computing
- Information and Network Security
Learning Outcomes
The overall goal is not to turn managers into computer specialists but to provide them with the technological background that will allow them to
- make informed business decisions based on the utilization of technology
- effectively interact with the technical staff
Recommended Reading
- Brian Williams and Stacey Sawyer, Using Information Technology, 11th Ed., 2015, McGraw Hill
- R. Kelly Rainer, Brad Prince, Casey G. Cegielski, Introduction to Information Systems, 5th Ed. Int’l Student Version, 2014, Wiley.
- Carol V. Brown, Daniel W. DeHayes, Jeffrey A. Hoffer, Wainright E. Martin, William C. Perkins, Managing Information Technology, 7/E, 2012, Pearson.
- Preston Gralla, “How the Internet works”, 8th edition, Que Publishing.
- John Petersen, “Absolute beginner’s guide to databases”, Que Publishing.
- V. Anton Spraul, “How software works: the magic behind encryption, CGI, search engines and other everyday technologies”, No Starch Press.
2nd Term Core Courses
- Digital Entrepreneurship: Developing and Financing an e-Business
- Social Media and Online Community Management
- Digital Organisations: eCommerce and eGovernment
Digital Entrepreneurship: Developing and Financing an e-Business
Teaching Hours and Credit Allocation: |
30 Hours, 6 Credits |
Course Assessment: |
Exam & Coursework |
Aims
The course aims at introducing the student to the reality of the entrepreneur and the central issues related to the preparation of an e-business entrepreneurial project. The focus is on the entrepreneurial process, from recognizing opportunities and generating ideas, through the enterprise formation and financing, to the international expansion of a new venture. Methods for assessing a business and for developing financial statements are discussed. Students will also be equipped with the required skill set for developing a business plan.
Learning Outcomes
Having successfully completed the course, students will:
§ Learn the basic principles of entrepreneurship and innovation
§ Learn to recognize business ideas and evaluate business opportunities
§ Learn how to build a team around the opportunity
§ Learn how to assess and gain control of the required resources (e.g. financial)
§ Have an overview of the major strategic and operational issues that typically confront young growing businesses
§ Become acquainted with writing a business plan
§ Learn through examples of successful and unsuccessful enterprises and case studies from high-technology ventures
§ Exit strategies
Content
§ Introduction to digital entrepreneurship and innovation
§ Opportunity exploration and exploitation
§ Methodologies for analysing, specifying, designing and launching digital businesses
§ Disciplined Entrepreneurship
§ Creativity and entrepreneurial problem solving
§ Business Plan
§ Financing an e-business
§ Exit strategies
Reading
Baron, R., & Shane, S. (2007). Entrepreneurship: A process perspective. Cengage Learning. Chicago.
Tidd, J., & Bessant, J (2005). Managing Innovation: Integrating Technological, Market and Organisational Change, John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Barringer, B. R., & Ireland, D. Entrepreneurship: Successfully Launching New Ventures, 4th Ed., Pearson Education, 2012.
Mariotti, S., & Glackin, C. Entrepreneurship: Starting and Operating a Small Business, 2nd Ed., Prentice Hall, 2010.
Spinelli, S., & Adams, R. New Venture Creation: Entrepreneurship for the 21st Century, 9th Ed., McGraw-Hill, 2012.
Chaffey, D. e-Business and e-Commerce Management, 5th Edition. FT Prentice Hall, 2011.
Baron, R., & Shane, S. (2007). Entrepreneurship: A process perspective. Cengage Learning. Chicago.
Tidd, J., & Bessant, J (2005). Managing Innovation: Integrating Technological, Market and Organisational Change, John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Aulet, B. (2013). Disciplined entrepreneurship: 24 steps to a successful startup. John Wiley & Sons.
Social Media and Online Community Management
Social Media and Online Community ManagementDigital Organisations: eCommerce and eGovernment
Instructor(s): | Prof. V. Peristeras |
Teaching Hours and Credit Allocation: | 30 Hours, 6 Credits |
Course Assessment: | Exam & Coursework |
Aims
The aim of this course is to broaden and expand knowledge of the concepts and techniques required for the design, operation and control of the modern upcoming e-commerce applications and e-government systems that are massively introduced by western governments to fight bureaucracy. The essential computing background to support such systems is presented, along with the individual requirements for a wide variety of modern life activities that can be performed online.
Learning Outcomes
On completing the course students will:
- Develop knowledge of the information and communication skills to support and develop this type of information systems
- Broaden their knowledge into e-commerce, covering business, marketing, organisational and payment security issues
- Explain the concepts, processes behind developing an e-learning facility
- Understand the technological, ethical, legal and practical requirements of an electronic government information system
Content
- Current and emerging business models
- The use of information and communications technology
- Mobile commerce
- E-marketing and e-business strategy
- E-consumer behaviour and advertisement
- Organisational and managerial challenges in the electronic environment
- E-Payment systems
- E-learning; security issues and the legal environment
- Understanding eGovernment
- eAdministration/G2G
- eCitizens/ eAccountability
- eDemocracy/eParticipation
- eServices/G2C & G2B
- Legislation for eGovernment
- Integrated eGovernment, Group Presentations
Reading
Laudon K., Guercio-Traver C. (2008) E-Commerce 2009: Business, Technology, Society, Prentice Hall, 5th edition.
Turban E., Lee J. K., King D., McKay J., Marshall P., (2008) Electronic Commerce 2008, Prentice Hall. Abramson M., Morin T. (2003) E-Government 2003, Rowman & Littlefield, Lanham, MD.
Heeks R. B. (2006) Implementing and Managing eGovernment: An International Text, Sage Publications, London
2nd Term Elective Courses
- Big Data and Cloud Computing
- Digital Business Strategy
- Data Mining
- Human Computer Interaction, Design and User Experience
- Market Research and Analysis
- Consulting Project
Big Data and Cloud Computing
Teaching Hours and Credit Allocation: | 30 Hours, 6 Credits |
Course Assessment: | Exam & Coursework |
Aims
The big data explosion has led to new computing paradigms, the most prevalent among them being cloud computing. Cloud computing is about vast computing resources on demand, that allow for centralized data storage and online access. Big data is a broad term that includes several concepts and tasks, such as data capture, storage, sharing, management and analysis. This course focuses mostly on the big data storage and management part, rather than the analysis as well as cloud service models, architectures and tools. Students will familiarize with modern big data and cloud technologies, understand the privacy and security concerns and learn about popular big data and cloud computing platforms.
Learning Outcomes
On completing the course students will be able to:
- Develop the knowledge, understanding and skills to work with Big data
- Deploy a structured lifecycle approach to data analytics problems
- Apply appropriate analytic techniques and tools to analyzing big data
- Understand Cloud Computing Concepts and Mechanisms
- Learn the concepts, principles, techniques and methodologies you need to manage cloud services and resources
Content
- Big data concepts, principles and practical applications
- Big data capture, storage, sharing, management and analysis
- Cloud Computing Concepts and Mechanisms
- Cloud Architectures
- Working with Clouds
- Managing Cloud Services and Resources
- Big data and cloud computing platforms
Reading
T. Erl, R. Puttini, Z. Mahmood, Cloud Computing: Concepts, Technology & Architecture, Pearson, 2013.
EMC Education Services (Editor), Data Science and Big Data Analytics: Discovering, Analyzing, Visualizing and Presenting Data, Wiley 2015.
Digital Business Strategy
Instructor(s): | Dr Vassilios Peristeras |
Teaching Hours and Credit Allocation: | 30 Hours, 6 Credits |
Course Assessment: | Exam & Coursework |
Aims
The course provides students with the ability to analyze the drivers of competitive strategy and apply strategic management principles across a range of organization types. Additionally, the course presents frameworks for identifying the challenges of various competitive environments and discusses useful analytical approaches applied in widely different strategic problems. Students understand how to build a strategically responsive e-Business organization by tuning systems, structures and people to strategy, and how to effectively manage the process of strategizing.
Learning Outcomes
On completing the course students will:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of strategic management
- Analyze the global business environment and critically discuss its impact on contemporary strategic thinking
- Prepare and deliver senior management reports and presentations
- Justify and promote strategic initiatives, such as adopting a new technology and contribute to strategic technical decisions
- Define and quantify the benefits, costs, risks and time-scales associated with new strategic initiatives
- Demonstrate an array of skills and techniques for evaluating emerging technologies in enterprise and e-Business applications
- Understand the key issues and frameworks that e-Business practitioners need to grapple with
Content
- The global business environment and the strategic context
- Business strategy and strategic management
- Strategy selection and formulation
- Corporate objectives, organizational analysis and environment scanning
- Strategic analysis: Internal and external analysis
- Financial and non-financial comparative measurement, PEST and market scanning
- Strategic planning: Optimization, co-ordination and negotiation approaches
- Appropriate tools and techniques: SWOT, TOWS, scenario planning, portfolio planning, value chain analysis and crafting strategy
- Managing and planning the transition to e-Business
- Emergent e-Business models
Reading
Campbell, D., Edgar, D., & Stonehouse, G. Business Strategy: An Introduction, 3rd Edition. Palgrave Macmillan, 2011.
Combe, C. Introduction to e-Business: Management and Strategy, Butterworth-Heinemann, 2006.
Jelassi, T., & Enders, A. Strategies for e-Business: Concepts and Cases, 2nd Edition. FT/Prentice Hall/Pearson Education, 2008.
Johnson, G., Scholes, K., & Whittingtoon, R. Exploring Corporate Strategy, 8th Edition. FT/Prentice Hall, 2008.
Data Mining
Instructor(s): | Prof. C. Tjortjis |
Teaching Hours and Credit Allocation: | 30 Hours, 6 Credits |
Course Assessment: | Exam & Coursework |
Aims
The course covers Knowledge Discovery in Databases (KDD) and Data Mining (DM) as a set of computational tools and technologies, which provide valuable assistance for business analysis and strategic business decision making. This is a hands-on course that provides an understanding of the key methods of data visualization, exploration, classification, prediction, and clustering. Students will learn how to apply various data mining techniques for solving practical problems and how to develop and use simple business analytics systems.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course you should be able to
- Organise and efficiently process any knowledge, either given a priori or extracted
- Understand the basic concepts of data mining
- Understand and apply various data mining approaches, including Classification, Clustering and Association Rules.
- Model complex problems
- Develop skills on a broad range of business intelligence problems
- Understand, evaluate and utilise knowledge extracted from large volumes of data.Identify the basic components and special characteristics of a business decision problem and develop a solution.
Content
- Introduction to Knowledge Discovery in Databases (KDD) and Data Mining (DM)
- Classification and Regression
- Clustering
- Association Rules
- Exploratory vs. Confirmatory analysis
- DM Systems, Data pre-processing and EvaluationBusiness use cases
Reading
J. Han and M. Kamber, Data Mining: Concepts and Techniques, 3rd ed., The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Data Management Systems, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, 2011.
I. Witten, E. Frank, and M. Hall, “Data Mining: Practical Machine Learning Tools and Techniques”, 3rd Ed., Morgan Kaufmann, 2011.
J. Ledolter, Data Mining and Business Analytics with R, Wiley, 2013.
P.N. Tan, M. Steinbach, and V. Kumar, “Introduction to Data Mining” Int’l Ed., 1/e, Pearson Higher Education, 2006.
R. Sharda, D. Delen, E. Turban, Decision Support and Business Intelligence Systems Int’l Ed. 10/E, Pearson Higher Education, 2015.
M.H. Dunham, “Data Mining: Introductory and Advanced Topics”, Prentice Hall, 2003.
M.M. Gaber (ed.), Journeys to data mining: experiences from 15 renowned researchers, Springer, 2012
Human Computer Interaction, Design and User Experience
Teaching Hours and Credit Allocation: | 30 Hours, 6 Credits |
Course Assessment: | Exam & Coursework |
Computers have been a part of every aspect of human life for quite a while. A vast number of computing technologies, paradigms, architectures, solutions, applications etc. were born, evolved, matured and died, to give their place in new ones that can harness the ever growing potential of a continuously evolving landscape. Human creativity and ingenuity has played a crucial role in these developments. However, the software market has gone beyond discovering new technologies or improving the existing ones. Except from being operational, software has to be not just easy to use but also intuitive, engaging and pleasant. Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) is a field that addresses the need to create user interfaces that can improve user experience, increase productivity while at the same time providing an environment that is safe and comfortable. HCI involves a confluence of many different disciplines, such as graphic design, cognitive science and psychology, education etc. Therefore, a familiarization of basic concepts of non-computing fields is necessary.
Market Research and Analysis
Teaching Hours and Credit Allocation: | 30 Hours, 6 Credits |
Course Assessment: | Exam & Coursework |
One of the most popular quotes in statistic is “In God we trust, others
must provide data”. In today’s globalized digital economy, it becomes more
evident that data-driven decisions are gaining ground on the traditional
approach that is based on experience, intuition and limited information.
Business and marketing managers now rely on informative and market analyses
to gain evidence-based insight οn the dynamics of the economic landscape.
This requires a systematic research and analysis if the target market in
order to evaluate their products and services against the competition. To
achieve this, they should be able to conduct quantitative and qualitative
research that involves tasks that expand from the correct formulation of
the research question, the critical study of the available literature, the
collection and analysis of relevant data and the delivery of the results in
professional, well-structured and informative reports and presentations.
Learning Outcomes
- Foundations of marketing/management research
- Conducting a literature review
- Collecting data
- Quantitative and qualitative data analysis
- Formulating research questions
- Questionnaire design
- Business writing
Content
- Introduction to market research
- Review of market research concepts and definitions
- Research design formulation
- Data collection and preparation
- Quantitative analysis (hypothesis testing)
- Qualitative analysis
- Exploratory and descriptive analysis
- Market reporting and business writing
Reading
- Naresh Malhotra, Marketing Research: an Applied Orientation, Sixth Edition, ISBN 13: 978-0-13-608543-0, Pearson Prentice Hall
- Saunders, M., Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. (2012). Research Methods for Business Students.
- Corbin, Juliet and Anselm Strauss (2008). Basics of Qualitative Research.
- Exploring Marketing Research, 8th edition, by William G. Zikmund, Thomson/South-Western, 2003.
Consulting Project
Credit Allocation: 6 Credits
Course Assessment: Final deliverable
Aims
The Consulting Project will require students to apply knowledge gained in classroom into practice. Students will tackle real-life problems and challenges facing companies or organisations in order to provide actual business solutions. Following a procedure of specifications/requirements, design and implementation, students will prepare and present their concrete and practical solutions in a final deliverable report.
Learning Outcomes
On completing the course, students will be able to:
- Understand real-world problem faced by companies/firms and propose functional solutions.
- Develop critical thinking and ability to integrate data and information towards the optimal solution.
- Understand the structure, operational mode and challenges of real-world companies.
Content
- Understanding and recording a company’s needs and challenges.
- Project requirements.
- Data analysis, implementation and company feedback.
- Producing a deliverable.
Part-timers attend the following courses during the two (2) years of studies:
1st Year
Term 1: ICT Management, ICT Essentials | Term 2: Digital Entrepreneurship: Developing and Financing an e-Business, Social Media and Online Community Management, Digital Organisations: eCommerce and eGovernment
2nd Year
Term 1: Digital Marketing, Web Analytics, Data Science for Business: Theory and Practice | Term 2: Two (2) electives | Term 3: Dissertation
Dissertation
Dissertation
During the third term, students work on their Masters Dissertation project, the thematic area of which is relevant to their programme of studies and their interests. The dissertation provides a good opportunity to apply theory and concepts learned in different courses to a real-world e-Business problem or challenge. Students are supervised throughout their projects by a member of the academic faculty and the academic assistants. After submission of the dissertation, students present their projects to classmates and faculty at a special event.
Career paths
Career paths
In a rapidly evolving market, startups but also established ICT companies require experts with a deep understanding of both technological and business aspects of entrepreneurship. Graduates from the MSc in e-Business and Digital Marketing programme can play a pivotal role in the growth and internationalization of virtually any company or organization, helping to bridge the gap between technology and business, by utilizing their knowledge in the new business models, the emerging technologies and the management and exploitation of innovation. Therefore, a multitude of employment opportunities are envisaged for graduates of this programme. Indicatively they include:
- ICT companies
- New technology startups
- Multinational Corporations and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
- e-Commerce and Health software companies
- Mobile network providers and broadband Internet providers
- Sensor networks and telematics companies
- Venture capitals and hedge funds
- Consulting companies
In addition to technical skills gained through study, our students benefit from the University's excellent Careers Office, in order to attain essential soft skills (e.g. communication skills, interview preparation, CV writing etc.) to better prepare for the job market.