CFS 850 - research methods
The course aims to provide the necessary training in research methods, so that students are prepared to embark on a high level of research contributing to their doctoral thesis. The course provides students the opportunity to develop the theoretical, applied, and critical skills that are required for conducting effective research in the social sciences.
The various research methods covered by this course will help students gain a fuller understanding of the nature and scope of high-level research within the scope of the social sciences. In more detail, the research methods course will draw on various tools from statistics, mathematics, econometrics, business research, and computer science.
HTM 880 - TOPICS ON QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS FOR THE SOCIAL SCIENCES
The course is intended as an introduction to a diverse array of quantitative methods of analysis and research techniques commonly used in the social sciences. As the central aim of the subject is to enable students to become informed and critical readers of research literature, the emphasis is on the purposes and constraints of selected statistical procedures. This requires an understanding of fundamental constructs that underpin data collection procedures and data analysis in quantitative research. Considerable emphasis is given to statistical procedures including univariate and bivariate analysis, as well as more sophisticated multivariate techniques.
It begins with a focus on defining research problems, theory testing, causal inference, and basic statistics. Then, it explores a range of research designs and methodological techniques that are available for empirical research. Topics in research methods include: Sampling Theory, Survey Design, and Experimental Designs. Topics in quantitative techniques include: Descriptive and Inferential statistics. The course concludes with an introduction to special topics in quantitative research methods, such as Factor Analysis, Cluster Analysis, and Structural Equation Modelling. The course is comprised of both a theoretical and an applied part.
CIS 812 - QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS
This postgraduate course will introduce students to the epistemology and methodology of qualitative research, with the aim of deepening their understanding of qualitative research methods. Weekly meetings will cover the dominant research approaches to qualitative methodology in the social sciences. Issues in research design, data collection and analysis, theory development through qualitative research, and ethics and ethics of research will also be discussed. During the course students will practice data analysis and semantics given to them, but will also carry out small-scale research work using various methods of collecting, coding, and analyzing qualitative data.
During the course students will be invited to critically evaluate articles of qualitative or mixed methodology, which have been published in their own research fields. In the laboratory aspect of the course students will be taught skills in using qualitative data processing software packages, mainly through the QSR NVivo program. Upon completion of the course students are expected to have an understanding of the principles of qualitative research and its relationship to theory development and applied research, and be able to design and implement a qualitative inquiry inquiry.
The course is offered to all Cyprus University of Technology students, postgraduate and doctoral level.
HTM 550 – MANAGING HUMAN RESOURCES & OB
The aim of this course is to provide students with a broad understanding and appreciation of the fields of human resource management and organizational behavior. It also aims to enable participants to apply their in-depth understanding of HRM and OB to real-life situations in their own business environment.
HTM 540 - FINANCIAL ANALYSIS AND DECISIONS
Financial decisions are of fundamental importance to the modern economy and have a significant impact on businesses and investors. The cognitive background of finance is highly complex by assimilating fields such as microeconomics, macroeconomics, accounting, mathematics, statistics, business research, decision sciences, strategy, etc. This course aims to introduce students to the theory and application of financial management. It will provide the necessary knowledge and tools to solve specific problems faced by a modern business. The analysis focuses on the data in the developed financial markets, especially the US and Europe, with extensive references to Cypriot and Greek realities.
The course also covers financial reports in terms of their structure and evaluation. It includes standard accounting systems, liability accounting, studies and comparative analysis. It also deals with revenue, costing, accounting reports, capital project evaluation, accounting strategies and control strategies, as well as with modern financial issues.
HTM 520 - STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF HOSPITALITY FIRMS
This course aims to help students understand the fundamental concepts of strategy, become proficient in using tools to analyze the internal and external environment of the firm and develop strategic options for the firm, and finally select and implement the best option available.
MGT 560 - STRATEGIC MARKETING
Managers often perceive marketing as a tactic similar to sales, advertising and promotion. In addition, within organizations, marketing is considered an activity which has a supporting role for managers in selling more products and services. However, marketing is something beyond tactics. It involves strategic management that underpins the success of tactical elements. This conception of marketing as a central organizational function, which extends to all areas of the organization, is the foundation of strategic theory, which is covered in this course.
HTM 522 - BUSINESS ANALYSIS, SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT AND LOGISTICS IN THE HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM INDUSTRY
This course aims in helping students understand the complex nature associated with the handling of the various operations in the hospitality and tourism industry, especially those relative to the supply chain and its management in an effort to offer the best possible service at the best possible value both in terms of experience gained as well as in terms of the price charged.
Through the examination of industry specific case studies. the course emphasizes on four major pillars of the tourism industry (hotels, airlines, airports/ports, cruise ships) to bring into context all of the above.
MGT 510 - PRINCIPLES OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP
The course focuses on the basic principles and process of entrepreneurship. It will provide students with the knowledge and skills on the practice of entrepreneurship and the identification, evaluation, and implementation planning of business ideas.
The course is based on two pillars: 1) the study of the entrepreneur, and 2) the entrepreneurship process, starting with the identification and evaluation of the business idea, and ending with the planning of the implementation of the business idea.
HTM 532 - EVENT MANAGEMENT
The primary aim of this course is to examine the economic and social benefits and specific forms of event tourism, as well as the basic principles of planning, organizing, delivering and managing of events- particularly, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions). Emphasis is given on the main features of events, markets of MICE, marketing dimensions, customer communication, the economic and operational characteristics in the delivery of such services. Also, the contemporary practices and future trends in the organization of corporate related events.
HTM 542 - REVENUE MANAGEMENT
This course examines revenue management with emphasis on the enterprises of the tourism industry. More specifically, revenue management is vital to any business that has relatively fixed capacity, perishable inventory, and time-variable demand. Those characteristics necessitate better pricing strategies in terms of maximising revenues in relation to supply and demand fluctuations. The main focus is on occupancy percentages and average room rate in terms of the revenue per available room (RevPAR) as part of yield management and revenue management.
HTM 501 - CASINO MANAGEMENT
The primary objective of this course is to assist students to acquire a better understanding of the casino industry by exploring the industry’s current practices, trends and future developments. Emphasis is given on the gambling philosophy, the history and development of commercial gambling, the structure and organization of casino establishments, legislation and internal control systems, and the sector’s economic impact and associated socio-cultural problems. It also explores the basics of casino games (both table games and slot machines) and the relevant rules and regulations of their operation.
HTM 530 - TOURISM PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
This course provides an examination of the role played by policy, strategic planning, and destination planning in enhancing the sustainable development of tourism. It analyses and evaluates the role of both public and private sector in tourism development. The main topics covered include introduction to tourism, policy and planning, investigation of the trends, and practices adopted in policy and planning, analysis of planning processes, and constraints in sustainable tourism development.
HTM 531 - SUSTAINABLE AND ALTERNATIVE TOURISM FORMS
This course aims to inform the student about the importance of sustainability as well as its problematic application in tourism. During the lectures, students will look at issues related to sustainable tourism development (e.g. local society, governance, corporate social responsibility) from different perspectives, while analyzing the relationship between sustainability and alternative forms of tourism. The course will adopt a multidisciplinary approach by examining the relationship between the social, political, economic and environmental factors governing tourism in relation to the concept of sustainability.
HTM 561 - DIGITAL MARKETING IN HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM
Digital marketing and social media are an integral component of hospitality and tourism marketing, as it may significantly improve the competitiveness of hospitality and tourism businesses as well as destinations. Knowledge of how organisations in the hospitality and tourism industry can benefit from digital marketing is essential if associated economic and social benefits are to be derived. The aim of this course is to provide students a better understanding of the importance and applications of digital marketing and social media in the tourism industry. More specifically, the course will assist students to apply critical thinking regarding tourism strategies and practices in today’s internet-driven market. Additionally, the course will examine the impacts of social media and social networking on tourist behaviour and consider how hospitality and tourism businesses use social media/networks to engage with tourists and to cooperate with stakeholders. The course also explores the factors that encourage and/or inhibit the use of digital marketing in the hospitality and tourism industry.
HTM 570 - E-BUSINESS AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM INDUSTRY
This course identifies issues within the tourism and hospitality industry that can be improved using information systems and e-commerce.
The course aims to provide students with knowledge pertaining to how information systems can assist organizations gain competitive advantage through the use of e-business strategy. It illustrates the variety of information systems that are used in hospitality and tourism industry and covers aspects relating to e-business models development, usability of online systems and how it affects consumer behavior, e-marketing techniques and the use of data analytics for identifying online consumers’ behaviors. The course also covers material concerning internet and web technologies and the importance of project management for successful technology transformation.
MGT 512 - MANAGEMENT AND GROWTH OF STARTUPS AND SMES
The course focuses on the early stages of business efforts, starting from the conception of the idea, going into the initial development of a small business and continuing into somewhat larger companies to explore important issues of management and development of start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises. Also, the course examines decisions involving more established entrepreneurs, such as decisions relating to prospects of further development through international expansion, organic development or other means.
MGT 511 - DESIGNING AND MANAGING NEW BUSINESS MODELS
The course aims to provide students with the knowledge required in designing new innovative business models that are based on the internet and have good chance of succeeding in a competitive business environment. This includes the formulation, evaluation and implementation of a business idea and relevant e-business model. Moreover, the course addresses issues pertaining to successful e-business model design, web-based systems development, web systems prototyping and validation, and e-marketing strategy.
MGT 513 - INNOVATION MANAGEMENT
The course aims to familiarize students with concepts in innovation management at both strategic and operational levels. Ιinnovation is difficult and involves risks and it is therefore necessary for students to learn techniques and tools for effectively managing innovation such as the evaluation of new ideas and the implementation of innovation. Moreover, students will learn how resourceful organizations manage innovation and defend against disruption. The course will cover issues that concern both small and medium-sized enterprises and larger companies with complex structures.
MGT 516 - INTERNATIONAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
The course examines companies that internationalize immediately or shortly after their creation through the discovery and exploitation of foreign market opportunities. These companies, known as born global or International New Ventures, are created to compete in the global market. They draw resources from different geographic areas, compete in international markets and face risks from many sources. The course focuses on the strategies and techniques for creating and managing these companies.
HTM 521 - QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN THE HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM INDUSTRY
The course is designed to help students enhance their understanding of quality management in the H&T industry. The course combines the concepts of service quality and customer satisfaction with measurement and evaluation techniques. The main purpose of the course is to illustrate: First, review the theory of service quality and customer satisfaction including relevant assessment; Secondly present the relevant measurement techniques. Having understood the relevant theory, students will be able to apply the acquired knowledge to the measurement, analysis and interpretation of relevant information.
