Advanced Certificate in Business Management and Administration

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to equip managers with knowledge, skills, values and attitudes necessary to manage and lead their organisations effectively in the complex and highly competitive business environment, currently and in the future. It also builds the competence of managers to cope with the challenges facing South African organisations in transforming the local economic, social and political landscape in a highly competitive global economy.

The qualification is aimed at developing applied competence to ensure that managers are able to translate their learning into practices that will make a real difference in organisations. The qualification has been designed in a way that requires learners to apply their learning to practical work-based projects. This enables them to use the learning opportunity to solve real business problems that impact directly on organisational effectiveness.

Learners who have achieved the qualification will have developed the competence to integrate different management disciplines appropriately within the context of internal and external challenges facing their organisations.

Rationale

The need for skilled managers is one of the national skills development priorities identified by the business sector and confirmed by Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) across the economic sectors. This qualification addresses the need to improve management competence and deepen the pool of competent managers that can contribute to building the South African economy and society. It satisfies a critical need in the business sector and other organisations for a qualification at Level 6 that is specifically focused on building generic business management competence.

This qualification provides a sophisticated, yet practical approach to the knowledge base and decision-making skills required by today's managers working in various management contexts relevant to South African businesses. It is an intermediate, post-school higher education qualification. Participants should be working in or preparing for a supervisory, leadership or management position.

The qualification advances the principles of the NQF in the management learning area by enabling learners to obtain a national qualification through following a lifelong learning path. The qualification also promotes the NQF principles of access, portability, articulation, mobility, progression and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

Learners who would benefit from this qualification are typically employed managers at middle and senior management levels, although access is not restricted to such learners. Learners who have experienced difficulties to advance in their careers would be able to use the Level 6 qualification to develop the management competence required for appointment to more senior management positions.

The qualification builds management competence that can be applied in all management and leadership roles across all economic sectors, and in all types of private and public enterprises, including Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Black Empowerment companies, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), medium-sized organisations and multinational global players.

The blended nature of this qualification will allow for a broader target audience from outside the Western Cape and South Africa.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Recognition will be applied in accordance with the National Policy for the Implementation of Recognition of Prior Learning of the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) of March 2013 that makes provision for RPL for access: "To provide an alternative access route into a programme of learning for those who do not meet the formal entry requirements for admission. RPL for access applies to qualifications offered by an accredited institution of further learning (including a post-school institution and an adult learning centre) or workplace-based training provider". It will also adhere to the University's policy framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Prior Learning (ARPL).

Stringent assessment criteria are applied to determine whether the applicant has developed the necessary competencies required to enter the AdvCert (Business Management and Administration) through RPL.

In addition to the normal application process, RPL applications will also be assessed on

• Work experience: A minimum of four years' full-time work experience at supervisory level.
• Curriculum Vitae: A CV that describes the growth and learning over time in the responsibilities associated with successive jobs.

Entry Requirements

• A National Senior Certificate (NSC) that meets the minimum requirements for admission to Higher Certificate studies, and with appropriate subjects such as Life Orientation, Mathematics, English Home Language or English First Additional Language.

And

• 2 years' relevant full-time work experience at a supervisory level or management level.

This qualification consists of compulsory modules at Level 6, totalling 120 Credits.

Modules

• Marketing Management 1, 10 Credits.
• Financial Management 1, 10 Credits.
• People Management 1, 10 Credits.
• Operations Management, 10 Credits.
• General Management, 10 Credits.
• Leadership 1, 10 Credits.
• Marketing Management 2, 10 Credits.
• Financial Management 2, 10 Credits.
• People Management 2, 10 Credits.
• Information Management, 10 Credits.
• Economics and the Business Environment, 10 Credits.
• Leadership 2, 10 Credits.

1. Analyse the basic operations of an economy and its different elements as viewed from the purely capitalist and socialist perspectives.
2. Explain the concepts of financial management.
3. Motivate the importance of managing the working capital and cash flow of a business.
4. Illustrate the contribution of the four "pillars" of management to the effective management of a business with practical examples, i.e. Planning, Organising, Leading and Controlling.
5. Explain the difference between data, information and knowledge and their application in a business environment.
6. Analyse the concept of leadership with reference to selected theoretical frameworks.
7. Analyse the qualities of leadership that are essential for leading organisations in today's complex and continuously changing work environments.
8. Analyse a number of definitions on the concept of marketing and formulate a definition relevant to a specific business context.
9. Conduct a market investigation that includes the results of a SWOT analysis.
10. Draw up a plan for implementing and executing best practices to improve operations management.
11. Describe the responsibilities of line managers in people management with reference to the role of the Human Resources unit.
12. Analyse the characteristics and importance of effective human capital management practices for achieving organisational goals.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Explain key economic concepts used in everyday economic reports and discussions.
• Describe the difference between micro- and macro-economic perspectives and their relevance to the business environment.
• Explain how global markets operate with reference to practical examples.
• Analyse reports about current and expected future trends in the South African economy and the economy of a Province.
• Analyse South Africa's position within the broader framework of African as well as global economies.

Associated Assessment criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Identify and discuss the various components of an income statement.
• Identify and discuss the various components of a balance sheet.
• Identify, explain and perform basic interpretation of the components of a simple cash flow statement using a balance sheet and an income statement as a point of reference.
• Use financial statements to perform basic financial analysis, i.e. ratio analysis, and interpret the ratios.
• Draw up a budget.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Analyse the elements that might affect the liquidity in a business.
• Explain the main drivers of the return on investment and return on equity.
• Explain the nature and importance of investment decision-making.
• Explain the main investment appraisal methods found in practice with reference to practical examples.
• Analyse the main sources of finance available to a business and explain the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Explain the factors that a manager needs to consider in order to align the business towards customer satisfaction.
• Explain how managers design individual jobs to maximise employee performance.
• Explain the role of managers in promoting an organisational culture.
• Outline the steps in the strategic planning process.
• Compile a business plan for a new or existing business opportunity.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Explain how information and knowledge management delivers value to an organisation.
• Describe the attributes of information quality and assess the quality of information in relation to these attributes.
• Evaluate personal information management practices as well as those of a work team.
• Design a set of appropriate interventions to grow information management maturity in a work team.
• Analyse the ethical and regulatory aspects of information privacy in relation to their impact on the business environment.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Differentiate between the roles and functions of leadership and management.
• Analyse and compare a selection of leadership theories presented by current authors.
• Use the feedback obtained from a leadership assessment to evaluate personal leadership style and behaviour.
• Compile a personal development plan to improve the overall leadership style and to improve resilience during times of change.
• Differentiate between EQ (emotional intelligence), IQ (intelligence quotient) and SI (spiritual intelligence) and illustrate the differences with practical examples.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Describe the leader's role in creating a productive working environment in the organisation, including shaping the organisational culture and building trust.
• Analyse the challenges faced in planning, introducing and implementing organisational change, including the importance of an effective communication strategy.
• Distinguish between destructive and constructive conflict in organisations, examine the causes of conflict, the nature of different types of conflict, and describe appropriate methods of conflict resolution.
• Analyse team dynamics and strategies for building team cohesiveness for working collaboratively for achieving team goals.
• Identify the challenges in managing diverse and multi-cultural workforce, and using the diversity to the organisation's advantage.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8

• Differentiate between environmental factors that are controllable and uncontrollable when conducting a SWOT analysis for marketing purposes.
• Analyse the internal and external marketing environment for a specific product or service.
• Analyse the factors that influence the buying behaviour of individuals.
• Analyse the typical challenges that are experienced in the distribution channel.
• Analyse the key characteristics of the elements of the marketing mix.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9

• Apply the phases of segmentation and selection in the target marketing process to arrive at profiles of an organisation's client base.
• Formulate appropriate marketing objectives for a specific product or service.
• Formulate strategies to market to the modern consumer, taking into account generational differences.
• Formulate a positioning strategy for a service/product offering at gaining a competitive advantage.
• Describe the components to be covered in a marketing plan for a selected product or service.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 10

• Explain the concept 'value chain' with reference to key elements underpinning a successful value chain, as represented in theoretical frameworks.
• Analyse the customer experience, relationship management and customer-centric culture in an organisation and the customer's contributions to optimising the value chain.
• Explain the concept 'operations management' and illustrate its relation to and impact on the value chain through the practical examples.
• Analyse the critical elements in systems for managing the resources or an organisation.
• Identify best practice guidelines and analyse current operating practices against identified best practices.
• Draw up a plan for implementing and executing best practices to improve operations management.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 11

• Conduct a job analysis for a selected position.
• Develop a recruitment plan for a specific position.
• Describe appropriate development interventions for staff based on the results of a needs analysis.
• Describe the components of a performance management system, including the performance appraisal process.
• Develop a workforce plan for a selected business unit.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 12

• Compare the systemic management of human resources with traditional approaches, with reference to the assumptions underpinning both described in literature.
• Explain what constitutes sound talent management practices in recruiting and retaining high talented people.
• Analyse key challenges relating to staff retention and describe appropriate solutions to these challenges.
• Develop a succession plan for a selected business unit.
• Analyse what constitutes fair people management practices, including references to ethical practices.

Integrated Assessment

In order to provide a level of consistency in the assessments of the various modules, assessments will be standardised, where possible. The standardised assessments will be as follows for each module:

• Formative assessments of module theory prior to contact sessions. Learners will be required to complete online assignments on the LMS to test their comprehension of the theory for each module. It is envisaged that this will not contribute more than 5% of the total grade for a module.
• A summative assignment in the form of an individual written assignment that requires the practical application of the module content to learners' workplaces will be administered after learners have completed contact sessions or online learning sessions.
• One examination for every module will be conducted in accordance with the University's examination policy. The University's examination policy holds for all summative assessments.

The final performance mark includes on-line assessments, individual assignments and the examinations.

The institution, within the framework of general University policy, places a high premium on total honesty in all assessments. Learners are thus warned specifically that where cases of fraud or dishonesty are suspected, the necessary disciplinary investigations and steps will be taken without any hesitation. Plagiarism will not be tolerated by the institution. Where plagiarism is suspected, learners will be treated according to the University's policy regarding plagiarism.

Supplementary assessment: A learner who has completed all assessments for a module, yet failed the module will be granted a second opportunity to pass the module. This will be a single opportunity for all learners irrespective of the mode of study. This is not limited to a single module, i.e. students have the right to a supplementary assessment for all modules.

If a learner wants to lodge an appeal on the final grade that he/she received, he/she has the right to make an appointment with the programme head to discuss his/her assignments or examination. A learner can also request a formal external re-examination administered by institution.