Advanced Diploma in Business Management

Purpose

The purpose of the qualification is to develop the applied and practical competences of learners in the acquisition, understanding and application of Business Management principles. It provides an intensive, focused and applied specialisation within the field of Business Management. This ensures that qualifying learners have a deep and systematic understanding of current thinking, practice, theory and methodology in the field of Business Management and the world of business.

Upon completion of the qualification the learner will be able to

• Contribute to the development, growth, competitiveness and sustainability of organisations through innovation and creativity.
• Plan, lead, organise, control, formulate, strategise, execute, measure and improve business processes, practices, systems and solutions.
• Contribute through sound research to the development of organisations, processes, systems and find solutions to create long term sustainability.
• Comply with good governance, strong ethical principles and quality performance standards when implementing, managing and improving business practices.

Rationale

The Advanced Diploma in Business Management will enable learners to be to be able progress in their careers within which they are currently employed or those wishing to enter the market with a competitive edge. The typical graduate from the Advanced Diploma in Management will be eligible to assume the duties of a well-rounded manager to satisfy business requirements. The value of the qualification will thus be the added strategic level knowledge and will expose learners to research, and to take strategic and financial decisions to benefit industry.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

In line with the RPL policies of the Council of Higher Education (CHE) and the Institution, RPL will be applied to this qualification: to grant access, where applicable, to learners who do not meet the entry requirements; or to exempt learners from modules or subjects passed; or for advance standing.

Entry Requirements

The minimum admission requirement for entry into an Advanced Diploma is

• An appropriate Diploma at Level 6.

Or

• A Bachelor's Degree at Level 7 in a relevant field.

In the field of Management with an average of 60%.

The qualification comprises the following ten compulsory modules at Level 7, totalling 120 Credits

Compulsory Modules, 120 Credits

• General Management, 12 Credits.
• Research Methodology, 12 Credits.
• Corporate Entrepreneurship, 12 Credits.
• Human Resources Management, 12 Credits.
• Financial Accounting Aspects, 12 Credits.
• Strategic Management, 12 Credits.
• Business Practice, 12 Credits.
• International Management, 12 Credits.
• Management Economics, 12 Credits.
• Financial Management, 12 Credits.

1. Strategically analyse the internal and external business environments in order to create organisations that are creative and innovative to expand locally, nationally and internationally.
2. Systematically formulate, plan, execute, measure and improve business processes, practices, systems and solutions.
3. Contribute through sound financial practices and research to the development of organisations, processes, systems and solutions.
4. Comply with good governance, strong ethical principles and quality performance standards when implementing, managing and improving management business practices.
5. Design and manage programmes and policies for Human Resources Management.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• An analysis on how a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) strategy can create competitive sustainability for growth of businesses is identified and evaluated.
• Internal creativity and innovation and how it can assist organisations to expand locally, nationally and internationally is explained.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• The concepts of Strategic Management that can improve business performance are defined and explained.
• The implanting strategy and how it can assist management to formulate, plan, execute, measure and improve business processes, practices, systems and create solutions is identified and discussed.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Sound financial practices are implemented through research to create sustainable business environments.
• Research is conducted and analysed to develop efficient and effective processes, systems and solutions for businesses.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• The characteristics of managerial leadership are identified and described.
• Methods to improve performance standards by implementing, managing and improving management business practices are discussed.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• The importance and function of Human Resources Management in an organisation is explained.
• The significance of Human Resources Management in designing and managing programmes and policies is explained.

Integrated Assessment

Assessment takes place in accordance with the Assessment Policy of the Institution. The qualification assessment criteria, rules and regulations will be communicated to learners in all learning guides. Three summative assessments will be carried out during the course of the qualification and one final summative assessment at the completion of each of the module.

The development and implementation of assessment methods is based on the assessment principles of the Institution. A variety of assessment methods are used to assess the learners as defined by the learning outcomes.

Some of the assessments include the following outcomes based activities

• Observation of real or simulated tasks, e.g. practical exercises/demonstrations, role-plays, presentations.
• Evaluation of a product after a task has been completed, e.g. projects, assignments, case studies, portfolios, artefacts, log books, reflective journals.
• Questions, oral or written, used either separately or in combination, e.g. tests examinations, including short or long questions, essays, multiple choice questions, etc.

All assessment activities are accompanied by a memorandum/assessment marking guide. The number and range of assessment methods used are included in the Learning Guides. Every assessment opportunity carries a predetermined weight that takes the integration of the outcomes into account.