Advanced Diploma in Retail Business Management

Purpose

This qualification aims to build on the knowledge and skills of the Diploma qualification to equip students to function effectively at levels higher than chain and franchise store level.

Upon completion of the qualification, the learner will be able to

• Understand, integrate and interpret the scope of knowledge in international retailing practices and trends in order to formulate, plan, strategise, execute, measure and improve retailing processes, practices, systems and solutions.
• Develop an ability to reflect on and apply evidence based solutions and theory based arguments in addressing complex problems in retail operations in developing retail organisations, processes, systems and solutions.
• Comply with good governance, strong ethical principles and quality performance standards when gathering, validating and managing the logistics and supply chain of a retail business by implementing, managing and improving sound retail business practices.
• Develop and reflect on financial information and make managerial financial decisions based on higher level financial knowledge and skills to manage the financial function of an own retail business or a chain of retail businesses.
• Reflect, interpret, explain and present own learning through applied retail research and recommend managerial decisions and applications to address problems in unfamiliar, ill-defined and variable retail contexts.

Rationale

The rationale of the qualification is to develop managers in the wholesale and retail sector that are in more senior levels than the chain and franchise store levels as these levels are catered for by the Diploma in Retail Business management. This includes owners of retail franchise stores, regional managers of chain stores, senior managers responsible for retail operations, logistics, retail buying and other managers in specialised areas. This qualification prepares the learner with the necessary in-depth knowledge, insight, and skills to ensure the survival of a retail operation in a highly competitive business environment.

This qualification aims to give learners who want to continue with their studies in retail a sound knowledge and skills base to be successful owners and senior operational manager of retail businesses, retail buyer managers and planner managers, retail DC and logistic managers and to be able to complete their postgraduate studies.

• The situation analysis clearly indicated that there is large demand for retail managers on all levels. The retail industry is one of the largest industries in South Africa that is responsible for more than 15% of the gross domestic product (GDP) with close to a million employees and more than hundred thousand retail managers. There is a large need in the industry for the training of these Retail Business Managers. The proof of this is that:

> Retail Managers have been listed the number one critical scarce skill in the Wholesale and Retail Sector according to the 2014 Sector Skills Plan of the Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W&RSETA).

> Retail Managers are also listed as one of the top 100 scarce occupations in the 2014 Government Gazette.

There was extensive engagement with stakeholders to determine the need, content, and structure of the qualification. It came about as a result of extensive consultation with stakeholders in the retail industry and discussions among Universities of Technology. A great deal of consensus on the type, purpose, nature and the fundamental design of the curriculum for the Advanced Diploma was reached among higher education institutions creating a consistent approach across South Africa for the national retailers in South Africa. The institution has been working with retailers in the industry, the Wholesale and Retail SETA as well as other universities in South Africa to develop this qualification. Four other universities in South Africa will also offer the Advanced Diploma to address the national shortage of trained retail managers.

The qualification has also been formulated in such a manner that it reflects the latest workplace needs of the retail industry, to ensure that qualifying learners will have accessibility to be employed within the industry. The qualification may be acquired in the traditional way of formal study as well as in the workplace, either through block release programmes or by Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

In accordance with national RPL requirements and the institutional RPL Policy and practices, candidates who submit a body of evidence of non-formal and formal learning will be considered for admission to this qualification. RPL applications will be dealt with on an individual basis.

The purpose of institutional RPL policy, which directs the Faculty's RPL procedure, is to recognise prior learning in order to provide access into qualifications, grant advanced placement in qualifications and grant credits for modules on the principles and processes that serve as a basis for departmental RPL practices.

The Department follows the RPL Policy which requires the formation of a departmental RPL Committee to review RPL applications. The Committee comprises of at least three appropriate members in a Department, including an Advisor, Assessor and Moderator. An advisor acts as a facilitator between the RPL role players or as an evidence facilitator who may or may not be the HOD.

The functions of the committee are to

• Monitor and review the RPL policy and procedures within the Department.
• Oversee the RPL process and establish quality management in the Department.
• Manage the administration of the RPL process according to the RPL sub-committee guidelines as approved by the Faculty.

Entry Requirements

The minimum requirement for admission to the Advanced Diploma in Retail Business Management is either a

• An appropriate Level 6 Diploma in the field of Retail Business Management or related field of study.

Or

• Occupational Certificate in Retail Store Manager at Level 6 or an equivalent occupational qualification.

Or

• A Bachelor's Degree in Commerce with a retail or related focus.

This qualification comprises compulsory modules at Level 7 totalling 120 Credits.

• Retailing 4, 30 Credits.
• Retail Operations Management 4, 30 Credits.
• Retail Logistics Management, 24 Credits.
• Advanced Retail Financial Management, 18 Credits.
• Applied Retail Research, 18 Credits.

1. Understand, integrate and interpret the scope of knowledge in international retailing practices and trends in order to formulate, plan, strategise, execute, measure and improve retailing processes, practices, systems and solutions.
2. Develop an ability to reflect on and apply evidence based solutions and theory based arguments in addressing complex problems in retail operations in developing retail organisations, processes, systems and solutions.
3. Comply with good governance, strong ethical principles and quality performance standards when gathering, validating and managing the logistics and supply chain of a retail business by implementing, managing and improving sound retail business practices.
4. Develop and reflect on financial information and make managerial financial decisions based on higher level financial knowledge and skills to manage the financial function of an own retail business or a chain of retail businesses.
5. Reflect, interpret, explain and present own learning through applied retail research and recommend managerial decisions and applications to address problems in unfamiliar, ill-defined and variable retail contexts.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of current international retailing trends and practices.
• Develop management practices to implement business ethics in a retail business.
• Analyse and interpret the behaviour and needs of customers in various retail businesses.
• Apply strategic retail buying principles and practices on selected retail businesses.
• Apply strategic marketing principles and practices on selected retail businesses.
• Design and plan the layout for a retail store by applying layout principles to utilise the available space and environment.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Apply the principles of micro and macroeconomics applicable for the management of a retail business.
• Apply good decision-making skills to locate the retail store or shopping centre.
• Apply good decision-making skills for the best business form for the retail operation.
• Develop management practices to buy, implement and manage a group of retail franchise operations.
• Develop management practices to manage a group of retail operations in different locations.
• Apply management practices to implement e-business practices in a retail operation.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Compile a strategic retail supply chain management programme for a retail business.
• Determine the viability in opening a Distribution Centre (DC) for a retail business.
• Determine the best location criteria for a retail distribution centre.
• Design the layout of a retail distribution centre, stock rooms and warehouses.
• Analyse and develop stock management systems for a retail Distribution Centre.
• Develop efficient systems to manage the physical movement, handling, stacking and flow of stock.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Plan and control to ensure the retail business has sufficient working capital to function efficiently and effectively.
• Determine the financial viability as an owner or regional manager when evaluating new retail business opportunities, new product or service offerings or the opening of a new retail branch.
• Know, understand and apply all costing principles in a retail business retail business.
• Ensure a retail business is properly insured.
• Know, understand and determine the financial performance of a retail operation and to implement a management information system and dashboard that to manage the financial performance of a retail business.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding to ensure that the business is properly audit per year and the correct taxed are paid.
• Know, understand and correctly calculate retail business mathematics and statistics used to analyse information.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Identify and describe researchable problems or topics relevant to the study field of retail and wholesale.
• Demonstrate research skills relevant to the study field of retail and wholesale.
• Plan, conduct and write a basic literature review for a research problem or topic in the study field of retail and wholesale.
• Plan and conduct relevant empirical research techniques on research problem or topic in the study field of retail and wholesale.
• Analyse and interpret research data of a research problem or topic in the study field of retail and wholesale.
• Write and present a research report in such a way that it correctly reflexes the outcome of the research findings with recommendations according to correct academic writing criteria.

Integrated Assessment

The overall assessment strategy of this qualification is based on continuous assessment in keeping with institutional policy and requirements and will consists of formative, summative and integrated assessment methods. The institutional assessment policy and practices promote constructive alignment of the learning outcomes, student-centred learning activities and assessment tasks pitched against the appropriate South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) Level Descriptors of the level associated with each subject in the curriculum. Assessment practices will be fair, reliable and valid. It should also be in keeping with academic disciplinary and professional field norms and standards.

Formative assessment is aimed at enhancing student success and provides students with an opportunity to reflect critically on their own learning and to improve their own levels of accountability and time management. Formative assessment usually consists of a variety of assessment tasks relevant to the field of study.

Summative assessment will take place at the end of a section of work/quarter or semester and is aimed at assessing the students' attainment against the learning outcomes of the programme and subject(s). Summative assessments are internally and externally moderated based on institutional policy and requirements. Summative assessments usually consist of a variety of formal assessment tasks relevant to the field of study.

Integrated assessment often span a number of learning outcomes and might even be applicable to more a number of subjects/modules. Integrated assessment tasks are aimed that the holistic development of the student and contributes to the students' personal and professional development in the field of study.