Advanced Diploma in Retail Business Management

Purpose

This qualification is intended to equip learners with the theoretical knowledge and applied competence to enter the retail industry as trainee managers. Qualifying learners will be able to apply their learning in areas of general retail business management, retail operations management, retail sales management, supply chain management and customer service. In addition, learners will have gained computer and communication skills as well as knowledge of, and skills in financial management, shopping centre management and industrial relations. This qualification with its focused work-integrated learning component will enable qualifying learners to develop into successful managers of small and medium retail businesses or branch managers of large retail groups.

The learners will therefore have the opportunity to develop and broaden their academic knowledge in Retailing, understand and apply the principle of the following fields: Retail Business management, Supply Chain Management, Warehouse management and Retail Operations at various levels.

Rationale

The retail industry reported that there is a lack of knowledge and expertise in general retail business management, retail sales management band the application of logistics and procurement in South Africa.

The qualification outcomes meet national and regional labour market and social cultural needs. The requirements of the retail industry were taken into consideration. Relevant stakeholders, including academic peers from outside the institution and employers represented on Advisory Boards as well as the Wholesale and Retail Seta (W&RSETA), were involved in the development of the qualification. This qualification is developed in conjunction with other academic institutions who also offer this or similar qualifications in retail, as well as through inputs from the industry, the learners will be skilled with the knowledge and resources to cope with the problems and intricacies that they are bound to experience in the working environment.

This qualification provides a set of very important skills to current and prospective managers in the small, medium and macro environment (SMME) and in addition it will also equip qualifying learners to take up positions as retail supervisors, retail store managers, area managers, logistics coordinators, supply chain managers and procurement practitioners to name but a few.

The learner will know what to expect when entering the industry and how to deal with the most common concerns, problems and challenges that they are bound to encounter or within the working environment.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Candidates who do not meet the minimum entrance requirements but who can demonstrate satisfactory levels of competence in the field, may apply for Recognition of Prior Learning and may be granted entry to the qualification on this basis.

The RPL policy of the institution provides for learners from other institutions as well as mature learners with relevant prior knowledge at the required level, related to the outcomes of the programme to be admitted to this programme through the RPL process. Learners may also obtain module credits through RPL.

Entry Requirements

The entry requirements to this qualification

• Diploma in Retail Business Management.

Or

• National Diploma in Retail Business Management.

This qualification comprises of compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 7 totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, 120 Credits

• Retailing IV, 30 Credits.
• Advanced Retail Financial Management IV, 30 Credits.
• Retail Operations IV, 30 Credits.
• Research Methodology IV, 30 Credits.

1. Demonstrate detailed knowledge of the main areas in the field of Retail management and retail practices, including an understanding of and an ability to apply the key terms, concepts, facts, principles, rules and theories of that field and practice to unfamiliar but relevant context of the retail environment.
2. Evaluate, select and apply appropriate methods, procedures or techniques in processes in range of retail operations, e.g.: "Retail operations'' includes, but is not limited to: store planning; stock planning and control; financial management; personnel management; safety and security; customer relation management; marketing and sales.
3. Identify, analyse and solve problems in the context of retail environment, gathering evidence and applying solutions based on evidence and procedures appropriate to the practices of retail management.
4. Evaluate different sources of information, to select information appropriate to the tasks of retail management and to apply well-developed processes of analysis, synthesis and evaluation to that information Range: space management, supplier relations, employee relations and merchandise control.
5. Make decisions and act appropriately in the context of retail environment, demonstrating an understanding of the relationships between systems, and of how actions, ideas or developments in one system impact on other systems.
6. Demonstrate an understanding of the ethical implications of decisions and actions, within a retail environment, based on an awareness of the complexity of ethical dilemmas.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Justify and apply the relevant steps and processes of running a retail store.
• Asses and manage the stock maintenance process from placing of orders, receiving of stock, ware housing, merchandising and shelve management.
• Conduct customer and competitor analysis with the purpose of positioning the retail in comparison to the competitive environment.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Construct store and stock planning programs.
• Compose and understand of financial management plans by interpreting and analysing financial statements.
• Asses and justify personnel management principles and practises in the retailer.
• Appraise and show competency and compassion in human resource management.
• Evaluate, apply and adhere to the safety and security regulations.
• Develop and understand programs to indicate the importance of customer relations management; marketing and sales principles and concept.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Appraise and recommend systems to identify and analyse problems within the retail environment (internal and External).
• Demonstrate problem solving skills in the context in the retail environment.
• Develop systems to collect evidence and apply solutions according to procedures appropriate to the retail practises.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Construct processes for information gathering, capturing and analysis with the purpose of applying the data for decision making in the managing of the retail store, processes and staff.
• Develop networks with suppliers to ensure well developed delivery systems of good quality products and services.
• Conduct space audits to ensure well managed space usage and optimising of profit.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Appraise and assess the retail environment.
• Prioritise the new ideas, processes and developments in new systems that influence the retail environment.
• Demonstrate and understand the interdependence/relationship between different retail systems.
• assess apply how changes, action, ideas and development in one retail system influence and impact on other systems.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Argue and understand the importance of people management skills and processes to ensure that dignity and humanity of staff and customers are understand and maintained at all times in all facets of the establishing, running and management of the retail store.
• Demonstrate understanding of ethical implications of decisions in the retail environment.
• Justify how ethical differences impact on actions in the retail environment.

Integrated Assessment

Formative Assessment strategies are continuous and aimed at giving learners feedback on their progress in the achievement of learning outcomes as well as to integrate theoretical and practical competence. Such strategies include informal assignments, discussions, case studies, informal tests and tutoring.

Some of the criteria may be assessed through observation of the learners during classes. Summative assessment strategies are aimed at judgement of the learning in relation to the Exit Level Outcomes of the programme. Such strategies include examinations, reports, projects or equivalent such as a portfolio of evidence which is representative of a selection of the outcomes.

The outcomes of the formal assignments and tests will contribute to a cumulative class mark as per pre-arrangement with the learners. In the formal assignments and tests, and in the respective examinations learners will have to demonstrate the ability to communicate and integrate knowledge of the key issues, highlighted in the respective modules, and identify and resolve typical problems in the subfields as indicated. This will require critical and creative thinking as well as the ability to make practical applications of the learning outcomes as indicated in the module descriptors.