Bachelor of Arts Honours in Business Management

Purpose

The purpose of the qualification is two folded to

• Prepare Honours students for research-based Postgraduate study in Business Management by including a discrete research component in the curriculum; and
• Aims to consolidate and deepen the students' knowledge and expertise relating to advanced contemporary Business Management theories and practices, and to develop appropriate applied competence to meet the need of the South African economy for well-qualified and competent business managers. As a result, the graduates will enter the business environment as well-rounded corporate citizens capable of gainful economic activity, mindful of their social and environmental responsibilities.

Rationale

This Honours Degree qualification aims to develop students with an increased measure of intellectual independence through an advanced level of theoretical and practical engagement. This will strengthen the pool of specialised entrepreneurs, managers, decision makers, advisors, professionals and researchers active in the economic life of South Africa in order to ensure that the local leadership base of innovative and value-adding economic and scholarly activity is widened.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

All RPL applications will be considered according to Nelson Mandela University (NMU) RPL policy.

Entry Requirements

The minimum requirement for admission is

• Bachelor's Degree.

Or

• A similar qualification in the same field.

This qualification comprises of compulsory and elective module at Level 8 totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 8, 80 Credits

• Investment Management, 20 Credits.
• Advanced Strategic and International Marketing, 20 Credits.
• Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management, 20 Credits.
• Advanced Financial Management, 20 Credits.

Elective Modules

• Business Research, 10 Credits.
• Treatise, 30 Credits.
• Advanced Strategic Management, 20 Credits.
• Corporate Citizenship, 20 Credits.

1. Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of contemporary theories, concepts and methods in the fields of Strategic Management and Corporate Citizenship, and the competence to apply such knowledge and methods to business-related managerial problems and cases with full cognisance of the social, ethical and environmental implications of decisions and/or actions and/or recommendations.
2. Engagement in independent learning and research activities by conducting relevant research on a selected business-related topic while adhering to appropriate research principles and protocol and applying appropriate outcomes research methods and analytical techniques.
3. Demonstrate the ability to identify, analyse and solve unfamiliar problems in selected specialised fields of business management by applying business management knowledge, techniques and processes, and critically cross examining and evaluating multiple sources of knowledge.
4. Demonstrate the ability to propose and review creative solutions to business-related challenges, both orally and in writing, to wider stakeholder and interest groups.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 1

• Existing relationship between the internal workings of a business are outlined and described together with its various functional subcomponents and the surrounding business environment, including key factors such as leadership, business agility, programme, performance and partner synergy, as well as the integration of social, ethical and environmental measures vital to the successful functioning of any business.
• Identified key business strategies related to and aligned with key business processes and relevant resources with the purpose of improving the overall performance of the business with specific reference to financial, market and business indicators.
• Decisions based on relevant data, functional and strategic business are made both independently and as member of a team and the impact of such decisions on other aspects or areas of the business are determined.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 2

• Relate a pertinent business-research problem, question or issue related any of the subfields of Business Management, Administration and Operations are identified and formulated, and independent research is conducted by applying appropriate research protocols, methods and analytical techniques, including:
• Contextualise a literature searches that and frames the research problem, question or issue and outline the area of investigation.
• Design a theoretical framework for research and the identification, motivation and description of the most suitable method(s) of investigation.
• Collect, analyse the relevant data processed and interpret it making use of appropriate data collection techniques, analytical tools and the appropriate software, and the aim being is to determine the impact of single deterministic and multiple deterministic variables on dependent variables.
• Prepared and presented a research report in the form of an academic treatise, meeting academic and scientific discourse and style conventions, with well-formulated findings, conclusions and recommendations.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 3

• Demonstrated level-appropriate competence by identifying, contextualising, analysing and addressing typical challenges faced regularly by middle and senior level business managers in the identified fields, applying knowledge of relevant theories, principles, concepts, and practices and techniques.
• Make and communicate options that are evaluated, strategies proposed and well-motivated recommendations.
• Identifying and debate critical awareness shown by various schools taught that result in different perspectives and approaches in dealing with typical managerial issues, such as individual business decisions, applications, strategies, as well as ethical and social considerations and responsibilities.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 4

• Use information technology and its associated methods, practices and tools to compute, access, process, manage, store and manipulate information to enhance own and team productivity, with due consideration of the limitations of such packages and tools and the need for the verification of final results.
• Communicate information effectively and timeously and with due consideration of cultural sensitivities to other team members involved in the business.
• Maintain competence by staying abreast of the latest developments in business methods, practices, tools and information technology (the principle of life-long learning).
• Conduct diagnostic tests for business viability and the results are evaluated and coherently presented.

Integrated Assessment

The research project is designed to be used for Integrated Assessment as knowledge from all aspects of the qualification is utilised.

Teaching and Learning strategies include face-to-face lectures, discussions and other forms of interaction, based on pre-reading of materials found in textbooks, prescribed readers, the media and other sources focusing on topical issues and events relevant to the programme. Assignments requiring independent self-study, project work, case studies, simulations, and in some instances, site-visits, will be set. To achieve the overall programme outcomes, strong emphasis is placed on teaching and learning of integrated knowledge components through problem solving and experiential learning. Students are encouraged to organize themselves into off-campus peer study groups that meet regularly to make and record presentations, report on own research initiatives and development experiences. Through blended learning and technology applications students and lecturers will communicate and lecturers will provide positive, constructive feedback to encourage students and to instil a spirit of team work. By means of the Moodle platform peer and self-assessment will be promoted. Regular, relevant mini-assignment and presentation topics will ensure student participation and commitment. Purposeful practical applications like case studies and simulations will provide cognitive and academic challenges as well as opportunity for extensive reading. This is also motivational and provides reinforcement of key concepts covered.

Assessment methods will include a combination of diagnostic and formative assessment tasks, assignments and progress checks that will inform teaching and learning. Case studies of business management and simulations will play a major part in the assessment process because a relevant case, scenario or simulation would closely represent the typical situations faced by business managers. Managers often have to sift through an excessive amount of information to glean the facts needed to make a decision, or they may not have enough information and fill in the blanks through educated guesses. In this process students learn how to function effectively in that type of decision-making environment. Formal assessment, some of which may also be based on case studies and/or scenarios, will consist of scheduled formal tests and written assignments that will encourage students to work consistently throughout the year. The formal tests and assignments will contribute 50% towards the final semester mark and the final examination a further 50%. Finally, three modules, deemed to be hands-one modules, namely Corporate Citizenship (EBMX401), Business Research (EBMR420) and Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management (EBMN 410), will be assessed on a continuous basis without a final examination. For moderation purposes a portfolio of assessment tasks, one for each module, will be collated and submitted to the external moderator.