Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Business Management

The primary purpose of the qualification is to provide Honours Bachelor of Commerce graduate level knowledge, specific skills and applied competence in a number of fields traditionally associated with Business, Commerce and Management that will prepare them to be lifelong learners, employable workers/managers, entrepreneurs and contributors to society and the business community.

A second purpose of the qualification is to provide South Africa (and other countries) with graduates in a number of learning fields in order to ensure that the leadership base of innovative and knowledge base economic and scholarly activity is widened.

A third purpose of the qualification is to provide South Africa (and other countries) with people who can understand the constructive role they need to play as intellectual economic leaders in their society and who are empowered to play that role.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

This qualification recognises

Formal prior learning

• Learners' prior accredited learning at tertiary level in relevant domains, which constitute credit-bearing units, is recognized. Learners in possession of a Senior Certificate may register for Institutions access modules [Economic and Management Environment (INM101-3 and INM102-4) as well as an access examination (Language and Learning Skills (LSK011-9)]. Once the Learners have passed these access courses, they may register for the Bachelor of Commerce (BCom).
• Non-formal and informal prior experiential learning.
• The law currently requires Learners to have formal qualifications for admission to university.

Entry Requirements

Learners must provide a written motivation of not more than three pages requesting admission to the college. The college will take into account the relevant experience, work or otherwise, of the student, the language capabilities of the student any other factor deemed necessary by the college. Learners who have not passed Strategic Management III, may enrol for a Short Learning Programme in Advanced Strategic Management for access.

This qualification consists of compulsory at Level 8, totalling to 188 Credits.

Level 8

• The Management of organisational Change and Renewal, 24 Credits.
• Project Management, 24 Credits.
• Advanced Operations Management, 24 Credits.
• International Business, 24 Credits.
• Information Management, 24 Credits.
• Research Methodology, 12 Credits.
• Research Report-Business Management, 24 Credits.
• Research Proposal-Business Management, 8 Credits.
• Strategic Management, 24 Credits.

1. Identify, analyse, formulate, and solve convergent and divergent problems, creatively and responsibly in fields related to business, commerce and management.
2. Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation, community, and contribute to the group output in tasks growing out of the fields related to business, commerce and management.
3. Manage and organise her or his activities and life responsibly and effectively, including her or his studies and career.
4. Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information as required in pursuit of the Honours Bachelor of Commerce (Hons BCom).
5. Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the modes of oral and/or written presentation, in sustained discourse.
6. Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health and wellbeing of others, in community, national and global contexts.
7. Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation, and by acknowledging their responsibilities to those in the local and broader business community.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Identify and define complex problems.
• Apply appropriate knowledge to solving complex problems.
• Identify, analyse and solve concrete and abstract problems in the business, commerce and management fields by drawing upon theoretical knowledge.
• Identify, analyse and solve complex concrete and abstract routine and non-routine problems in business, commerce and management fields by drawing upon their own experience.
• Use their knowledge to offer suggestions for solving business problems at the community and national levels.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Apply people skills (tolerance, empathy, listening skills and leadership) in liaising with other professionals, clients and colleagues.
• Demonstrate respect for the opinion of others through written reporting without bias.
• Demonstrate tolerance of diversity through written reporting without bias.
• Demonstrate the ability to work in groups.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Demonstrate the requisite study skills and learning strategies to study with limited guidance.
• Cope with the self-discipline necessary for distance learning.
• Think independently and offer evidence to support their decisions. Identify needs and opportunities for applying economic and management principles in their own lives.
• Manage multiple deadlines.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Demonstrate increasingly competent research and reporting skills.
• Use library and other resources effectively to suit their individual needs and to conduct limited research projects.
• Act responsibly as a scholar (appropriate referencing, avoiding plagiarism etc.).
• Follow conventions of scholarship in the various disciplines under study.
• Critically analyse theories, examples and case studies.
• Think independently, and offer evidence to support their decisions.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Communicate their ideas and provide supporting evidence in a sustained manner.
• Responsibly use other's ideas in support of their own (without plagiarism, etc.).
• Identify and evaluate conclusions and premises in academic arguments.
• Follow the literacy and numeracy conventions of written use in the disciplines related to business, commerce and management.
• Use numbers and statistics appropriately and with accuracy.
• Create and use visuals to appropriately to support their ideas.
• Use the written communication form to critically analyse, evaluate and critique others' ideas.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Demonstrate an appropriate attitude towards scholarship and technology.
• Select appropriate technology to suit the needs of the organisation.
• Use technology where appropriate and feasible in solving business-related problems.
• Use natural and human resources in a sustainable manner in order to chive the maximum output for the minimum input.
• Show concern for the physical environment and the health of others.
• Demonstrate a consideration for the ethics involved in science and technology issues.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Use scientific methods of investigation, testing and evaluation.
• Select appropriate technology to suit the needs of the business community or employer.
• Use other technology (computers and the Internet) where appropriate and feasible.
• Show respect for and a responsible attitude towards science and technology.
• Apply systems thinking to solve simple economic and management related problems.

Integrated Assessment

Formative Assessment: Learning and assessment are integrated. The study guides, as a rule, contain self-assessment tasks with feedback. The scheme of work includes assignments which may be self-assessed base on the learning material and Learners are given feedback. The process is continuous of focuses on smaller sections of the work and limited numbers of outcomes.

Summative Assessment: Examinations, or equivalent assessment such as a portfolio of evidence assess a representative selection of the outcomes practised and assessed in the formative stage. Summative assessment also tests the student's ability to manage and integrate a large body of knowledge to achieve the stated outcomes of a module.