Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Management

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to enable learners to build on existing knowledge about the functional areas of management and to deepen their expertise and understanding of key management theories applicable to the contemporary context of business. This will consolidate and deepen learner insight and expertise in the core fields of the management discipline. The Degree will provide learners with the knowledge, skills and applied competencies identified by industry as critical for business development and sustainability in either the private, the government sector or in NGOs. Learners will also be well-prepared with the insight and skills that are relevant for further specialised study in support of the principles of life-long learning. The specific skills sets incorporated into the design presents a combination that is highly attractive to prospective employers and adds value to the organisation that employs them.

Upon completion of the qualification, learners will be able to demonstrate the following

• Evaluate innovative leadership and management practices in business, considering the implications of leadership and management strategy, as well as the national and international environment.
• Analyse and strategise the global forces shaping international business from a South African perspective, including globalisation, trade and investment, and management in an international environment.
• Analyse practical and accessible evidence-based approaches to managing contemporary issues and innovation in a wide range of contexts, both South African and international.
• Evaluate contemporary management theories, approaches and practices as they relate to managing a business.
• Implement an appropriate research design for primary and secondary research and report critically and analytically on data collected through primary and secondary research.

Rationale

The Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Management aims to develop learners holding a Bachelor of Commerce with one of the Management disciplines at HEQSF Level 7 or an equivalent qualification, critical thinking and reflective skills. Furthermore, in line with industry demand, this qualification will build on a broad knowledge base of business, developed at undergraduate level and consolidate and deepen learners` insight and expertise in the core fields of the management discipline, thereby, extending learners knowledge on contemporary management theories in contemporary business contexts. Learners will be engaged with the various theories, research methodologies, techniques and contemporary issues relevant to management, with the aim of applying and advancing their knowledge of the contemporary business world. Thus, the qualification provides learners with an advanced set of expertise and theoretical depth in management that will support their progression in an organisation, in producing a more rounded industry-ready post-graduate learner.

Learners will be equipped with a deep understanding of key management and leadership attributes, focussing on contemporary factors that impact on business today. Not only will this develop higher level business acumen in learners, but the theories of business will also be underpinned by the ability to apply solution-focused, systemic research geared towards building businesses in the South African and African economy, as well as being able to function in an international context. The Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Management qualification will therefore qualify competent business managers and leaders who are able to work in, and contribute to effective management in the contemporary business environment.

Through a range of cutting edge management related competencies, that includes innovation and contemporary issues relating to business management, the purpose and outcomes of this qualification are seen as critical in driving a successful career in the business environment and will prepare learners to take up positions in a variety of business and related sectors.

Examples of career opportunities for completed learners include

• General Management.
• Strategic Management.
• Entrepreneurship/Self-Employment.
• Business Consulting.

This qualification will prepare learners to continue their management studies at HEQSF Level 9.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Learners can achieve this qualification in part through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). The institution's RPL Policy and its Academic Credit and Qualification Completion Policy guide this process.

Skills, knowledge and experience in respect of competencies acquired through informal and non-formal learning will be assessed in the RPL process.

The institution's RPL Policy (IIE010) and its Academic Credit and Qualification Completion Policy (IIE004) guide the process whereby skills, knowledge and experience in respect of competence acquired through formal and non-formal learning are assessed. All RPL submissions are managed by an academic committee under the supervision of the Academic Manager and Registrar.

Entry Requirements

Admission requirements for the qualification are as follows

• An appropriate Bachelor's Degree.

Or

• An appropriate Advanced Diploma provided at 360 Credits in a cognate field has been completed or appropriate equivalent.

More specifically

• A Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA).

Or

• A Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) Degree (or equivalent qualification) with one of the management disciplines at HEQSF Level 7, as well as Statistics at least at 1st year level.

Or

• Applicants without Statistics in their undergraduate qualification will be required to complete a competency test and may be required to do an additional course in Statistics.

The qualification consists of compulsory modules at NQF Level 8, totalling 120 Credits.

Modules

• Management and Leadership, 21 Credits.
• International Business Management, 21 Credits.
• Research, 36 Credits.
• Sustainability and Social Responsibility, 21 Credits.
• Contemporary Management and Innovation, 21 Credits.

1. Evaluate innovative leadership and management practices in business, considering the implications of leadership and management strategy, as well as the national and international environment.
2. Analyse and strategise the global forces shaping international business from a South African perspective, including globalisation, trade and investment, and management in an international environment.
3. Analyse practical and accessible evidence-based approaches to managing contemporary issues and innovation in a wide range of contexts, both South African and international.
4. Evaluate contemporary management theories, approaches and practices as they relate to managing a business.
5. Implement an appropriate research design for primary and secondary research and report critically and analytically on data collected through primary and secondary research.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• The impacts of management and leadership on the implementation of strategy in a business are compared.
• The theoretical framework and approaches to leadership and management are critically examined.
• Issues in management and leadership development common to both a South African and an international business are evaluated.
• How leadership strategy is formulated and implemented in a business is analysed.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Location specific advantages that will allow a specific business to expand internationally and with new partners are discussed.
• The interdependency of global monetary systems and foreign exchange markets are analysed.
• A strategy that will enable a firm to enter and compete in a variety of global business environments is formulated.
• The role and intricacies of operations management in a global business environment are evaluated.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Market conditions and forecast emerging opportunities for innovation are surveyed and analysed.
• Projects that will support innovation actions in a specific business context are evaluated and selected.
• The impact of strategic innovation management actions on a business are evaluated.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Key contemporary management perspectives of a South African business as compared to an international business of choice are discussed using relevant theoretical approaches.
• The relevance of critical management studies to our knowledge of management and organisations are examined.
• Theories of management are advanced and analysed to justify their importance to managers are analysed.
• The environment of management is evaluated.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• The criteria for conducting a meaningful research is identified.
• A research problem and purpose, research questions and goals are defined.
• Limitations and delimitations to a field specific research study are identified.
• An appropriate research design is developed and implemented.
• Secondary research by means of a literature study that argues the research problem is reported on.
• Primary research data to produce research findings and insights is analysed.
• A report that reflects on the research design and provides meaningful recommendations for a further research is written.

Integrated Assessment

Formative assessment

Learning and assessment are integrated. Continual formative assessment is required so that learners are given feedback on their progress in the achievement of Exit Level Outcomes. The scheme of work includes assignments, real-world briefs, a reflective internship journal and an integrated programme portfolio based on the learning material and students are given feedback. The process is continuous and focuses on smaller sections of the work and limited numbers of outcomes.

Summative assessment

Summative assessment is concerned with the judgement of the learning in relation to the Exit Level Outcomes of the qualification. Such judgement must include integrated assessments which test the learner's ability to integrate the larger body of knowledge, skills and attitudes that are represented by the Exit Level Outcomes as a whole. Examinations, projects, reports or equivalent assessments, such as a portfolio of evidence, assess a representative selection of the outcomes practised and assessed. Summative assessment also tests the learners' ability to manage and integrate a large body of knowledge to achieve the stated outcomes of a module.

Integrated assessments will be designed to achieve

• An integration of the achievement of Exit Level Outcomes in a way which demonstrates that the purpose of the qualification as a whole has been achieved.
• The evaluation of learner performance which can provide evidence of applied competence.
• Criterion-referenced assessment which is clearly explained to, and understood by, the students and which can be applied in the recognition of prior learning.