Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Operations and Quality Management

Purpose

The purpose and overall outcome of the qualification is to provide learners who are either already in senior management positions or aspire to such positions, with the knowledge and skills to manage the operations function within the context of the organisation and society as a whole.

This purpose is achieved through providing the learners with exposure to the disciplines of; Operations Management, Strategic Management and Quality Management with a research component. Learners will be exposed to either organisational behaviour or marketing as elective components.

The qualification provides learners with the opportunity to obtain knowledge which allows them to apply entrepreneurial principles within the organisation or to the development of their own business through the inclusion of an elective component dedicated to Entrepreneurship.

The application of the full range of knowledge and skills obtained in the qualification is encouraged through the Integrated Case Studies component which exposes learners to the problems and experiences of other organisations through the structured analysis of case studies.

The purpose of the qualification is consistent with the principles that underpin the National Skills Development Strategy in that it:

• Provides a further phase in lifelong learning for managers in the Manufacturing Sector of the economy allowing them to aspire to senior management positions.
• Provides access to study at Postgraduate Degree level for previously disadvantaged learners employed in industry thus promoting equity.
• Provides a demand-led programme that meets the needs of the Manufacturing Sector.
• Fosters skills development in the formal economy for productivity and employability.

Rationale

The Bachelor of Science (Honours); Operations and Quality Management is a one year programme at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 8 directed at fulfilling the needs of senior managers in the manufacturing industry.

The qualification empowers learners to grow both personally and professionally by providing the theoretical underpinnings and practical skills to become competent senior managers. It achieves this result by the integration of theoretical instruction with practical application in the specific context of the learners' workplace.

At this level the emphasis is on extension of the knowledge and skills base of the learners beyond the narrow confines of management of the operations function and equipping them with the competencies to contribute to the management of the organisation as a whole at senior management level. The position of the organisation as part of wider society, both within and outside the country, is emphasised. The knowledge gained by the learner facilitates mobility within all sectors of the economy.

The qualification contributes to both regional and national goals by

• Providing access to knowledge and skills for individuals who have been disadvantaged in their access to higher education raising the skills level of the region and the nation.
• Providing expertise in the management organisations across a broad range of industries aiding in the improvement of the productivity of these industries and contributing to national competitiveness.
• Providing learners with a pathway to achieving their potential thus contributing to the national goal of promoting life-long learning. Providing the knowledge and skills to establish and operate a Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprise (SMME) facilitating the economic empowerment of previously disadvantaged persons.
• Accommodating the recognition of prior learning ensuring that the national goals of equity and fairness in access to higher learning are addressed.
• The combination of theory and practice together with project work ensures that the learning is applied and that the learner is equipped with learning skills.
• The use of group work and a reflection on the experience of working in a team enhances the learners understanding of working with others.

The qualification is primarily designed to provide access for learners already employed in manufacturing industry but is also open to other categories of learner.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The learner is assumed to be familiar with a manufacturing environment either through his/her employment in such an environment or through the successful completion of the Diploma in Operations Management or an equivalent qualification at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 6.

Competence in communication and mathematics equivalent to NQF Level 5 or above is expected. Such competence may be demonstrated through the possession of a formal qualification or through Recognition of Prior Learning.

Prior learning is recognised on a component-by-component basis or in terms of the overall qualification. Any prior learning has to be valid, authentic, relevant, sufficiently recent and at an appropriate level before it will be recognised as fulfilling the requirements for admission to the qualification or as a basis for exemption from a specific component of the qualification.

The Institute must be satisfied that the qualifications, either formal, informal or non-formal, when combined with work experience, represent competence against the assessment criteria listed in paragraph 8. In any event the maximum level of exemption from components of the qualification by virtue of prior learning is 40 %.

Access to Qualification

Learners entering this qualification will typically be employed in manufacturing industry at a middle or senior management level. However, other categories of learners can access the qualification provided they meet the requirements given in paragraph 7 - "Learning assumed to be in place".

Middle managers in this context are those at the second level of management in an organisation who have first level managers reporting to them. Typical job titles include, but are not limited to; "group leader", "foreman", "section manager", department manager. Senior managers may bear titles such as; factory manager, production manager or general manager.

Access may be obtained through Recognition of Prior Learning.

Entry Requirements

• A Bachelor Degree, or equivalent qualification.

This qualification consists of compulsory and elective modules at Level 8, totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, totalling 105 Credits

• Advanced Operations Management, 15 Credits.
• Strategic Management, 15 Credits.
• Total Quality Management, 15 Credits.
• Research Methodology, 15 Credits.
• Dissertation/Research Report, 45 Credits.

Elective modules, totalling 15 Credits

• Organisational Behaviour, 15 Credits.
• Marketing, 15 Credits.

1. Demonstrate understanding of advanced concepts in Operations Management.
2. Demonstrate understanding of the theories and concepts of Strategic Management and their application to optimise organisational competitiveness.
3. Demonstrate understanding of the theory and practice of Total Quality Management and its implications within and outside the organisation.
4. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Research Methods.
5. Conduct independent research and present the findings in an appropriate manner.
6. Demonstrate understanding of the discipline of Organisational Behaviour and how it can be applied to optimise organisational performance.
7. Demonstrate understanding of the role of marketing as an integral and important part of the Enterprise and to examine the marketing/operations interface.

Associated Assessment criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

Knowledge and understanding of advanced concepts of operations management is evident in written, oral and practical assessments.

Associated Assessment criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

A strategic plan is drawn up for a simplified organisation.

Associated Assessment criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

Knowledge and understanding of the theory and practice of Total Quality Management is evident in written, oral and practical assessments.

Associated Assessment criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

The ability to apply scholarly and scientific research methods is evident through the completion of a dissertation.

Associated Assessment criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

The ability to formulate and promote ideas using appropriate language and visual aids. The ability to synthesise information from a variety of sources. Evidence of insight and critical reasoning is evident.

Associated Assessment criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

Knowledge and understanding of the potential of Organisational Behaviour principles and techniques to improve organisational performance is evident in written, oral and practical assessments.

Associated Assessment criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

Knowledge and understanding of the role of marketing in an organisation and the interface between marketing/operations.

Integrated Assessment

While the qualification is essentially academic, emphasis in the assessments and assignments is on the integration of the theory with practice. Evidence of insight and understanding flowing from reflection is required.

Formative Assessment occurs through a regime of continuous assessment of written, oral, individual and group assignments. They include a presentation element which develops the ability to communicate effectively utilising a range of techniques.

All components except the Dissertation culminate in an examination which is a minimum of three (3) hours duration. Examinations are the prime summative assessment method. Use is made of Case Studies and practical exercises in examinations wherever appropriate.

The examinations assess the learners` understanding of the theoretical learning (Foundational Competence). The tasks and assignments provide a means to assess the learners` ability to apply the theory in practice (Practical Competence) and the Dissertation provides a means to assess the learners` ability to demonstrate Reflexive Competence.