Bachelor of Commerce in Business Informatics

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to provide qualifiers with graduate-level knowledge, specific skills, applied competence and the necessary attitudes in the fields associated with commerce and business information systems that prepare them to be lifelong learners, employable workers/entrepreneurs and contributors to society and the business community.

Rationale

The aim of this qualification is to provide South Africa (and other countries) with functional managers at the middle management level in all sectors of the economy, that are knowledgeable in both commercial and business information working environments.

It also aims to provide graduates with a self-sustaining understanding of the commercial and business information processes whereby productive resources are mobilised and utilised with a view to being gainfully employed in serving the material and social needs of a just society in a globalised world.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

This qualification recognises

Formal prior learning

• Students' prior accredited learning at tertiary level in relevant domains, which constitute credit-bearing units, is recognised. Students in possession of a Senior Certificate may register for University of South Africa's (Unisa's) 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 students 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 students to have formal qualifications for admission to university.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirements are

• National Senior Certificate (NSC) granting access to Bachelor's Degree studies.

Or

• Senior Certificate with endorsement.

This qualification consists of compulsory and elective modules at Levels 5, 6 and 7 totalling 360 Credits.

Compulsory Modules at Level 5: 72 Credits

• Business Management IA, 12 Credits.
• Financial Accounting Principles, Concepts and Procedures, 12 Credits.
• Introduction to Business Information Systems, 12 Credits.
• Quantitative Modelling I, 12 Credits.
• Economics IA, 12 Credits.
• Human-Computer Interaction I, 12 Credits.

Elective Modules at Level 5: 12 Credits (Select one module)

• Visual Programming I, 12 Credits.
• Sustainability and Greed, 12 Credits.
• Ethical Information and Communication Technologies for Development Solutions, 12 Credits.
• Descriptive Statistics and Probability, 12 Credits.

Compulsory Modules at Level 6: 144 Credits

• Financial Accounting Reporting, 12 Credits.
• Economics IB, 12 Credits.
• Business Management IB, 12 Credits.
• Structured Systems Analysis and Design, 12 Credits.
• Object-Oriented Analysis, 12 Credits.
• General Management, 12 Credits.
• Computer Networks I, 12 Credits.
• Introduction to The Performing of the Audit Process, 12 Credits.
• Practical Accounting Data Processing, 12 Credits.
• Databases I, 12 Credits.
• Internal Auditing: Theory and Principles, 12 Credits.
• Corporate Governance in Accountancy, 12 Credits.

Elective Modules at Level 6: 12 Credits (Select one module)

• Financial Accounting for Companies, 12 Credits.
• Visual Programming II, 12 Credits.
• Mathematical Modelling I, 12 Credits.

Compulsory Modules at Level 7: 120 Credits

• Human-Computer Interaction II, 12 Credits.
• Advanced Systems Development, 12 Credits.
• Databases II, 12 Credits.
• Software Project Management,12 Credits.
• Database Design and Implementation, 12 Credits.
• Strategic Implementation, 12 Credits.
• Global Business Environment, 12 Credits.
• Strategic Planning,12 Credits.
• The Internal Audit Process: Specific Engagements and Reporting, 12 Credits.
• The Internal Audit Process: Test of Controls, 12 Credits.

1. Demonstrate basic competence in the mastering, analysis, interpretation and application of management and business information principles, theories, procedures, operations and techniques as a solid knowledge base.
2. Reflect on and assess the effect of own application of basic management and business information principles and methods in the holistic context within the workplace as applied in the global and African context and their everyday lives.
3. Demonstrate intermediate competence in the mastering, analysis, interpretation and application of management and business information principles, theories, procedures, operations and techniques as a solid knowledge base.
4. Reflect on and assess the effect of own application of intermediate management and business information principles and methods in the holistic context within the workplace as applied in the global and African context and their everyday lives.
5. Demonstrate advanced competence in the mastering, analysis, interpretation and application of management and business information principles, theories, procedures, operations and techniques as a solid knowledge base.
6. Reflect on and assess the effect of own application of advanced management and business information principles and methods in the holistic context within the workplace as applied in the global and African context and their everyday lives.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Identify needs by means of exploring and critically evaluating abstract and personal situations.
• Solve problems by generating alternative strategies for dealing with those problems.
• Overcome communication problems creatively.
• Critically evaluate various viewpoints and compare them to own views.
• Offer evidence in a variety of ways (from theoretical knowledge base, from experiential base, etc) to support their stated views.
• Identify needs and opportunities in their own lives.
• Identify needs and opportunities in business by use of case studies, primary research projects, etc.
• Identify and solve concrete and abstract problems by drawing upon the theoretical knowledge and experiential base of individual disciplines in the fields of Business, Commerce and Management.
• Identify and solve concrete and abstract problems by drawing upon their own experience base.
• Identify and propose ways to serve business and societal needs in a variety of routine and non-routine contexts within broad parameters of the Business, Commerce and Management fields.
• Use their knowledge and experience to offer suggestions for solving problems at a community, national, international and global level.
• Analyse the global, national and local community in terms of problems, needs, opportunities.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Show evidence of 'people skills' (tolerance, empathy, listening skills, etc) in group situations.
• Demonstrate respect for the opinion of others through reporting without bias.
• Demonstrate tolerance of diversity through reporting without bias.
• Undertake projects and provide evidence of successful interaction with others.
• Use effective communication skills within the group.
• Lead people effectively.
• Be a supportive follower and group participant.
• Organise themselves and others into effective working groups.
• Communicate the evidence of these group interactions through reporting.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Demonstrate the requisite study skills and learning strategies.
• Organise their study plans.
• Use creative and various learning strategies which suit their personal situations and contexts.
• Cope with the self-discipline necessary for distance learning.
• Think independently, and offer evidence to support their decisions.
• Assess their own strengths and weaknesses and develop coping strategies.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Demonstrate basic research skills.
• Use library and other resources effectively to suit their individual needs.
• Use library and other resources effectively to suit the needs of the particular areas of research.
• Integrate information from a variety of sources.
• Act responsibly as a researcher and scholar (eg, appropriate referencing, avoiding plagiarism, etc).
• Show awareness of the conventions of scholarship in the various disciplines under study.
• Demonstrate awareness of relevant conventions and guidelines to their academic and personal purposes.
• Critically analyse theories, examples, experiences, etc.
• Argue appropriately within the relevant discourse community.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Communicate their ideas and provide supporting evidence in a sustained manner.
• Responsibly use others' ideas in support of their own (without plagiarism, etc).
• Identify conclusions and premises in academic arguments.
• Follow the language conventions of written (and/or oral) use in the respective disciplines.
• Use appropriate models of organisation and presentation as required in the respective disciplines.
• Use numbers with accuracy.
• Interpret numbers for use in business applications.
• Use statistics appropriately and responsibly in support of their ideas.
• Create and use visuals appropriately to support their ideas.
• Recognise own communication limitations and problems and seek help appropriately.
• Identify and illustrate subject-specific jargon.
• See, describe and interpret what they come across in appropriate ways.
• Use language to critically analyse, evaluate and critique others' ideas.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Demonstrate an appropriate attitude towards scholarship and technology.
• Use a scientific method of investigation, testing and evaluation.
• Select appropriate technology to suit the needs of the individual or group.
• Use other technology (computers, internet, etc) where appropriate and feasible.
• Use natural resources in a sustainable way.
• Show respect for and a responsible attitude towards science and technology.
• Demonstrate a consideration of the ethics involved in science and technology issues.
• Show respect and openness towards the psychological, health and physical environment of others.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Demonstrate their prior knowledge and experience of their individual situations.
• Connect the abstract knowledge of theory to the reality of their individual personal contexts.
• Draw upon their prior knowledge (personal and abstract), personal experience as appropriate when investigating and analysing the world around them.
• Look beyond and across traditional disciplinary boundaries for possible solutions.
• Follow an integrated approach to learning and studying.
• Choose and follow appropriate pathways.
• Apply systems thinking to solving economic and management related problems.

Integrated Assessment

Formative Assessment is done by means of activities in study guides, self-assessment questions in study guides and self-assessment assignments as well as written assignments that have to be submitted for assessment. The assignments are either in the form of multiple-choice questions (MCQs), short questions, essays, or a combination, depending on the level of study. MCQs are largely used at first level. The marks obtained for these assignments contribute a minimum of percentage towards the final mark for the module. The remaining mark is made up of the examination mark.

Feedback on activities and self-assessment questions are provided in study guides and tutorial letters. Individual feedback on assignments is provided by assessors in marked assignments while general feedback on these assignments is provided in tutorial letters.

Summative Assessment is conducted by means of a two- to three-hour examination per module. Feedback on Summative Assessment (examinations) is provided to individual students upon request.