Bachelor of Commerce in Supply Chain Management

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to provide learners with specialist knowledge and skills in supply chain management practices at both national and international levels. The qualification is directed towards learners occupying, or intending to occupy, junior and middle management positions in business sector organisations and who are also aspiring towards senior management positions.

Learners successfully completing this qualification will be able to occupy the following specialised positions

• Business consultant.
• Customer service manager.
• Logistics manager.
• Operations manager.
• Purchasing manager.
• Risk assessment manager.
• Supply chain analyst.
• Supply chain controller.
• Warehouse manager.

The qualifying learner will be capable of

• Demonstrating a functional understanding of business management.
• Demonstrating an understanding of global economics.
• Demonstrating an understanding of financial systems and processes in the business environment.
• Demonstrating an understanding of supply chain management systems and processes in a business environment.

Rationale

This qualification meets the needs of the sector by providing aspirant managers to this sector with a theoretical broad understanding of, and practical work related skills in business management, with a specialised focus on supply chain management in a national and international context, in both the public and private sectors.

The needs of the sector are further met through the exposure of the learner to a range of managerial competencies in areas which include business information systems, business statistics, commercial law, economics, project management and management accounting.

The qualification will contribute to the development of the country and the economy through the provisioning of learners who are capable of applying critical and analytical thinking and innovation in the supply chain environment.

The typical learners attempting this qualification would migrate from the schooling system with the necessary admission requirements, and/or would already be active in the workplace. This qualification, due to its adherence to the requirements of the HEQF, enables graduates to pursue an Honour's Degree in supply chain management, business management, business administration, public administration or any other cognate field.

It is assumed that the learner has the following knowledge and skills

• Communication in the language of learning and teaching of the institution at NQF Level 4.
• Mathematical Literacy at NQF Level 4.

Recognition of Prior Learning

This qualification may be achieved in part or completely through the Recognition of Prior Learning, which includes formal, informal and non-formal learning and work experience. Care will be taken that the mechanism used provides the learner with an opportunity to demonstrate competence and is not so onerous as to prevent learners from taking up the Recognition of Prior Learning option towards gaining a qualification. Recognition of Prior Learning may also be used to grant Access to the Qualification to those learners who do not meet the admission requirements.

Access to the Qualification

Learners accessing this qualification must have

• Successfully completed the National Senior Certificate with the relevant admission requirements.

OR

• Successfully completed the National Certificate: Vocational, NQF Level 4 with the relevant admission requirements.

OR

• Successfully completed a cognate qualification at NQF Level 5.

To be awarded this qualification learners are required to obtain a minimum of 360 credits, as follows

• 60 credits at NQF Level 5.
• 180 credits at NQF Level 6.
• 120 credits at NQF Level 7.

All Modules are worth 15 credits each.

Modules at NQF Level 5

• Business Management 1A
• Economics 1A
• Business Mathematics 1T
• End User Computing 1T

Total credits at NQF Level 5: 60

Modules at NQF Level 6

• Business Management 1B
• Economics 1B
• Business Information Systems
• Financial Accounting 1T
• Business Management 2A
• Supply Chain Management 2A
• Commercial Law 1T
• Management Accounting 2T
• Business Management 2B
• Supply Chain Management 2B
• Project Management 2T
• Business Statistics 2T

Total credits at NQF Level 6: 180

Modules at NQF Level 7

• Business Management 3A
• Business Management 3B
• Supply Chain Management 3A
• Supply Chain Management 3B
• Supply Chain Management 3C
• Supply Chain Management 3D
• Supply Chain Management 3E
• Supply Chain Management3F

Total credits at NQF Level 7: 120

1. Demonstrate a functional understanding of business management.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of global economics.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of financial systems and processes in the business environment.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of supply chain management systems and processes in a business environment.

Critical Cross-Field Outcomes

This qualification develops all the Critical Cross-Field Outcomes.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

1.1 Management theory and practices are analysed within a business context.

1.2 The strategic, managerial and operational roles of information systems are analysed within a business context.

1.3 Business statistics are analysed to ensure that good business decisions are taken.

1.4 Business mathematics is applied in order to record and manage business operations.

1.5 International and local commercial law is analysed to ensure legal and ethical compliance in a business environment.

1.6 Project management theory and practices are analysed for practical application in a business environment.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

2.1 Standard economic theory and behavioural economic theory are compared from a global perspective.

2.2 The basic principles of micro- and macro-economics are analysed within a business context.

2.3 The goals and instruments of a market economy are analysed within a business context.

2.4 The role of the various economic subjects in the economy are analysed within a business context.

2.5 A simple macro-economic model is constructed based on aggregate demand and aggregate supply.

2.6 Governmental influences on market allocations are analysed within a business context.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

3.1 The concepts and principals of financial accounting are analysed in a business context.

3.2 The different source documents used in a business are analysed in order to determine the purpose of each.

3.3 Basic financial transactions are performed within a business environment.

3.4 Financial statements are analysed using ratio analysis.

3.5 Appropriate financial software is used in a business context.

3.6 The concepts and principles of management accounting are analysed for practical application within a business context.

3.7 Management accounting practices are applied in order to make informed business decisions.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

4.1 Supply chain management concepts and principles are analysed within a business context.

4.2 The general principles and practices of market research, managing marketing enterprises and managing processes of purchase and supply are analysed within a business context.

4.3 The integration of all functions along the chain through shared objectives is analysed within a business context.

4.4 Common performance matrices are developed for practical integration along the supply chain.

4.5 Customer satisfaction is improved in order to maximise capital turnover within a business context.

4.6 The use of Information technology to enhance supply chain performance is analysed within a business context.

4.7 Strategies in extending alliances and partnerships are developed within a business context.

4.8 The successful implementation of business principles is analysed in relation to the logistics, supply chain and purchasing function.

Integrated Assessment

Formative assessment will be applied continually throughout the learning pathway of the individual learning outcomes and/or modules.

Summative assessment will be applied to ensure the achievement of each learning outcome and/or module. Integrated assessment will be applied extensively across the modules of learning to ensure the integrated achievement of the Exit-Level Outcomes.