Diploma in Management

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Diploma in Management is to develop the skills, knowledge, and competence of qualified learners. The aim is to support national efforts to equip prospective business managers and entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs with the requisite knowledge and skills to produce better economic results.

The qualification provides a general understanding of how business works. The learners gain an in-depth knowledge of today's business world, trends, challenges, and opportunities while developing core skills relating to business and management. The qualification has been designed to develop the skills and techniques needed in industry and enable learners to apply their learning to real business situations.

This qualification employs the latest pedagogical approaches and developments in business management to help the learner develop cognitive and problem-solving skills to operate effectively individually and as part of a team, always including consideration of business ethics, prepare for work in a range of cultures and countries and understand how to create effective communication strategies.

Upon completion of this qualification, qualifying learners will be able to

• Apply the basic principles of the general system theory in cohesively managing the various business functions and performing management roles in the organisation.
• Apply knowledge of micro and macro-economics as it relates to the business environment.
• Apply knowledge of diversity management in working with people from diverse backgrounds in the business context.
• Apply sound business management principles.
• Apply project management methods, skills, and tools to effectively administer a project over its life cycle from initiation to commissioning.
• Demonstrate a general knowledge of occupational health and safety management (OHSM) and apply this knowledge to manage OHS in any organisation.
• Demonstrate detailed knowledge and understanding of the concepts, rules, and theories applicable to supply chain and procurement management and use the expert knowledge to manage and maintain the principles related to the planning, presentation and executing of tasks related to the supply chain operation and procurement management.
• Apply knowledge of financial principles and business calculations to analyse and forecast financial variables for effective financial management.
• Implement business continuity and risk management and virtual working systems in the work environment during major disasters.

Rationale

In South Africa, there is a high demand for managers. The South African government, business, and the labour market have all expressed the need for the competent first line and middle-level management to grow the economy now and in the future. The National List of Occupations in High Demand (Department of Higher Education (DHET), 2018) reflects the need for managers across all economic sectors of South Africa. This lack of business and management skills has also been mentioned as one of the contributors to the high failure rate in the small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMME) arena (Bushe, 2019). There is a need to intensify management training not only to increase the pool of corporate managers but to also focus on increased entrepreneurship training and enterprise development to ensure SMME success with the belief that investment in entrepreneurship development will eventually lead to job creation.

Investing in education and specifically, management training is critical to economic and social development in Africa because it will provide Africans with greater opportunities for personal and collective advancement. The Programme for the Transformation on Higher Education: Education White Paper 3 (Department of Education, 1997) alludes to the importance of training effective managers. The white paper points out the gross mismatch between higher education output and the needs of a modernising economy, a shortage of highly trained qualified learners in commerce. As a result, the white paper calls on higher education institutions to provide education and training to develop the skills and innovations necessary for national development, successful participation in the global economy, and human resource development with a clearly defined goal to further the development of managers and management on a national level.

The current volatile and unpredictable business environment demands of business managers to continuously scrutinise, manipulate, and revise their business strategies. Armed with a well-developed business understanding, management capabilities, and a higher-level qualification in business management, qualifying will be well sought after for entry-level or middle-management business positions within different organisational types.

Besides the normal day-to-day business management skills, rapid technological advancements provide tools and techniques to effectively deal with the vagaries of today's business environment including managing the business implications of disasters such as the Covid-19 pandemic. This new normal that has given rise to a variety of activities in today's unpredictable business environment requires well-rounded management qualified learners with a broad, all-encompassing view of business functions. The business management knowledge and skill obtained from the qualification will be important to organisations as it provides a foundation for understanding the various facets of business, it is also important for the achievement of individual educational goals.

The qualification provides training and knowledge specific to a career or field (business management) which is a direct response to the needs of South Africans and other nationalities to obtain a higher education qualification and enable the successful learner access to further learning in the same or a related field.

Upon completion of the qualification, various opportunities exist including starting and managing small to medium enterprises effectively and efficiently, moving into management positions or articulating to an advanced cognate diploma or a business-related bachelor's degree at any Institution.

The institution has an approved Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy which is applicable to equivalent qualifications for admission into the qualification. RPL will be applied to accommodate applicants who qualify. RPL thus provides alternative access and admission to qualifications, as well as advancement within qualifications. RPL may be applied for access, credits from modules and credits for or towards the qualification.

RPL for access

• Learners who do not meet the minimum entrance requirements or the required qualification that is at the same NQF level as the qualification required for admission may be considered for admission through RPL.
• To be considered for admission in the qualification based on RPL, applicants should provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that they have acquired the relevant knowledge, skills, and competencies through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to cope with the qualification expectations should they be allowed entrance into the qualification.

RPL for exemption of modules

• Learners may apply for RPL to be exempted from modules that form part of the qualification. For a learner to be exempted from a module, the learner needs to provide sufficient evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that competency was achieved for the learning outcomes that are equivalent to the learning outcomes of the module.

RPL for credit

• Learners may also apply for RPL for credit for or towards the qualification, in which they must provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates prior learning through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to obtain credits towards the qualification.
• Credit shall be appropriate to the context in which it is awarded and accepted.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• National Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4 granting access to Diploma studies.

Or

• National Certificate (Vocational), NQF Level 4 granting access to Diploma studies.

Or

• Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4 without endorsement.

Or

• Higher Certificate in Management, NQF Level 5.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 6 totalling 360 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 5,120 Credits

• Introduction to business functions, 12 Credits.
• Introduction to smart working technologies, 12 Credits.
• Introduction to economics, 12 Credits.
• Introduction to entrepreneurship, 12 Credits.
• Introduction to marketing, 12 Credits.
• Introduction to human resources management, 12 Credits.
• Introduction to virtual working, 12 Credits.
• Introduction to business computations, 12 Credits.
• Introduction to accounting concepts, 12 Credits.
• Introduction to customer service, 12 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 6,240 Credits

• Management theories and applications 12 Credits.
• Diversity in the workplace, 12 Credits.
• Project management principles, 12 Credits.
• Disaster management, 12 Credits.
• Design thinking, 12 Credits.
• Leadership principles and practices, 12 Credits.
• Strategic management, 12 Credits.
• Entrepreneurship in practice, 12 Credits.
• Responsible business management, 12 Credits.
• Basic business research skills, 12 Credits.
• Supply chain management, 12 Credits.
• Procurement management, 12 Credits.
• Global entrepreneurship, 12 Credits.
• Occupational health and safety management, 12 Credits.
• Quality assurance and management, 12 Credits.
• Risk management, 12 Credits.
• Business continuity management, 12 Credits.
• Workplace practice, 36 Credits.

1. Apply the basic principles of the general system theory in cohesively managing the various business functions and performing management roles in the organisation.
2. Apply knowledge of micro and macro-economics as it relates to the business environment.
3. Apply knowledge of diversity management in working with people from diverse backgrounds in the business context.
4. Apply sound business management principles.
5. Apply project management methods, skills, and tools to effectively administer a project over its life cycle from initiation to commissioning.
6. Demonstrate a general knowledge of occupational health and safety management (OHSM) and apply this knowledge to manage OHS in any organisation.
7. Demonstrate detailed knowledge and understanding of the concepts, rules, and theories applicable to supply chain and procurement management and use the expert knowledge to manage and maintain the principles related to the planning, presentation and executing of tasks related to the supply chain operation and procurement management.
8. Apply knowledge of financial principles and business calculations to analyse and forecast financial variables for effective financial management.
9. Implement business continuity and risk management and virtual working systems in the work environment during major disasters.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Explain and discuss the human resources, marketing, finance, operations and purchasing and supply chain functions together with the role of each function in an organisation.
• Define, explain, and discuss the management roles of planning, leading, directing, and controlling.
• Discuss the basic principles enshrined in the general system theory.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the business functions and managerial roles as a set of related systems in the following manner:
• Explain and discuss the interrelationship between the various functional areas of business.
• Perform the human resources, marketing, finance, operations and purchasing and supply chain functions and managerial roles effectively through the utilisation of the principles of the general systems theory.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Define macro and microeconomics and explain and discuss their differences.
• Apply economic (macro and micro) thinking for decision-making and problem-solving in the relevant sectors of government, business, and households.
• Discuss and acknowledge the limitations of macro and microeconomics in business decision-making.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Explain and discuss the concepts of diversity; individual differences; personality; perception and stereotypes in the work context.
• Display sensitivity when managing and interacting with others of different backgrounds in the workplace.
• Apply appropriate people management practices in managing a diverse workforce.
• Be culturally sensitive in managing and interacting with people from other cultural backgrounds in the workplace.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Make innovative management decisions by applying various modern management tools and techniques.
• Solve management problems by applying quantitative and critical and design thinking.
• Develop an effective strategic plan by displaying insight into and incorporating current and future developments in the South African and global milieu.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Compile project planning documents and a project schedule by displaying a working knowledge of project management principles, key concepts, and techniques relevant to management.
• Perform relevant costing activities and work effectively in and with teams.
• Apply project quality management by focusing on project risk management, estimation, procurement management, feasibility studies and integration management.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Define and explain OHSM in terms of health, safety, and hygiene
• Explain and apply the processes of OHSM within an organisation.
• Discuss the root causes of accidents and health, safety, and hygiene risks in the workplace.
• Apply appropriate investigation techniques and control strategies for dealing with OHSM.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Describe procurement management principles, and practices.
• Describe procurement management components in terms of relevant legislation.
• Develop a supply chain system that fits into the resource requirements planning in line with organisational strategy and legislation.
• Develop a supply chain strategy for an organisation that maximises the benefits and minimises the supply chain challenges.
• Explain key steps and potential challenges in creating an effective supply chain in terms of how strategic partnerships can enhance supply chain management.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8

• Perform basic business calculations to determine the operating costs of a business.
• Perform basic business calculations to determine the financing needs of the business.
• Interpret the business financial statements.
• Perform ratio analysis and correctly interpret the results.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9

• Explain disaster risk management and compare it with disaster risk reduction strategies including mitigation and preparedness for disasters.
• Identify important elements and steps in disaster risk management.
• Identify and explain important elements and steps in business continuity management.
• Explain important virtual working concepts, elements, and tools.
• Identify and use tools and technics necessary for effective virtual working to develop a virtual working plan for self and teams.

INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT

Formative assessment comprises a variety of individual, group and class activities aimed at correcting and reinforcing knowledge and skills. Formative assessments conducted during the delivery of the module generate a mark that contributes to 50% of the final mark for each course/ module. It is aimed at determining the learner's progress towards attaining the stipulated outcomes.

All assessments involve decision-making in a practical business setting. This enables lecturers to achieve integration of assessment which by definition means to:

• Treat a number of outcomes together.
• Treat a number of assessment criteria together.
• Promote awareness of the connections and relationships between the knowledge, processes, and skills inside the different modules.
• Use a combination of assessment methods and instruments used to achieve outcome/outcomes.
• Collect naturally occurring evidence (such as in the workplace setting) or through simulation.

Additionally, the learners are expected to engage in a project which will require that they apply most of what they have learnt about management.

Summative assessment takes the form of a 3-hour exam which contributes the remaining 50% of the final mark for each module. In the case of the continuous assessment, a number of summative assessments are conducted on the conclusion of predefined parts demarcated according to each or a combination of learning outcomes (LO) and not at the end of the whole module.