Diploma: Office Management and Technology

Purpose

The qualifying learner will be able to operate as a personal executive assistant, office manager and office coordinator in a legal environment, business or other organisations.

Upon completion of the Diploma: Office Management and Technology, the qualified learner would have been actively engaged in becoming a well-rounded, educated person, prepared for further, more specific study and/or the work environment.

Rationale

This qualification was designed to meet the industry need for personal, executive assistants, office managers and office coordinators in a legal environment, business and other organisations. It is designed to provide the learner with general skills for the office environment in all types of organisations. It provides the learner with skills to become competent in applying selected principles and techniques in supporting managers and who will be able to deal effectively with contemporary issues on an operational level.

• Learners should have good reading and writing skills in English.
• Learners should be able to analyse and respond to a variety of texts.
• Learners should be able to learn independently in an Open and Distance Learning context (ODL) with minimum support.

Recognition of Prior Learning

All admission through Recognition of Prior Learning must be in accordance with the principles laid down in the Unisa Recognition of Prior Learning Policy.

This qualification can be achieved wholly or in part through Recognition of Prior Learning.

The Unisa Recognition of Prior Learning office supplies full details of processes relating to the assessment and accreditation of learning from prior experiences. Evidence can be presented in a variety of forms, including international or previous local qualifications, reports, testimonials mentioning functions performed, work records, portfolios, videos of practice and performance records.

All such evidence will be judged according to the general principle of assessment described in the notes to assessors. Unisa lecturers will act as assessors for Recognition of Prior Learning purposes.

Access to the Qualification

Learners should be in possession of a National Senior Certificate (NSC) certified by the Council for General and Further Education and Training (Umalusi) granting access to Diploma studies, with an achievement rating of 3 or better (an E symbol on Senior Certificates), in four recognised National Senior Certificate 20 credits subjects containing English, at either Home, or First Additional, or Second Additional Level selected as a recognised 20 credits subject for the National Senior Certificate.

Candidates with a relevant Higher Certificate will also be admitted to this Diploma.

All modules are worth 12 credits each.

NQF Level 5 modules - 84 credits

Compulsory

• Business Administration 1A.
• Information Administration I, Module A: Theory.
• Information Administration I, Module B: Practical.
• Business Management IA.
• Communication I: Module 1.

Electives (choose any two)

• Introduction to Human Resource Management.
• Commercial Law IA.
• Financial Accounting IA.

NQF Level 6 modules - 192 credits

Compulsory

• Business Management IB.
• Business Administration IB.
• Administrative Management IIA.
• Administrative Management IIB.
• Information Administration II, Module A: Theory.
• Information Administration II, Module B: Practical.
• Business Management IIA.
• Business Management IIB.
• Communication I, Module 2.
• Communication II, Module 1.
• Communication II, Module 2.

Electives (choose any five)

• Human Resource Provisioning (pre-requisite: Introduction to HRM).
• Human Resource Maintenance and Retention (co-requisite: Human Resource Provisioning).
• Performance Management Practices.
• Commercial Law IB.
• Commercial Law 2A.
• Commercial Law 2B.
• Financial Accounting 2A.
• Financial Accounting 2B.
• Financial Accounting 2C.

NQF Level 7 modules - 84 credits

All Compulsory

• Administrative Management IIIA.
• Administrative Management IIIB.
• Information Administration III, Module A: Theory.
• Information Administration III, Module B: Practical.
• Business Management IIIA.
• Business Management IIIB.
• Administrative Practice III (pre-requisite: Administrative Management IIA and IIB).

1. Perform duties and responsibilities as office professionals in an organisation.
2. Apply various computer packages in the office environment.
3. Demonstrate a holistic overview and understanding of the establishment and functioning of an enterprise.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the human resources management function.
5. Apply financial accounting principles in the office.
6. Apply communication principles in the office environment.
7. Apply legal principles in the business world regarding business contracts, competition and dispute resolution techniques.

Critical Cross-Field Outcomes

This qualification addresses all the Critical Cross-Field Outcomes.

The following Assessment Criteria are applied in an integrated manner to determine competence in the Exit Level Outcomes:

• Compare the centralisation and decentralisation of computer resources.
• Evaluate local area networks, wide area networks and other current technologies and analyse how these have modernised the traditional workplace.
• Analyse the role of management in a technological environment and relate this to management information systems and subsystems.
• Prepare and create advanced Word Processing Documents.
• Manipulate spreadsheets and graphics, and use of databases and macros.
• Integrate Word Processing, spreadsheets, databases and presentations.
• Calculate human resources needs.
• Compile advertisements, job descriptions and job specifications.
• Apply basic employment interview procedures.
• Compile an induction programme.
• Present on-the-job training for office staff.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the latest Basic Conditions of Service Act.
• Apply leadership styles in simulated office situations.
• Apply various techniques for solving administrative and staff related problems.
• Apply a thorough knowledge of performance evaluation.
• Compile and interpret morale measurement questionnaires.
• Manage time and schedule office work.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the Labour Relations Act and apply basic labour relations principles and procedures.
• Participate in grievance and disciplinary procedures in an informed way in an office environment.
• Compile a procedure for a disciplinary hearing.
• Demonstrate an understanding of administrative procedures in the office.

Integrated Assessment

All assessment will integrate knowledge, skills and attitudes and applied competence.

Formative Assessment

Learning and assessment are integrated. The study guides contain self-assessment tasks with feedback. The scheme of work includes a combination of written and multiple choice assignments based on the learning material which learners have to submit and for which they earn year marks. Learners are given feedback in the form of written comments in the assignments and suggested solutions and mark plans presented in a formal tutorial letter. The process is continuous and focuses on smaller sections of the work and a limited number of outcomes.

Summative Assessment

Examinations of a representative selection of outcomes practiced and assessed in the formative stage. Summative assessment also tests the learner's ability to manage and integrate a large body of knowledge to achieve the stated outcomes of a module.