Doctor of Management in Technology and Innovation

Purpose

The purpose of this Qualification is to recognise those who have the required competence to serve in transformation leadership positions in organisations (public and private, including self-owned businesses) and the community at large, by enabling them to obtain a nationally registered and recognised Qualification.

A further purpose of this Qualification is to produce life-long learners who are equipped to re-direct existing thinking frameworks to facilitate sustainable socio-economic transformation. This should contribute towards the development of individuals, organizations and communities and equip them to deal with challenges related to the management of technology, entrepreneurship, the management of innovation, the management of people, and systems thinking.

People who achieve this Qualification will be able to

• Initiate innovation and change at a national level.
• Integrate systemic principles into alternative designs and developments.
• Incorporate management of technology, management of innovation and management of people frameworks into new product/process designs and developments.
• Make a contribution towards community development initiatives.

Rationale

Technology creates an advantage in the marketplace. The debate is how this advantage could be maximised to benefit all relevant stakeholders. Defining a technology utilisation strategy may be a good start but one also needs to examine such a strategy by asking the right commercial focused questions. Ultimately in the context of modern businesses, financial considerations are not the only hurdle rate. There are number of other factors which when combined, need to be taken into consideration. This will allow one to interrogate existing processes in order to make an appropriate value judgement in defining the blend of technologies required to enhance business performance.

In view of the above the Management of Technology and Innovation can be defined as a process which enables managers to make a value judgment on how to improve the performance of their operations through the selection and application of a blend of technologies relevant to their markets. In addition, this is an innovative process which continually tests existing commercial and technology boundaries to build market driven excellence-the human technology interface is an integral part of this paradigm.

As a result of the business management practices developed during the late 1970s and 80s, South Africa focused on the development of business administration skills and knowledge for senior managers. Since the 1990s, coinciding with the democratisation of South African society and as a result thereof the globalisation of the South African economy, a more systemic approach towards management leadership development has been required. In line with this the notion of the Management of Technology and the Management of Innovation was identified as imperative to the contribution of sustainable business development initiatives. The key objective of the Doctor of Philosophy in the Management of Technology and Innovation is the development of managerial leaders who will initiate innovative management of technology and innovation solutions to industry challenges faced at a national and/or international level. The qualification will achieve this through broad based professional post-graduate education, providing a thorough understanding of the impact of systems thinking, the management of technology and innovation, as well as people development, focusing on sustainability to increase local and international competitiveness.

The qualification is specifically designed to enable members of an organisation to realise their true potential by

• Challenging them to initiate innovative solutions for business improvement and socio-economic transformation.
• Acquiring the competence to design a system and to develop technology and innovation related activities to meet transformational targets.
• Providing personal development opportunities for them to contribute significantly to the development of wealth within the South African economy.
• The qualification provides opportunities for management leadership professionals who have business experience and want to create alternative thinking patterns.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The Institute is guided in its RPL practice by the South African Qualification Authority (SAQA), the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and the Council on Higher Education's (CHE) policies.

RPL is not granted for access to the DBL as the institution deems a Master's Degree essential to the preparation of the research capability of the student. The Institute does however have a policy regarding the upgrade of students from Masters to Doctoral Degrees in highly exceptional circumstances.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Masters in the Management of Technology and Innovation (MOTI) at Level 9.
• Masters of Business Administration at Level 9.
• Masters of Business Leadership at Level 9.
• Master of Development Management at Level 9.
• Master of Technology: Human Resource Development at Level 9.

This qualification comprises compulsory modules at Level 10 totalling 360 Credits.

1. Review existing management leadership theories and models and devise new frameworks within a systems thinking context.
2. Critique and synthesise the knowledge and required behaviours relevant to the effective management of technology, the management of innovation and the management of people processes into design and development initiatives.
3. Devise technology, innovation, people and systems thinking concepts which are able to inform the transformation of individuals, communities and/or organisations.
4. Devise technology, innovation, people and systems thinking concepts which are able to inform the transformation of individuals, communities and/or organisations.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Outline the important concepts, principles and underlying philosophies underpinning managerial leadership frameworks. Review the impact of integrating key systems thinking concepts into organisational re-design.
• Review the integration of important methods, procedures and enquiring techniques relevant to implementation of managerial leadership frameworks in organisational design.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

Review and synthesise important terms, rules, concepts and against the background of existing management of technology, management of innovation and management of people frameworks.

• Critique and synthesise the required methods, procedures and enquiring techniques relevant to the management of technology, the management of innovation and the management of people domains into innovative product/process solutions.
• Integrate technology, innovation and people concepts within newly defined managerial leadership contexts by the student.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Review key managerial leadership concepts in relationship to the potential effect on innovation.
• Incorporate key Management of Technology, Management of Innovation and Management of People principles into proposed solutions relevant to the workplace.
• Present an integration of technology, innovation and people management ideas and principles.to peer groups.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Demonstrate the ability to draw relationships between the development needs of individuals, organisations and/or communities;
• Demonstrate the ability to critically analyse and devise newly defined solutions towards socio-economic transformation at an individual, organisational and/or community level.
• Evaluate and integrate responses towards socio-economic transformation into the design and development of alternative solutions.

Integrated Assessment

Integrated assessment is appropriately incorporated to ensure that the purpose of the qualification is achieved

• Assessment practices are open, transparent, fair, valid, and reliable and ensure that no learner is disadvantaged in any way whatsoever, so that an integrated approach to assessment is incorporated into the qualification.
• Learning, teaching and assessment are inextricably interwoven. Whenever possible, the assessment of knowledge, skills and behaviours shown in the qualification are integrated.
• Assessment of fundamental competence is integrated as far as possible with other aspects. A variety of methods are used in assessments and a variety of tools and activities are utilised to ensure the appropriateness of the assessment to the context in which the learner is working.

The term `Integrated Assessment` implies that theoretical and practical components are assessed together. During integrated assessments, the assessor is making use of a range of formative and summative assessment methods to assess combinations of practical, applied, foundational and reflective competencies. Continuous assessment is provided through:

• Portfolios.
• Simulations.
• Workplace assessments and practical workbooks.
• Pre- and Post-module written assignments.
• Case presentations.
• Peer group evaluation.
• Face to face contact with learners.
• If so requested by the learner, assessors will assess and give credit for the evidence of learning that has already been acquired through formal, informal and non-formal learning and work experience (recognition of prior learning experiences). All the learning outcomes and critical cross-field outcomes are evaluated in an integrated manner.