Doctor of Philosophy in Management Sciences

Purpose

The Doctor of Philosophy in Management Sciences is a general Doctorate that requires a learner to research the most advanced level culminating in the submission, assessment and acceptance of a thesis which can contribute to the development of knowledge and enhance practice at the most advanced level in the field of Business/Management.

The primary purpose of the qualification is to train learners to become cutting edge researchers with expert theoretical knowledge in the core fields of Business/Management. The degree is awarded solely on the successful completion of a Thesis in the core fields of Business/Management. The Thesis must contribute to and enrich the academic knowledge and understanding of theory and professional practice in the core fields of Business/Management. The minimum period of full-time and part-time registration for the PhD is two years and four years respectively. Holders of this qualification can utilise their expertise in various capacities such as supervising research, assume leadership positions in the field of Business/Management research, work in institutions as researchers, academics or occupy leadership/management positions in industry/organisations.

To prepare learners for this purpose, the qualification requires a learner to undertake training in both the methodology of scientific work and the area of specialisation at the most advanced level for advanced research skills and discipline-specific knowledge acquisition. Learners are expected to attend seminars in the first year to develop advanced research skills for gathering, analysing, and presenting quantitative and qualitative data as well as seminars on various Management/Business theories and concepts. This approach allows learners to undertake a rigorous and critical exploration of an area of Business/ Management with support from expert supervisor(s). The successful learner must produce a substantial piece of original work in their chosen area of specialisation in the Management/ Business field culminating in the submission, assessment, and acceptance of a thesis. The Thesis must be of a quality that meets international standards of scholarly and professional writing, satisfy peer review, and merit publication. The defining characteristic of this qualification is that it produces graduates who can (i) demonstrate high-level theoretical knowledge and practical research capability within the Management/ Business specialisation; (ii) make a significant original theoretical and practice related contribution at the frontiers of the area of specialisation; and (iii) utilise their expertise work in various capacities.

The qualification may be earned through pure discipline-based or multidisciplinary research or applied research. It requires a minimum of two years' full-time study and four years of part-time study.

Rationale

In general, for South Africa to competitively participate in today's knowledge economy or better still the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), there is a need to ensure a steady supply of high-level new knowledge for innovation. The qualification, being recognised worldwide as the apex qualification (CHE, 2018) must by logic bear the responsibility of the highest level of new knowledge creation for innovation. At the same time, CHE (2018) regards this qualification as the most internationally transferable qualification. This realisation has led South Africa and many other countries across the world to prioritise doctoral growth in all fields of human endeavour including the field of Management/ Business. Also, the South African National Planning Commission (NPC) targets producing 100 000 PhDs by 2030. According to the then Science and Technology Minister, Naledi Pandor, South Africa currently turns out just over 1 800 PhDs a year. Meanwhile, the National Planning Commission has set the ambitious target of producing 100 000 PhDs by 2030. Additionally, the National Skills Development Strategy 111(NSDS 111) bemoans that the South African economy remains constrained by a severe lack of skills including research skills.

The specific growing demand for doctoral qualifications in the Business/ Management field, worldwide which South African universities must respond to is mainly due to challenges of the inadequacy of high-level research skills required in a knowledge economy (University World News 2014). In South Africa, several reputable sources including the OECD (2014:58), Erasmus and Breier (2009) Statistics South Africa (2014), Sheppard and Ntenga (2013), The International Institute for Management Development (2010), Kraak (2013) have highlighted this problem. At the regional/ local level, the OECD Report of 2012 highlighted skills shortages. While bemoaning the limited contribution of the universities in dealing with regional problems, the report called for improvement in qualification designs with explicit consideration for regional needs.

The institution's response to the above challenges is the Strategic Transformation of Educational Programmes and Structures (STEPS) initiatives that led to the identification and introduction of several new demand-driven, locally-oriented and internationally recognised and output-driven qualifications. This qualification with its specialisations in the various Management/ Business and related fields enables a learner to acquire research skills to undertake in-depth research projects, culminating in management models focused on the development of sustainable new management/ business solutions. It is intended to contribute to solving the problems highlighted above. Specifically, the qualification is intended to contribute to solving the problem of lack of high-level research skills in the country at large. It will produce researchers of the highest quality or calibre, whose research would unearth ways of inculcating a culture of entrepreneurship and best Management/ Business practices among all groups of people in Africa and the world at large. The research activities of holders of this qualification are expected to inform local, provincial and national entrepreneurship, business and management policy formulation to improve on the country's entrepreneurship activity, management capabilities, and general business performance, conditions that are recognised as the catalyst to local, regional and national development through eradication of unemployment, poverty and inequality.

Another compelling rationale for the qualification is the urgent need to provide an articulation opportunity for Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Management Sciences which is a research-only Master's degree. Without this qualification, there will be no logically appropriate general Doctorate for holders of the MPhil in Management Sciences with its many specialisations to progress to as the current Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is a professional Doctorate that has a narrow focus.

The interdisciplinary nature of the Doctor of Philosophy in Management Science encourages research collaborations involving researchers from different academic backgrounds with a variety of research knowledge and experience thus producing high-quality research.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) will be conducted following the RPL policy of the institution. A functional system for RPL is in place at the institution where RPL is used as a mechanism to gain access to qualifications.

The learners are required to complete an RPL application document. Accompanying the RPL application must be certified copies of all previous qualifications and a comprehensive portfolio of evidence (POE), reflecting on extensive work learning. The POE will be assessed thoroughly against the relevant learning outcomes.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Master of Philosophy in Management Sciences, at NQF Level 9.

Or

• Master of Management Science in Entrepreneurial Management, at NQF Level 9.

Or

• Master of Management Science in Human Resource Management, at NQF Level 9.

Or

• Master of Management Science in Marketing Management, at NQF Level 9.

Or

• Master of Management Science in Office Management and Technology, at NQF Level 9.

Or

• Master of Management Science in Public Management, at NQF Level 9.

Or

• Master of Management Science in Tourism and Hospitality, at NQF Level 9.

This qualification consists of a compulsory module at NQF Level 10 totalling 360 Credits.

Compulsory module, Level 10

• Thesis, 360 Credits.

1. Demonstrate expert theoretical knowledge of the field of specialisation; ability to integrate across knowledge areas; and mastery of the most advanced research tools in their field of management/business.
2. Demonstrate expert level research and new knowledge production capability to apply appropriate and different (discipline-specific or multi-disciplinary) methods of science to discover new knowledge that makes a significant original academic contribution at the frontiers of the Management/Business field and which warrants publication in high-quality, peer-reviewed academic journals.
3. Write a thesis in a language and technical format that complies with accepted academic and professional standards for the presentation of research and knowledge in the specialisation(s) of the particular candidate.
4. Utilise the acquired specialised expertise to work effectively in various research careers and leadership/management positions.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Define and apply the core knowledge of the discipline.
• Assess the quality and validity of knowledge in a sophisticated manner.
• Apply core knowledge to interpret and evaluate past and emerging research in the area of specialisation.
• Identify and apply knowledge in a secondary area to problems in the core management/ business discipline.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Evaluate and apply broadly accepted scientific methodologies.
• Critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of a given methodology.
• Coherently and critically evaluate, select and apply the most appropriate advanced research methodologies and techniques to research a given management/business problem.
• Assimilate and apply new and revised methods published in the primary literature.
• Modify and apply modified methods required to carry out a specific research program.
• Identify, conceptualise, design and plan the implementation of a research project that addresses a complex, possibly ill-defined problem in a selected area within the various fields of Management/Business.
• Successfully present and defend the proposal that has the potential to generate new knowledge or new information that would advance a research program.
• Produce and defend a thesis that includes the discovery of new knowledge or information that satisfies peer review and merits publication.
• Produce articles for publication in internationally recognised journals.
• Successfully present papers at local and international conferences.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Display language proficiency in the discipline.
• Comply with the professional writing and referencing style prescribed by the discipline.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Effectively supervise research projects of others in the area of specialisation.
• Critically evaluate the research of others in the area of specialisation.
• Effectively lead research teams/ projects in the area of specialisation.
• Apply skills to demonstrate the ability to work in institutions as researchers or academics in the area of specialisation.
• Effectively play leadership/ management roles in industry/organisations.

Integrated Assessment

The purpose and outcomes of the qualification are reached through the curriculum, as learners are supervised, guided and assisted by properly qualified individuals. Learners are required to perform a research project at the appropriate level.

Formative Assessment

The first part of the assessment in this qualification is the continuous formative assessment. It is aimed at determining the learner's progress towards attaining the stipulated outcomes. As this is full research, learners must first submit a research proposal that must be successfully defended at a meeting of the Faculty Research & Innovation Committee (FRIC). After the proposal has been approved by FRIC, the learner is allowed to research under the supervision of a senior academic supervisor. The supervisor assesses continuously (in the form of assignments and oral presentations) while the Thesis is being written. The supervisor must submit progress reports about the student's performance until the Thesis has been completed.

Specifically, formative assessments are performed monthly via the monitoring procedures for FRIC. Monitoring of learning is performed via a monthly discussion between the Departmental Research Committee, supervisor and each student, where the following issues are discussed:

• Objectives for the period under review.
• Learner's self-assessment of the learning experience.
• Supervisor's assessment of the learning experience.
• Progress with a research project.
• Head of Department's comments.
• Learner's activity plan for the next month.
• Matters to carry forward.
• New activities planned.

A learner must also produce a research article for submission to a peer-reviewed scientific journal, as well as a conference paper to be read at a scientific conference.

It is finally required of the learner to defend his/her Thesis in a research forum arranged by FRIC. The learner is expected to make a presentation that includes:

• The context in which the study was undertaken.
• The methodological set up according to which the study was undertaken.
• The results, conclusions and recommendations.

Summative Assessment

Finally, a summative assessment is conducted where the learner's ability to use and apply specific methodological skills is evaluated in his/her critical review of current literature in the subject area and the formulation and execution of a research project. The learner is required to report on it and generate an integrated Thesis of research findings. Examination of the Thesis is finally done by at least two external examiners. These are experts in the field/area of specialisation. Anyone examining a learner against this qualification must have an NQF Level 10 qualification.