Higher Certificate in Business Management

Purpose

The purpose of this Higher Certificate in Business Management is to familiarise learners with the fundamental principles and practices of business management which will allow learners to build a solid foundation on the theories within business management and their application into the 21st-century organisational working environment.

The Exit Level Outcomes of this qualification have been carefully designed and focused on the core theoretical foundations that underpin businesses within the context of South Africa but also the role of technology in the business environment. This qualification is further supported by the Graduate Attributes which are embedded into the curriculum to develop learners in becoming well-rounded ethical and professional business practitioners, adopting a transformative and responsible leader through which their active participation within local communities brings change for the better.

Also, this qualification is designed to address learner literacy and numeracy gaps and prepare them for further studying opportunities at higher educational institutions in South Africa. This supports the notion of lifelong learning that is being driven by government and educational institutions. This qualification is designed to assist in achieving the goals of the government in producing more small, medium and micro-enterprises and provide a vocational educational backdrop for young upcoming entrepreneurs to manage and grown their businesses which will contribute to growing the South African economy. The qualification focuses on addressing the current needs within business and commerce specific qualifications ensuring graduates are successful in their careers.

Rationale

This qualification is geared towards supporting the goals of the government in building the economy, through the provision of relevant commerce specific competencies to entrepreneurs that will allow them to grow their businesses and contribute positively to the country's economy.

According to the National Skills Development Plan (NSDP) (2016), it is evident that key skills such as the ability to understand and enable work-based readiness skills that will promote the efficiency of both the private and public sector. Learners will be exposed to critical work-based readiness skills so that when they enter the world of work graduates can add a positive impact to the work environment.

This qualification will enable employed individuals to enhance and expand their knowledge and skills about business management. Learners will be exposed to the key functional managerial areas of a business as well as the key activities and theories applied by managers within sustainable and profitable organisations. This qualification is designed specifically with a vocational approach through which both theory and practice is combined to equip learners with the relevant skills and competencies to be employed in entry-level positions within either the private or public sector organisations.

The qualification will empower learners with the most important theoretical and practical competencies to become successful business practitioners within either a large corporate organisation, public institution and/or start-up an entrepreneurial venture. Qualifying learners from this qualification will have a solid understanding of the importance of entrepreneurship and how to become an entrepreneur to contribute positively towards the economy, especially in the current economic circumstances where more entrepreneurs are needed to assist in growing the economy.

This qualification will equip learners with the required competencies and knowledge to take up different business management roles such as assistant managers and business officers within a division or department inside an organisation which supports the scare skill of having small business managers supporting the SMME sector within South Africa. Also, this qualification allows learners the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and skillset by studying towards a Diploma or Bachelor's Degree within the commerce discipline.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The fundamental underlying principle of the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is the granting exemption for modules for which it is determined a potential learner meets the exit criteria. All forms of informal and non-formal learning to admission into its qualifications are recognised. Recognition of prior learning for admission will be applied to learners seeking entrance into the qualification.

Prior learning will be recognised to establish whether candidates are competent in the following areas

• Foundational competence: understanding what they are doing and why they are doing it, that is, what theoretical knowledge they have;
• Practical competence: ability to perform a set of tasks and making decisions;
• Reflexive competence: ability to integrate or connect knowledge and skills so that learning is achieved from actions and the ability developed to adapt to changes and unforeseen circumstances, i.e. the transfer of learning from one context to another.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• National Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4.

Or

• National Certificate (Vocational), NQF Level 4.

Or

• Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at NQF Level 5 totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 5, 120 Credits

• Business Communication, 15 Credits.
• Information Systems, 15 Credits.
• Accounting, 15 Credits.
• Entrepreneurship, 15 Credits.
• Statistics, 15 Credits.
• Management Principles and Practices, 15 Credits.
• Business Management, 15 Credits.
• Work Integrated Learning, 15 Credits.

1. Demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively using written, oral and visual presentations.
2. Analyse and assist in the development of commercial based plans within an organisation that yield tangible value-based results.
3. Examine various functions within a commercial context.
4. Demonstrate understanding of sound financial and business management concepts, principles and methodologies to decision making within a commercial context.
5. Identify the functions, roles and responsibilities that a manager is required to perform.
6. Contribute as part of a team to enhance the teams and functional area effectiveness within a commercial context.
7. Display the knowledge of the principles of financial management, business information systems and economics to manage risk through decision-making frameworks.
8. Contribute to continuous improvement and innovation within a commercial context.

Associated Assessment Criteria are applied in an integrated manner to the Exit Level Outcomes

• Create various types of business-related documents using numerous tools.
• Gather data from research and compile meaningful reports for decision-making purposes.
• Report and communication of various functions within a commercial enterprise.
• Communicate both written and oral work effectively.
• Apply financial management principles and decision making frameworks to manage operational risks.
• Demonstrate general management functions of an entry to middle manager.
• Identify project priorities by considering a range of options to make the operational decision.
• Evaluate ongoing business administration plans to assess their effectiveness.
• Apply management concepts, principles and methodologies to decision making within a commercial context.
• Apply ethical considerations in all business transactions and processes.
• Discuss fundamental financial and business management principles.
• Describe key opportunities and challenges that are present daily for managers.
• Analyse the effectiveness of a process and procedure.
• Demonstrate detailed knowledge of the management functions from the day to day management perspective.
• Apply innovative and/or continuous improvement projects according to generally accepted theory and practice.
• Use tools and techniques to manage processes within a commercial context

Integrated Assessment

Assessments will be conducted through formative online assessments which weigh 10% and individual assignments weighing 40%. Summative assessment is through examination which weighs 50%.

Experiential Learning

The mark for the Work Integrated Learning module is assessed based on the learner's and mentor's feedback in the Electronic Portfolio of Evidence (EPOE) that they are required to hand in.