Higher Certificate in Business Management

Purpose

The Higher Certificate in Business Management qualification purpose is to assist individuals and organisations in achieving their personal and organisational goals by enhancing their management and leadership potential, fundamental business skills, knowledge and understanding to prepare individuals for a career in management, as well as a possible route into a Bachelor's degree.

This qualification prepares learners for the field of general business management and administration for success in possible junior management roles. This is accomplished through enhancing their management skills and knowledge. Upon completion of the qualification, learners will be able to work across sectors and industries and apply their skill sets to a range of workplace management and administration scenarios.

This qualification also responds to and assists with the needs of the employment sector, to produce learners who can meaningfully contribute to the economy.

The qualification aims to impact South African industry and commerce positively by providing businesses with competent, well-educated managers with a thorough understanding of their work, who can critically analyse information, and the ability to make informed, meaningful and practical decisions.

Considering the exit level outcomes of the qualification, a learner can progressively fit into a management role.

Upon completion, a qualifying learner will be able to

• Initiate, develop, implement, and evaluate operational strategies, projects, and action plans to improve the effectiveness of the unit.
• Monitor and measure performance and apply continuous or innovative improvement interventions in the unit.
• Lead and manage a team of first-line managers to enhance individual, team, and unit effectiveness.
• Build relationships with superiors and with stakeholders across the value chain.
• Apply the principles of risk, financial and knowledge management, and business ethics within internal and external regulations.

Rationale

This qualification has been developed for individuals interested in understanding general business organisations and their functions, through a fundamental understanding of general management. The intended outcome of this qualification is the development of entry-level general business managers who are equipped with the relevant basic management skills to perform their roles and responsibilities more effectively.

The qualification aims to also assist both individuals who are considering a management career or are new in the business environment, as well as those who have been or are still working in a business and would like to progress to senior management. It also offers career opportunities for learners by broadening their understanding of general business administration and management practices, so they can start and effectively manage a business. This qualification is designed to meet the needs of those learners who are already involved in management or who enter the management domain as a first-line manager or middle management to senior management level.

The typical learner who will access this qualification will be a person who must supervise other managers, supervisors or team leaders. It will also enable the learner to pursue different career opportunities as many of its competencies are generic enough to apply to other career paths and job roles.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution has an approved Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy 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 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.

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 Higher Certificate studies.

Or

• Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4.

Or

• National Certificate Vocational, NQF Level 4 granting access to Higher Certificate studies.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 5 totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, NQF Level 5, 80 Credits

• Fundamentals of Business Management, 20 Credits.
• Fundamentals of Financial Management 20 Credits.
• Fundamentals of Human Resource Management, 20 Credits
• Principles of Marketing, 20 Credits

Electives Modules, NQF Level 5, 40 Credits (select two modules)

• Credit Management 20 Credits.
• Fundamentals of Operations Management, 20 Credits.
• Fundamentals of Sales Management, 20 Credits.
• Information and Communication Technology, 20 Credits
• Project Management, 20 Credits.
• Quality and Customer Service Management, 20 Credits.
• Retail Management, 20 Credits.

1. Initiate, develop, implement, and evaluate operational strategies, projects, and action

plans to improve the effectiveness of the unit.

1. Monitor and measure performance and apply continuous or innovative improvement interventions in the unit.
2. Lead, manage and enhance individuals and a team, to ensure unit effectiveness.
3. Build relationships with superiors and with stakeholders across the value chain.
4. Apply the principles of risk, financial and knowledge management, and business ethics within internal and external regulatory frameworks.
5. Enhance the development of team members.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 1.

• Illustrate the ability to initiate, cultivate, execute, and assess strategic operational initiatives, projects, and action plans.
• Strategically optimise the unit's performance, fostering innovation, and facilitating adaptability in response to evolving business dynamics.
• Recommend appropriate strategies to overcome diversity management challenges for improved effectiveness of a business unit, department, function, or project.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 2.

• Exhibit proficiency in monitoring and measuring performance within the unit.
• Apply a range of continuous improvement methodologies and innovative interventions to drive ongoing enhancements in operational efficiency and effectiveness.
• Apply operations management principles and practices to ensure business operations can continue without undue interruptions.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 3.

• Provide effective leadership and management for a team of first-line managers, to elevate the effectiveness of individuals, the collective team, and the overall unit.
• Apply labour legislation to a given scenario to improve employment relations within a business unit or organisation.
• Apply knowledge of the principles and practices of operations management to solve an operations management-related problem.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 4.

• Display proficiency in cultivating strong relationships not only with superiors but also with key stakeholders across the entire value chain.
• Emphasize effective communication, collaboration, and alignment of goals to promote synergy and drive success.
• Communicate effectively within a multicultural and diverse organisation or department, using various communication mediums and technology to establish and improve employee relations.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 5.

• Effectively apply the principles of risk management, financial management, knowledge management, and business ethics within the context of both internal and external regulatory frameworks.
• Promote responsible and sustainable business practices while ensuring business compliance.
• Apply knowledge of information management by using software applications to create documents, record information, communicate information and store information.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 6.

• Actively contribute to the development of teams and individual team members by fostering their growth, skills, and overall effectiveness within the organizational context.
• Apply knowledge of the task and scope of human resource management within a business environment.

INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT

The purpose of the assessment is to measure applied competence. In other words, it assesses whether learners can integrate the knowledge gained from the various modules to perform important general management functions competently (practical competence), understand the theoretical basis for these actions (foundational competence), and reflect on and make changes to general managerial practices (reflexive competence).

Formative Assessment

These count 10% toward the final mark. A sub-minimum of 40% applies, and a formative assessment per module is done and is made up of:

• Assignments
• Case studies
• MCQ's.

Summative Assessment

These count 40% toward the final mark. A sub-minimum of 40% applies.

• Assignments
• Case studies
• Question papers.
• Examination

Examination counts 50% towards the final mark. A sub-minimum of 40% applies. All assessments are internally assessed and externally moderated