Higher Certificate in Business Management

Purpose

The purpose and overall outcome of the qualification is to provide learners who are either already employed, wish to find employment in business, or wish to start up their own small business with the knowledge of the principles, concepts and techniques that underlie the disciplines necessary for effective management of a business.

This purpose is achieved by providing the learners with exposure to the principles, concepts and techniques which would aid in the management of a business or which would lead to the successful creation of a business venture both within the formal and informal sector.

The learners are also exposed to other disciplines such as Human Resource Management, Marketing and the Fundamentals of Accounting which would give the learners an overall understanding of the most important aspects of business growth and control.

The learners' ability to communicate information effectively is developed through the module Business Communication. The Research Project provides the learner with the opportunity to demonstrate and apply knowledge in a practical or simulated work situation.

Academic literacy is included to ensure that the learner acquires the skills to understand the demands of academic study and thereafter provide the learner with the skills to succeed in academic study at a higher NQF Level.

The qualification aims to achieve the following outcomes

• Develop a sound knowledge base in the disciplines mentioned above and to enable learners to demonstrate an awareness of how these knowledge systems have developed and evolved.
• Enable learners to understand and apply methods, procedures and techniques which relate to the disciplines mentioned above. The learner will be able to demonstrate the ability to do this within a range of familiar and new contexts.
• Develop in the learner, an ability to solve problems and allow them to demonstrate this through workplace or problem-solving assessments and the Research Project.
• Encourage the development of a strong understanding of ethical behaviour which is supported by the codes of conduct that the learner is exposed to.
• Allow the learners to demonstrate an ability to gather and organise information. Learners will be required to communicate this information accurately and coherently, orally and in written work.
• Develop a responsible learner/employee who takes accountability for their own performance within this structured learning process as well as within the workplace.

The purpose of the qualification is consistent with the principles that underpin the National Skills Development Strategy in that it:

• Provides a further phase in lifelong learning for employees/prospective employees in the economy allowing them to aspire to junior and middle management positions.
• Provides access to study in the Higher Education band of the NQF for previously disadvantaged learners who are currently employed thus promoting equity.
• Provides a demand-led programme that meets the needs of the Economy.
• Fosters skills development in the formal economy for productivity and employability.
• Fosters skills development in the informal economy encouraging the creation of new business enterprises.

Rationale

A need has been identified to enable three categories of learners to study a generic business qualification at NQF Level 5 in Higher Education. The categories are: employees of existing clients, individuals who have successfully completed a relevant learnership at NQF Level 4 and private learners who qualify for admission to the qualification.

This qualification provides insight into the discipline of Business Management together with other disciplines which support the successful running of a business as well as the successful start-up of a Business (Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Human Resources and Accounting). Modules have been included to develop the academic literacy of the learner as well as to strengthen the learners' communication skills.

Knowledge of the principles, cognitive tools and concepts that underlie these fields of study is essential for the staff who aspire to management positions as well as junior managers who need to understand the contribution that they make to the effective management of the business as a whole.

The qualification contributes to both regional and national goals by

• Providing access to knowledge and skills for individuals who have been disadvantaged in their access to higher education raising the skills level of the region and the nation.
• Providing expertise in the management of organisations across a broad range of industries aiding in the improvement of the productivity of these industries and contributing to national competitiveness.
• Developing in the learner a keen entrepreneurial spirit which will contribute to the growth of industry, in both the formal and informal sector.
• Providing the learners with a pathway to achieving their potential thus contributing to the national goal of promoting lifelong learning.
• Accommodating the recognition of prior learning ensuring that the national goals of equity and fairness in access to higher learning are addressed. By providing a progression from learnerships to higher education, the goals of lifelong learning and improved access to higher education are achieved.
• The combination of theory and practice together with project work ensures that the learning is applied and the learner is equipped with learning skills. This is reinforced by the introduction of an academic literacy module.
• The use of group work and a reflection on the experience of working in a team enhances the learners' understanding of working with others.
• The qualification is consistent with the objectives of the National Skills Development Policy in that it aims to equip learners with usable skills underpinned with the necessary knowledge to enhance understanding and provide a basis for further development.

The qualification design is based on a consideration of similar qualifications in South Africa and overseas and in collaboration with other interested parties.

The qualification is primarily designed to provide access for learners already employed in business but is also open to other categories of learner.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Prior learning is recognised on a component-by-component basis for the granting of credits or in terms of access to the qualification. Any prior learning has to be valid, authentic, relevant and sufficiently recent and at an appropriate level before it will be recognised as fulfilling the requirements for admission to the qualification or as a basis for exemption from a specific component or the whole qualification.

The Institute must be satisfied that the learners formal, informal and non-formal learning; when combined with work experience, represent competence against the defined Exit Level Outcomes of the qualification.

Entry Requirements

The learner is in possession of a National Senior Certificate or an equivalent qualification at NQF Level 4.

The Higher Certificate in Business Management is an entry level qualification which is designed to provide learners with the basic introductory knowledge of the principles, concepts and techniques which are required to become competent in the role of a junior manager.

Because business management is a multi-disciplinary field the qualification contains components which are designed to introduce the learner to the principles, concepts and techniques in a number of disciplines. Knowledge of these disciplines is essential for competence in the field of business management as a whole.

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

• Business Management, 15 Credits.
• Principles of Human Resource Management, 15 Credits.
• Marketing, 15 Credits.
• Fundamentals of Accounting, 15 Credits.
• Entrepreneurship, 15 Credits.
• Business Communication, 20 Credits.
• Academic Literacy, 10 Credits.
• Research Project, 15 Credits.

1. The learner gains knowledge and insight into the business world and related aspects such as the role of management and the legal environment in which a business operates.
2. The learners can demonstrate an understanding of the skills and competencies which form the basis of academic success.
3. The learner can demonstrate an understanding of the principles that underlie good communication skills and are equipped with the necessary verbal and non-verbal skills to function effectively in the business world.
4. The learner can demonstrate an understanding of the principles that underlie effective human resource management in a business.
5. The learner can demonstrate an understanding of the marketing concept and the role that marketing plays in the business environment.
6. The learner can demonstrate understanding of the basic accounting principles necessary in the business world.
7. The learner can demonstrate an understanding of how to start and manage their own business successfully.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 1

• Demonstrate an understanding of the role of the business organisation within the context of the business world.
• Demonstrate an understanding of how a business is established.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the role of management in the business organisation.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the theories relating to employee motivation and the principles of various motivational theories.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the legal environment in which a business operates.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the role of the finance function in business.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 2

• Demonstrate an understanding of the demands of academic study in higher education.
• Develop vocabulary in order to use words effectively and appropriately in an academic context and in the workplace.
• Improve reading techniques that are used for study purposes.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the elements that constitute academic argument, including main claims and supporting evidence.
• Demonstrate the skills of paraphrasing and summarising.
• Demonstrate the ability to write paragraphs in academic assignments.
• Demonstrate the development of academic writing skills in assignments.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 3

• Demonstrate an understanding of, and develop the ability to, apply the theoretical concepts denoting the elements of the communication process.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the basic channels of communication within an organisation and be able to communicate effectively within an organisation.
• Demonstrate the ability to present effectively in front of an audience.
• Demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively with people from different cultures.
• Demonstrate an ability to identify the core areas arising from any communication and write a pr�cis in a known number of words.
• Demonstrate the ability to use simple graphic illustrations to communicate.
• Demonstrate the ability to evaluate a situation and prepare an accurate report.
• Demonstrate an ability to write business letters and e-mails effectively.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 4

• Demonstrate an understanding of basic management principles.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the role of human resources management.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the provision of human resources.
• Demonstrate an understanding of human resource maintenance.
• Demonstrate an understanding of human resource development.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 5

• Demonstrate an understanding of the marketing concept.
• Demonstrate an understanding of marketing research.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the marketing mix.
• Demonstrate an understanding of product management.
• Demonstrate an understanding of product development.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the product life cycle.
• Demonstrate an understanding of pricing decisions.
• Demonstrate an understanding of promotion.
• Demonstrate an understanding of distribution in the marketing mix.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 6

• Demonstrate an understanding of the purpose of accounting, different forms of business ownership, users of financial information and the characteristics of accounting information.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the accounting cycle, the accounting equation and the principle of double entry.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the recording of transactions.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the recording of transactions in the subsidiary journals.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the basic financial statements.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the bank reconciliation statement.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 7

• Demonstrate an understanding of entrepreneurship.
• Demonstrate an understanding of how to identify and develop a good business idea.
• Demonstrate an understanding of how to perform a viability study of a business idea.
• Demonstrate an understanding of how to draft a basic business plan.
• Demonstrate an understanding of what is required to establish a new business.

Integrated Assessment

Learners will be assessed through a combination of formative and summative assessments. The Research Project is completed at the end of the qualification and forms a simulated/workplace based assessment based on all the skills and competencies learnt in other modules which constitute the qualification.