Higher Certificate in Management,

Purpose

The purpose of the Higher Certificate in Management is to provide learners with the knowledge, skills, and attributes to function as a junior manager within a business. Learners will be able to apply the management skills of a junior manager as a vocation. The qualification will further enhance their ability to access further learning within the field of management and are provided with a range of career opportunities within the world of business work, be it manufacturing or as a professional service-driven business.

The qualification is designed to provide opportunities to develop functional skills in finance, marketing, and operations management. The qualification emphasizes the development of management skills, with particular attention to managing people and leadership.

On completion of the qualification qualifying learners will be able to

• Apply the integrated knowledge and management theories as they relate to business structure.
• Examine the relationship between business and Human Resources, related labour law and business imperatives behind Talent Management to give effect to organisational strategy.
• Implement basic marketing principles in a business unit to give effect to a marketing strategy.
• Use knowledge of financial management principles to perform financial functions in a business unit.
• Apply knowledge of the business value chain to plan, organize and control the purchasing and logistics function in a business unit.
• Explore the need for using an effective Information Management System (IMS) in a business setting and implement a basic IMS.
• Analyse the business operations and the transformation models, classification systems and aspects of planning and control to maintain quality standards in operations.

Rationale

The Department of Higher Education and Training National Scarce Skills List (2020) identified several occupations wherein management knowledge and skills are essential. Examples include manufacturing manager, sales and marketing manager, supply and distribution manager, human resource manager, corporate general manager, project, or programme manager, information, and communications technology (ICT) project manager etc. A need for generic management skills across a wide spectrum of disciplines is required. The qualification is designed to enable learners to acquire the knowledge, skills, attributes, and values required to operate confidentially in and respond to the managerial challenges of the South African socio-economic context.

This qualification is geared towards developing management skills that are essential for business functioning, both on a strategic and operational level. The qualification reflects the needs of the business industry by preparing learners for entry positions to strengthen managerial competencies within a variety of institutions. Management is essential for effective business functioning.

This qualification provides an opportunity to discover the world of management and to instil fundamental principles to serve incumbents in any field of business in an entry-level junior management role.

The qualification offers the following fundamental concepts related to the role of Junior Manager

• Foundational theoretical knowledge principles common to the role of a Junior Manager.
• Practical skill required to improve the efficiency and productivity of a small business unit.

The qualification will address the demand for learners without university exemption to formally study management to enter the profession. It is anticipated that qualifying learners will be able to present their accumulated credits for admission to the Bachelor's degree in a cognate field. The qualification provides learners with the required competencies to be employed in various entry-level managerial roles in various economic sectors as well as to follow different career opportunities as an entry qualification to higher-level qualifications.

Competence in this qualification can assist learners in entering a Continuous Professional Development programme at several Professional Bodies where Managers can become certified Practitioners in their profession such as Business Advisors, Office Professionals and Professional Municipal Managers.

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

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

Or

• Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4 without Matriculation exemption.

Or

• Relevant qualification, NQF Level 4 in a cognate field of study.

RULES OF COMBINATION

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 5 totalling 132 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 5, 132 Credits

• Management Theory, 15 Credits.
• Human Resource Development and Management, 20 Credits.
• Marketing, Decision Making and Communication, 25 Credits.
• Financial Management, 25 Credits.
• Purchasing and Logistics, 12 Credits.
• Information Technology, 20 Credits.
• Organisation and Production, 15 Credits.

1. Demonstrate integrated knowledge and an informed understanding of management theories as they relate to business structure.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between business and human resources, related labour law and business imperatives behind talent management to give effect to organisational strategy.
3. Implement basic marketing principles in a business unit to give effect to a marketing strategy.
4. Use knowledge of financial management principles to perform financial functions in a business unit.
5. Apply knowledge of the business value chain to plan, organize and control the purchasing and logistics function in a business unit.
6. Understand the need for using an effective Information Management System (IMS) in a business setting and implement a basic IMS.
7. Demonstrate understanding of business operations and the relation to transformation models, classification systems and aspects of planning and control to maintain quality standards in operations.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Explain the effective management practices and functions in different organisational structures with reference to the value they bring to a business.
• Discuss the concept of plan, organize, lead and control and purposefully apply to activities in a business unit.
• Explore entrepreneurship and its value to a business.
• Differentiate between the concepts of ethics, governance, and compliance with law, in the context of operating a business.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Explain the function of Human Resources (HR) in a business and the application of HR-specific legislation.
• Apply Human Resource planning in a business unit.
• Discuss recruitment and selection as talent management imperatives and the methods of retaining talent in an organisation.
• Discuss Human resource development and its part in the talent management process.
• Explain and apply labour legislation and its role in a business.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Define the concept of marketing, the components of a marketing process, market research and the role of marketing in business management processes.
• Create an integrated marketing strategy based on sound decision-making processes.
• Identify and apply the standard market research methodology.
• Communicate the processes used to make decisions in marketing.
• Discuss the product positioning and classification, consumer behaviour and approaches to market segmentation.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Discuss the underlying principles and role of financial management in a business setting and compare them to financial functions.
• Apply the concepts related to effective and efficient financial management.
• Explain the objectives of financial management in a business.
• Manage the assets of a business.
• Define and explain the concepts and use of budgeting in a business and create a budget for a small business.
• Assess the impact of financial planning and control in a business.
• Discuss the various investment opportunities.
• Apply the standard and prescribed ethical practice in financial management.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Describe the purposes and functions of purchasing and logistics in a business.
• Compare the primary and secondary activities of purchasing and logistics.
• Discuss the role of a Purchasing and Logistics Manager as integral to the purchasing and supply function in a business.
• Discuss the different approaches to inventory management.
• Apply a variety of different inventory management systems.
• Analyse the different approaches to and criteria for the selection and management of suppliers.
• Explain the concept of making quality assurance decisions as a function of purchase and supply.
• Discuss and apply different decision-making considerations during the planning, organising, and controlling of the purchasing and logistics function.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Contrast data and information.
• Describe the need for information management and the types of information systems.
• Explain the links between management levels and information systems.
• Describe the characteristics and requirements of an Information Management System (IMS) to evaluate a basic system.
• Compare the concept of data integration and different models.
• Analyse a variety of data integration techniques.
• Propose different methods to integrate data into an IMS.
• Explain the quality assurance and quality control of an IMS.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Discuss and explain the role, advantages, and performance objectives of operations management in a business.
• Discuss the elements and characteristics of the transformation model as applied in different processes of the model in business.
• Discuss the classification system used to classify process types for manufacturers and service providers.
• Explain the differences between the layout and flow of manufacturing and service provisions.
• Motivate the effect of technology, job design and work organisation on different process types.
• Identify aspects involved in the operations planning and control process.
• Explain and suggest the requirements to align, manage and improve business and operations strategies to manufacture or deliver products.