Master of Business Administration

Purpose

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) learners typically work in a variety of different fields in public and private sector organisations. They need to obtain knowledge and skills in functional business areas, such as people management, finance, marketing, decision-making, technology management, to make strategic decisions to lead the organisations into becoming and remaining successful. Learners will be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to capitalise on business opportunities and to solve complex problems by using creative and innovative thinking and techniques in all management departments. This qualification is particularly relevant for those who wish to lead an organisation, understand universal business challenges, apply best practices and solve complex problems in the private and public sector.

Upon successful completion of the qualification, qualifying learners will have the following attributes

• Make autonomous ethical and professional decisions in business environments that critically contribute to the development of ethical standards in organisations and the business domain.
• Design, select and apply appropriate, innovative and creative strategies for solving complex problems and achieving organisational goals and objectives.
• Analyse complex data and conduct a comprehensive review of leading and current research in the financial, marketing, human capital and technological areas to produce significant insights.
• Integrate specialist knowledge and apply strategic management and entrepreneurial skills at middle and senior management levels in changing business environments.
• Operate effectively in cross-cultural settings and make interventions at an appropriate level and the ability to address intended and unintended consequence in a global environment.
• Process and manage information, design and implement strategy, conduct a comprehensive review of leading and current research in the area of specialisation to produce insights.
• Design, select and apply creative methods, leverage the latest technologies and to solving complex problems to achieve competitive advantage in the business domain and changing digital environment.
• Undertake analytical, critical and innovative thinking and making decisions based on complex business problems.
• Operate independently in terms of responsibility, accountability, leading, initiating processes and implementing systems to ensure effective resource management and governance practices in the business domain.
• Capacity to engage in self-reflection, sustain independent learning and interact effectively within the organisation's enhanced learning.

Rationale

The growing market needs drive the overall demand for the MBA for qualified, ethical managers and leaders in both public and private sector organisations in South Africa. This demand highlights in the country's National Development Plan as well as the White Paper on Post School Education and Training. The institution envisages that offering the qualification in the distance learning mode will meet the educational requirements of the many learners who cannot attend full time, or due to financial reasons, are unable to interrupt their careers to take up full-time studies.

Some of the current challenges facing business leaders include learning to think creatively and finding innovative solutions to problems in a disruptive digital world. This qualification seeks to provide a high level of theoretical engagement, intellectual independence and the ability to resolve complex business problems innovatively. The MBA embraces the 'use it now' principle where learners will be able to apply all learnings immediately in their job. The qualification will also prepare working professionals to lead their organisations or departments, to evaluate universal business problems and challenges in the South African and global context and to apply best management and leadership practices and styles.

Regarding occupations for graduates, this qualification will provide more purposeful employment and graduates will be absorbed in a range of careers including Marketing Manager, Financial Manager, Chief Technology Officer, Information Technology Director, Operations Manager, Entrepreneur, among others.

The qualification will benefit learners by enabling them to contribute to the socio-economic and technological needs of the society through knowledge obtained from a diverse and innovative curriculum that is underpinned by technology, as well as sound principles of organisational leadership, management, marketing, financial and entrepreneurial acumen. Learners will be able to apply the knowledge and expertise obtained from this qualification to solve complex problems that are prevalent in today's fast-paced economy.

This qualification promotes access to postgraduate education in line with the White Paper for Post School Education in South Africa, in that it creates the opportunity for 'part-time' study for those who are in full-time employment. The aim is to increase these individuals' management knowledge and skills and to improve their career progression pathway.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Prospective learners must submit a portfolio of evidence for admission to the Professional MBA qualification through RPL.

The institution will evaluate the PoE according to the institution's RPL Policy, by senior academic members, where after the recommendations will be considered and moderated by the Dean (Chair of the RPL Committee).

Based on the moderator's recommendations, learners may do a formal assessment and or participate in an interview (either personally, telephonically or via Skype) with the RPL Committee.

The institution may also recognise advanced standing. Learners may gain credit for prior certificated learning following established practice at South African higher education institutions.

Learners may also accumulate credits for modules prescribed within the structure of a named award.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• An appropriate Honours Degree, NQF Level 8.

Or

• A relevant Postgraduate Diploma, NQF Level 8.

Or

• An appropriate Professional Bachelor's Degree, NQF Level 8.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 9 totalling 210 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 9, 210 Credits

• Strategic Financial Management, 15 Credits.
• Strategic Information and Technology Management, 15 Credits.
• Business Ethics and Corporate Governance, 15 Credits.
• Business Research, 15 Credits.
• Strategic Marketing Management, 15 Credits.
• Innovative Talent Management, 15 Credits.
• Strategic Leadership, 15 Credits.
• International Business Strategy, 15 Credits.
• Managing Digital Transformation, 15 Credits.
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 15 Credits.
• Strategic Operations Management, 15 Credits.
• Dissertation (mini), 45 Credits.
• International Study, 0 Credits.

1. Apply integrated, critical and strategic thinking in the understanding of the contextual landscape of the business environment;
2. Apply knowledge of financial and analytical skills in the business environment for decision making;
3. Analyse and diagnose socio-economic problems and apply relevant theories and skills to arrive at management solutions;
4. Design, select and use technology in a strategic manner to enhance management and decision-making skills in the organisational context;
5. Conduct independent research to solve organisation-specific management challenges and to arrive at management decisions by engaging and critiquing current research;
6. Identify, analyse and evaluate opportunities and challenges of local and global business in an era of global communications, cultural diversity, ethical challenges and rapid innovation;
7. Develop a culture of lifelong learning for continuous development and growth for an individual, as well as the organisation.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Demonstrate strategic thinking about the purpose of business and companies' relationships with shareholders and stakeholders.
• Assess multicultural organisations on their complexities, as well as management of diversity in various business contexts.
• Provide tools about organisational business culture and clear explanations of how leadership influences organisational business culture and analytically applied.
• Examine tested relationships between business, leadership and behavioural constructs and concepts at individual, group and organisational level.
• Formulate and apply different types of influence tactics in different business leadership situations.
• Analyse case studies to demonstrate a high-level understanding of strategic business leadership challenges.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Review financial statements are analysed and the investment, financing and dividend decisions that a firm has made.
• Analyse the firm's financial position, return and risk using the financial statements are analysed.
• Analyse the difference between cash flow and accounting earnings as an indicator of a firm's performance.
• Demonstrate the threefold use of accounting information for financial reporting, decision making and control and the different information requirements of each.
• Show understanding of cost classification and behaviour, break-even analysis and the relevance of costs to management decision making, both from an operational and strategic perspective.
• Determine the impact of key performance measures on the control aspect of an enterprise.
• Apply critical thinking, problem-solving, financial analysis, and effective communication of financial case studies.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Identify socio-economic challenges and opportunities for integrating sustainability into organisational strategies and culture.
• Demonstrate a clear understanding of the specialised concepts and theories related to Business Model Innovation for management solutions.
• Initiate relationships with various stakeholders in the socio-economic context with whom they plan to engage within the development of their innovation.
• Identify a social domain in which they would like to explore innovative approaches as they move forward in their career and their life.
• Identify and develop personal strengths and challenges in learning to act as a social innovator.
• Identify areas in which a business or innovation is viable by leveraging the tensions of opposing choices, being-in-tune with the disharmonies in various contexts and engaging in deductive reasoning.
• Initiate relationships and engagements are initiated with various stakeholders to further develop their innovative ideas by engaging in assertive enquiry and reflecting on their problem setting, problem-solving, decision making and opportunity-seeking behaviour while being-in-the-world.
• Evaluate, synthesise and integrate relevant theories of Business Model Innovation into a personal style.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Evaluate international trends in using ICTs to improve business performance and the quality of service.
• Examine the challenges of integrating traditional and emerging technologies with business processes and management systems.
• Conceptualise, develop and implement a technology-driven customer relations strategy.
• Evaluate the utilisation of ICTs in improving business effectiveness and efficiency.
• Show a critical understanding of the various digital transformation frameworks by critically analysing each framework in applied cases.
• Apply assessment of how business data analytics in the business environment.
• Analyse emerging technologies and the need for business innovation to remain relevant in today's global business world.
• Discuss the importance of conceptualising, designing and implementing an Information Security strategy and policy in the business environment.
• Apply various online business models in today's business environment.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Demonstrate a critical understanding of the business research process and how it can be applied to solve business problems.
• Choose a research topic and compile research questions and objectives.
• Critical review a research design and motivation for the choice of a specific research methodology.
• Systematically review the research-based literature and extract the key and actionable findings and conclusions for use in managerial decision-making.
• Develop a review of different types of scholarly research and an appreciation of the scholars' relative strengths or constraints.
• Prepare an academically sound and practically relevant research proposal.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Critically evaluate and analyse cultural diversity and its impact on businesses.
• Assess the impact of rapid innovation and disruption for local and global businesses.
• Examine the impact of ethics on business and profitability.
• Evaluate global communication systems and processes in today's globalised business environment.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Identify and examine learning preferences, styles and needs.
• Assess Appropriate learning opportunities and required resources.
• Establish and assess a link between learning styles and learning opportunities.
• Examine trends of best practice in the provision of lifelong learning.
• Identify and evaluate the benefits and challenges of lifelong learning to an individual, as well as the organisation.
• Evaluate tools and approaches that develop the capacity for lifelong learning and professional development.

Integrated Assessment

The MBA prepares learners for a general management career/position; coursework modules do not allow learners to become specialists in specific management disciplines, for example, Finance, Human Resources or Marketing. Thus, by using case studies, the opportunity will be created for integrating discipline challenges requiring the learner to draw knowledge from various management disciplines to resolve the management challenges presented through the case study. Furthermore, the group work/assessments through the establishment of virtual groups will also result in learners from different management education backgrounds and experience to combine their knowledge and expertise in completing the assignments. The opportunity to cross-pollinate views and knowledge/perspectives will grant the MBA learners the opportunity to draw from each other's strengths and thus learn how to deal with a real-world/work challenge.

The total number of assessments for modules at NQF Level 9 is the following

• Two assignments - The assignments will include case studies, scenarios, presentations, group discussions, among others.
• One examination - The written examination will require integration of information from the different areas of the course content.

The final mark (100%) consists of 40% Reflective Assessments (case studies & scenarios for assignments) and 60% Synoptic Assessment (pen and paper exam).

In terms of providing feedback to learners, this is provided separately for each module and contains detailed feedback. The assessors provide detailed feedback and address the outcomes of the specific module in question.