Master of Business Administration

Purpose

There is a need for managers and business leaders in Southern Africa who can conduct business responsibly and successfully, not only locally but also in the global marketplace. To address this need, the Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a multidisciplinary qualification with a practical orientation that provides managers, professionals and learners with advanced management and business leadership education. The qualification remains focused on key management areas while paying sound attention to the critical skills that make our learners outstanding performers in the business environment. Future managers and leaders are also provided with insight and skills related to the areas of social responsibility, the environment and corporate citizenship.

The 'golden thread' underpinning the MBA qualification is thus

• Exemplary performance from learners that set an example and commands respect.
• Responsible leadership that shows concern for humanity and the earth in the context of accountable business practices.
• Strong local business roots with a global vision, with deep foundations in the core competencies of managing a successful business.

The qualifying learner will

• Analyse complex issues, think critically and appreciate alternative perspectives related to core business management issues.
• Apply, evaluate and synthesise current management theories in the main functional areas of financial management, human resource management, marketing management, ethics, governance, operations management, global economics and leadership.
• Appreciate and contribute to the development and implementation of the responsibilities that business has towards society in general, local communities and the environment.
• Apply the theoretical and practical aspects of the strategic development of organisations in an integrated fashion.
• Develop creative and imaginative, yet credible, solutions to management issues.
• Promote the development of personal and interpersonal skills, notably reporting, presenting, critical analysis, imagination, emotional intelligence, creativity, group work and independent learning.

Rationale

The qualification builds the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required of persons in postgraduate-level studies. At the same time, the qualification prepares learners for further learning in the same or related areas of study, thus laying a firm foundation for lifelong learning and career development. The qualification is designed to enable learners to acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values required to operate confidently in and respond appropriately to the challenges of the South African socio-economic context. In this regard, the Master of Business Administration (MBA) qualification continues to address existing and potential skills gaps.

The qualification maintains the institution's focus on meeting the needs of the many sectors for business management education and leadership development. Business leadership needs - ethics, governance, sustainability, strategy, finance, human resources, marketing, operations, and technology - are generic across sectors, and it is into this gap that the qualification fits.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

RPL access: in limited cases (up to a maximum of 10% of any intake) of learners without formal qualifications may be considered for entry. However, recognition of prior learning assessment will be considered only on condition that it is assessed as equal to a formal 120 Credit Postgraduate qualification. The criteria for consideration for admission on RPL are as follows:

Learners in this category must demonstrate that they have sufficient professional experience by submitting the following information on application:

• A condensed Curriculum Vitae.
• A biographical essay.
• A letter of recommendation from the employer (recommending the candidate for successful MBA studies).

In addition, the applicant must

• Present him/herself for an interview with the Selection Panel.
• Present him/herself for a challenge exam if in the opinion of the Panel this is necessary (on the merits of past work experience).
• Be 40 years old or older.
• Have 15 - 20 years' relevant work experience.

RPL requirements may vary from time to time, and successful application may be required to selected modules at level 8, as determined by the academic team.

Entry Requirements

Admission to the qualification is subject to academic selection criteria. The learner must have

• A recognised Postgraduate Diploma, Honours Degree or equivalent.
• A minimum of three to four years' relevant work experience.

This qualification comprises 16 modules of which there are 2 modules which are electives, at NQF Level 9, totalling 200 Credits.

Compulsory Modules (180 Credits)

• Business Report Writing, Quantitative Analysis and Presentation Skills), 5 Credits.
• Business Ethics and Corporate Governance, 10 Credits.
• Social Responsibility and the Environment (sustainability), 10 Credits.
• People Management, 12 Credits.
• Operations and Technology Management, 12 Credits.
• Marketing and Sales Management, 12 Credits.
• Advanced Business Research Methodology, 8 Credits.
• Management accounting and finance (Part 1), 10 Credits.
• Leadership and Change Management, 15 Credits.
• Global Trade (macroeconomics - BRICS - developing markets), 15 Credits.
• Dissertation (Supervision and exam stage), 45 Credits.
• Management accounting and finance (Part 2), 10 Credits.
• Integrated Business Strategy, 15 Credits.
• Dissertation (submission), 1 Credit.

Elective Modules (20 Credits)

Choose one from the following

• Integrated Business Management, 10 Credits.
• General Management Environment, 10 Credits.

Choose one from the following

• Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 10 Credits.
• Business in Emerging Markets, 10 Credits.
• International Study Visit, 10 Credits.

1. Analyse complex issues, think critically and appreciate alternative perspectives related to core business management issues.
2. Apply, evaluate and synthesise current management theories in the main functional areas of financial management, human resource management, marketing management, ethics, governance, operations management, global economics and leadership.
3. Demonstrate an appreciation of and contribute towards the development and implementation of the responsibilities that business has towards society, local communities and the environment.
4. Apply the theoretical and practical aspects of the strategic development of organisations in an integrated fashion in a particular business or sector.
5. Develop creative, imaginative, credible solutions to management issues.
6. Demonstrate personal and interpersonal skills, notably reporting, presenting, critical analysis, imagination, emotional intelligence, creativity, team work and independent learning.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• A Holistic understanding of the nature and activities of business management is demonstrated.
• The changing environment is interpreted and solutions in relation to its effect on business are articulated.
• Managerial challenges through the use of core management functions are solved.
• Managerial skills and competencies required in a successful organisation are demonstrated.
• The role of the general manager in a successful organisation is assessed and functional integration in management decision-making is demonstrated.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Moral philosophy as the foundation to ethics is analysed and applied, and the principles of ethics and values in relation to effective decision-making are applied; ethical leadership requirements are synthesised as required for effective governance in the corporate environment.
• Governance requirements in terms of voluntary and regulatory approaches to analyse, synthesise and apply the requirements for proper leadership with regard to corporate governance is evaluated.
• The financial performance of a business is analysed; the concept of the time value of money is applied; an understanding of the finance and treasury functions of a business is demonstrated.
• The concept of investor returns to decision-making is applied; an investment appraisal is conducted; understanding of business valuations and takeovers is demonstrated.
• Appropriate marketing strategies that are vital for the achievement of corporate and other functional strategies are developed, implemented and evaluated.
• An appropriate international marketing strategy for an organisation is developed and a marketing plan is formulated.
• An organisation in terms of process and strategy is analysed, and operations and process management strategy are developed; the principles of project management are applied; a quality strategy is developed and managed; an operations strategy is developed and managed.
• An understanding of the legislative, ethical and policy foundations of and challenges to human resources management is demonstrated; evaluate and select human resources information systems. Apply human resources development principles in an organisation and develop a talent management strategy; develop an HR strategy.
• The key elements of the global management environment investigated and applied and economic thinking to business problems is applied. Issues that are relevant to emerging markets are analysed and applied and developing countries, especially in Africa.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome3

• The nature and complexity of corporate social responsibility through the lenses of political, integrative, instrumental and ethical theories is analysed and evaluated.
• CSR projects to plan and design a CSR project for an organization is reported, analysed and evaluated.
• An understanding of the history, role, function and significance of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) is demonstrated.
• Current models, plans, policies and systems in relation to the role of the manager within an organisation are Identify, synthesised and evaluated.
• The concept of environmental stewardship by developing an environmental stewardship strategy for an organisation is analysed.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• An understanding of the role of each of the functions in achieving organisational effectiveness and how each key functional issue affects their organisation individually and collectively is demonstrated.
• The core management decisions in an organisation are compared and integrated and the link between the main business functions and business strategy is explained.
• An external and internal environmental analysis is conducted; the results of the analyses are combined and a set of strategic options is synthesised.
• Strategic choices are facilitated and made, and recommended responses to the opportunities are prepared and challenges are identified through the strategic research.
• A competitive corporate strategy is managed.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• The definitions of leadership and its relevance to leaders in organisations are critically analysed.
• The needs of the organisation are assessed and capacity in terms of leadership for flexibility and change is developed.
• The qualities of the individual in relation to personal leadership are developed.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• A well-structured academic essay/report/ dissertation is crafted.
• The writing of others is analysed; titles, problem statements, research questions are formulated.
• Mastery of a suitable academic writing style with reference to suitable research report writing elements and structure is displayed.
• Research methodologies as relevant to in business and marketing research; survey related academic reports to demonstrate how research is linked to the enhancement of current knowledge of a subject. are applied.
• Appropriate research methodologies for different types of research and the investigation of research questions are selected; data is recorded and analysed and the results are accurately reported.
• Empirical conclusions drawn based on research findings.

Integrated Assessment

The quality of the assessment is vital in order to provide credible certification and recognition of achievement. The institution makes every effort to ensure credibility in assessment through the application of clear and rigorous procedures and practices. These procedures and practices are controlled by the principles of fairness, validity, reliability and practicability. By implementing these principles, all parties concerned (including learners, employers and learning institutions) may be assured of the credibility of the assessment process. It is in this way that accurate information about the learner's performance against the assessment criteria may be provided.

Integrated assessment is used extensively across the qualification, particularly in the case studies. Self and formative assessment takes place through case studies, assignments, including the writing of proposals and financial plans. Summative assessments are integrated into the learning in that they take place at the end of each of the constituent modules of the qualification.