Master of Business Administration

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to equip learners with critical skills and knowledge needed for the effective management of business in organisations with the aim of addressing skills shortage, and promoting excellence in the business industry. On the completion of this qualification, a learner will be able to:

• Apply the Integrative Practice model to develop innovative ideas through engagement of stakeholders.
• Evaluate key principles of financial management and their practical application covering the issues of risk and return, portfolio analysis, asset pricing, the cost of capital, capital budgeting and capital structure.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the contextual landscape of the business environment.
• Apply qualitative and/or quantitative research methods, techniques and processes to address complex practical problems in the business environment.
• Use a wide range of specialised managerial and business skills to identify, conceptualise and then address complex management issues.

Rationale

The Master of Business Administration qualification is designed to provide knowledge, skills and competencies required by the economy to unlock potential growth in the country, region and the continent at large. The report released by the Africa Management Initiative illustrates that the country and the continent is deficient of management with appropriate competencies and attributes required by the economy. According to the report, out of 111 million formally employed, approximately 10% are managers within formal organisations. This qualification will serve the purpose of producing quality business management knowledge through academic and practical excellence relevant into addressing local, regional and international priorities. Learners will be able to make a significant contribution to their companies and positively so to the regional economy.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The university's policy on RPL stipulates the following principles on which prior learning will be recognised

• Assessment must recognise learning from experience.
• Assessment of learning must be based on evidence.
• The learning assessed must be related to the purpose for which the recognition is required.
• Learning must be assessed against the exit learning outcomes (and not primarily the content) of specific qualifications and/or modules.
• Quality assurance procedures will guarantee the integrity and credibility of the assessment.

Using these principles, learners seeking to enter the post-graduate qualification must demonstrate their Prior Leaning experience:

• In an interview with the qualification director/qualification team.
• By presenting a portfolio of their work experience.
• And/or writing a formal entrance test.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry to this qualification is

• An Honours Degree in Business Administration at NQF Level 8.

Or

• Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration at NQF Level 8.

This qualification consists of compulsory and elective modules at NQF Level 9 totalling 256 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, 208 Credits

• Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods, 16 Credits.
• Leadership, 16 Credits.
• Economics for Management, 16 Credits
• Operations Research, 16 Credits.
• Financial Reporting and Analysis, 16 Credits.
• Corporate Finance and Decision Making, 16 Credits.
• Operations and Supply Chain Management, 16 Credits.
• Business, Government and Society, 16 Credits.
• Advanced Strategy, 16 Credits.
• Dissertation, 64 Credits.

Elective Modules, 48 Credits (select three)

• Human Capital Management, 16 Credits.
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 16 Credits.
• Investment and Portfolio Management, 16 Credits.
• Management Information Systems, 16 Credits.
• Strategic Marketing, 16 Credits.
• International Business and Finance, 16 Credits.
• Coaching and Mentoring, 16 Credits.

1. Use a wide range of specialised managerial and business skills to identify, conceptualise and then address complex management issues.
2. Apply qualitative and/or quantitative research methods, techniques and processes to address complex practical problems in the business environment.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the contextual landscape of the business environment.
4. Evaluate key principles of financial management and their practical application covering the issues of risk and return, portfolio analysis, asset pricing, the cost of capital, capital budgeting and capital structure.
5. Apply the Integrative Practice Model to develop innovative ideas through engagement of stakeholders.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Comments on real company issues to solve problems in ill-defined contexts are made, real cases, business concepts and techniques to the real world are used.
• Case studies to prove that you understand, able to apply management theories and techniques and make management decisions are demonstrated.
• Knowledge required to apply in a practical business setting in the field of management to solve current and relevant issues is identified, analysed and categorised.
• Debates and reasoning about complex management problems in different business environments are demonstrated.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Relevant and current research problem are identified.
• An appropriate research design is developed.
• Appropriate research methods are applied and issue worth pursuing to solve the relevant and current research problem are identified.
• High level communication skills in the design, execution and presentation of the dissertation are demonstrated.
• Relevant research applications are selected from theory to apply it in practice and solve business application problems.
• Findings and conclusions of the research are presented in an academically acceptable manner with regard to the rules on plagiarism and copyright.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• An understanding about complex theory, holistic management and managerial diversity is demonstrated.
• Specialised knowledge on the networked economy and value based leadership is shown.
• Ability to select and apply appropriate theoretical frameworks and diagnostic tools that support responsible management, diversity management and management of learning is demonstrated.
• Personal, interpersonal and group effectiveness during the qualification as well as in the workplace are developed and practical skills to support and enhance the student's learning process are developed.
• Higher levels of self-awareness are developed and individual and group behaviour to develop team-working skills is understood.
• An understanding of the cognitive limitations, errors and heuristics thinking and judgements is applied, and how social, cultural and psychological forces influence judgment and decision-making is demonstrated.
• Cross-cultural differences in judgement and decision-making (in interpersonal and group situations) are explained.
• Economic, social, political and environmental trends are analysed and their inter-relationship at various spatial scales that give rise to diverse risks and opportunities for companies is understood.
• Strategic thinking about the purpose of business and companies' relationships to shareholders and stakeholders is demonstrated.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• The principles of valuing securities and how their sensitivity to interest rates can be assessed are appreciated.
• How to manage financial risk, including the use of derivatives is explained.
• Financial data and problems in the light of established theories are interpreted.
• The concepts of risk and return in financial markets are explained and evaluated.
• How to construct a portfolio and calculate returns using asset pricing models is demonstrated.
• The concept of cost of capital is explained and is estimated for a corporation.
• The attractiveness of real investment projects based on expected cash flows and cost of capital are evaluated.
• Theoretical arguments based on analytical reasoning are developed.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Challenges and opportunities for integrating sustainability concerns into organisational strategies and culture are identified.
• A social domain in which they would like to explore innovative approaches as they move forward in their career and in their life is identified.
• Relationships with various stakeholders with whom they plan to engage with in the development of their innovation are initiated.
• Personal strengths and challenges in learning to act as a social innovator are identified and developed.
• A clear understanding of the specialised concepts and theories related to Business Model Innovation is demonstrated.
• Relevant theories of Business Model Innovation are evaluated, synthesised and integrated into a personal style.
• 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 adductive reasoning are identified.
• Relationships and engagements are initiated with various stakeholders to further develop their innovative ideas by engaging in assertive enquiry and reflecting on their own problem setting, problem solving, decision making and opportunity seeking behaviour whilst being-in-the-world.

Integrated Assessment

Assessment of the learning outcomes at module level are varied and determined by the nature of the content of the module. For example the quantitative modules comprise more formative assessments in the form of exercises and tests, while the others may comprise a combination of a variety of assessment methods. These may include debates, presentations, group projects, live case studies and practice sessions. The qualification design, the sequencing of the specific modules and the assessment methods used in each ensures progression towards the achievement of the exit learning outcomes.

While there is flexibility in the assessment methods of individual modules, formative assessments for all modules count for 50% of the final mark whilst the summative assessment comprises of an examination which counts for the other 50% of the final mark.

The submission of the dissertation assesses a number of the exit learning outcomes in an integrated manner. Learners are required to demonstrate their ability to define a research topic and apply their skills developed throughout the qualification to undertake research and present the findings in an acceptable submission.