Master of Management in Technology and Innovation

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to recognise those who have the required competence to serve in transformation leadership positions in organisations (public and private, including self-owned businesses) and the community at large, by enabling them to obtain a nationally registered and recognised qualification, produce life-long learners who are equipped to initiate socio-economic transformation within South Africa. This should contribute towards the development of individuals, organisations and the community and equip them to deal with challenges related to the management of technology, entrepreneurship, project management, the management of innovation, the management of people, and systems thinking.

People who achieve this qualification will be able to

• Initiate organisational change.
• Integrate systemic principles in solving organisational problems.
• Incorporate the management of technology, the management of innovation and the management of people principles into business planning processes.
• Transform communities by initiating sustainable development initiatives.

Rationale

Technology creates an advantage in the marketplace. The debate is how this advantage could be maximised to benefit all relevant stakeholders. Defining a technology utilisation strategy may be a good start but one also needs to examine such a strategy by asking the right commercial focused questions. Ultimately in the context of modern businesses, financial considerations are not the only hurdle rate. There are number of other factors which when combined, need to be taken into consideration. This will allow one to interrogate existing processes to make an appropriate value judgement in defining the blend of technologies required to enhance business performance.

In view of the above the Management of Technology and Innovation can be defined as a process which enables managers to make a value judgment on how to improve the performance of their operations through the selection and application of a blend of technologies relevant to their markets. In addition, this is an innovative process which continually tests existing commercial and technology boundaries to build market driven excellence-the human technology interface is an integral part of this paradigm.

As a result of the business management practices developed during the late 1970s and 80s, South Africa focused on the development of business administration skills and knowledge for middle and senior managers. Since the 1990s, coinciding with the democratisation of South African society and as a result thereof the globalisation of the South African economy, a more systemic approach towards management development has been required. In line with this the notion of the Management of Technology and the Management of Innovation was identified as imperative to the contribution of sustainable business development initiatives.

The key objective of the Master of Management in Technology and Innovation is the development of managerial leaders at senior management level who will initiate socio-economic change interventions and sustainable business development initiatives. The qualification will achieve this through broad based professional post-graduate education, providing a thorough understanding of the application of the key elements of systems thinking, business development, technology management and innovation, as well as people development, focusing on sustainability to increase local and international competitiveness.

The qualification is specifically designed to enable members of an organisation to realise their true potential by

• Developing them to lead multi-discipline teams tasked to facilitate business improvement and socio-economic transformation.
• Acquiring the competence to lead a system (resources) and to develop technology and innovation related activities to meet their business objectives.
• Providing personal development opportunities for them to contribute significantly to the development of wealth within the South African economy.

The qualification provides opportunities for management professionals who have business experience and want to facilitate socio-economic development within South Africa and Africa at large.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The structure of this qualification makes the Recognition of Prior Learning possible. This qualification may therefore be achieved in part through the recognition of prior learning, which includes formal, informal and non-formal learning and work experience. The learners are thoroughly briefed on the process to be used and support and guidance are provided. Care is taken to ensure that the process provides the learner with an opportunity to demonstrate competence.

If the learner can demonstrate competence in the knowledge, skills and behaviours implicit in this qualification the appropriate credits will be assigned to the learner. Recognition of Prior Learning will be done by means of an Integrated Assessment.

Recognition of Prior Learning may allow

• Accelerated access to further learning at this or higher levels on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF).
• Gaining of credits towards learning outcomes.
• Obtaining of this Qualification in part (50%).

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Postgraduate Diploma in Innovation, NQF Level 8.

Or

• Postgraduate Diploma in Media Leadership and Innovation, NQF Level 8.

Or

• Postgraduate Diploma in Information Technology Management, NQF Level 8.

Or

• Relevant Level 8 qualification.

And

• All applicants must successfully complete the Research and Methodology.

This qualification comprises compulsory and elective modules at Level 9 totalling 180 Credits.

Compulsory Modules NQF Level 9, 60 Credits

• Self, Other and Social Context, 10 Credits.
• Problem-Solving, Creative Thinking and Decision-Making, 8 Credits.
• Managerial and Leadership Development, 2 Credits.
• Managing Systems, 12 Credits.
• Management of Innovation, 10 Credits.
• Management of Technology, 10 Credits.
• Management of People, 8 Credits.

And

• Research: Dissertation, 120 Credits.

Or

Elective Modules NQF Level 9, 60 Credits (Select five modules)

Specialisation: Business Management Competencies

• Leadership Perspectives: A Leadership Challenge in Africa, 12 Credits.
• Leadership Perspectives: A Global Leadership Challenge, 12 Credits.
• Visual Intelligence, 12 Credits.
• Change Management, 12 Credits.
• Coaching in Business. 12 Credits.
• Governance and Ethics, 12 Credits.
• Reverse Engineering the Future, 12 Credits.

and

• Research: Dissertation, 120 Credits.

1. Conceptualise and integrate managerial leadership frameworks within a systems thinking context.
2. Integrate the knowledge and required behaviours relevant to the effective management of technology, the management of innovation and the management of people processes with transformation initiatives.
3. Differentiate and communicate ideas, principles, concepts and practical application of theories and frameworks.
4. Align and integrate technology, innovation, people and systems thinking concepts to transform individuals, communities and/or organisations.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Discuss and integrate the differences between managerial and leadership concepts in the working environment.
• Demonstrate the impact of integrating key systems thinking concepts into organisational re-design.
• Integrate the important methods, procedures and enquiring techniques relevant to implementation of managerial leadership frameworks in organisational design.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Facilitate an understanding of the important terms, rules, concepts and principles in accordance with existing management of technology, management of innovation and management of people frameworks.
• Incorporate the required methods, procedures and enquiring techniques relevant to the management of technology, the management of innovation and the management of people domains into well-defined organisational change initiatives.
• Describe and integrate technology, innovation and people within a newly defined managerial leadership context by the student.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Incorporate key managerial leadership concepts into an organisational environment.
• Position key principles affect to the management of technology, management of innovation and management of people principles in relation to change requirements for the workplace.
• Establish and present an integration of technology, innovation and people management ideas and principles to peer groups.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Demonstrate their ability to differentiate between the development needs for individuals, organisations and/or communities.
• Demonstrate their ability to facilitate processes to accommodate newly defined solutions towards socio-economic transformation at an individual, organisational and/or community level.
• Evaluate and integrate responses towards socio-economic transformation into business planning processes by the student.

Integrated Assessment

Integrated Assessment appropriately incorporated to ensure that the purpose of the qualification is achieved

• Assessment practices are open, transparent, fair, valid, and reliable and ensure that no learner is disadvantaged in any way whatsoever, so that an integrated approach to assessment is incorporated into the qualification.
• Learning, teaching and assessment are inextricably interwoven. Whenever possible, the assessment of knowledge, skills and behaviours shown in the qualification are integrated.
• Assessment of fundamental competence is integrated as far as possible with other aspects. A variety of methods are used in assessments, and a variety of tools and activities are utilised to ensure the appropriateness of the assessment to the context in which the learner is working.
• The term `Integrated Assessment` implies that theoretical and practical components are assessed together.

During integrated assessments, the assessor is making use of a range of formative and summative assessment methods to assess combinations of practical, applied, foundational and reflective competencies.

.

Continuous assessment is provided through

• Portfolios.
• Simulations.
• Workplace assessments and practical workbooks.
• Pre- and post-module written assignments.
• Case presentations.
• Peer group evaluation.
• Face to face contact with learners.
• If requested by the learner, assessors will assess and give credit for the evidence of learning that has already been acquired through formal, informal and non-formal learning and work experience (recognition of prior learning experiences).
• All the learning outcomes and critical cross-field outcomes are evaluated in an integrated manner.