Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration

Purpose

This qualification aims to address the paucity of qualified mentors/consultants of entrepreneurs in South Africa. The aim is to produce graduates that are capable of providing small to medium sized entrepreneurial businesses with an integrated support solution.

Curriculum Design

The curriculum is designed to not only enhance the students' knowledge and skills in the various facets of business support relevant to an entrepreneurial venture but also to ensure that the learner is able to educate the entrepreneur in a similar fashion. In other words the qualification is aimed at providing personal development for the learner on a number of levels as well as "train-the-trainer" skills.

Rationale

At present there are reportedly over 330,000 funded job vacancies in the public sector and hundreds more in the City administrations of South Africa's economic engines of Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. This despite unemployment levels exceeding 26% and a projected youth unemployment figure estimated at over 40%.

South Africa's National Skills Development Plan has targeted Entrepreneurship (Code 600 addition to BBBEE) as well as the training of entrepreneurs and the starting of new businesses as the most important way to stimulate organic growth in the economy. Despite this, South Africa's Total Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA) is a very low 5% - less than half its closest profiles in comparable developing countries like India, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico where TEA respectively are 11.5%, 12%, 24,5% and 13.1%. In addition, at least eight out of 10 start-ups are doomed to failure, primarily due to lack of managerial and financial skills, lack of self confidence, lack of creativity and innovation as well as lack of mentoring and coaching opportunities.

During the years that the institution has been supporting and mentoring entrepreneurs and small businesses, it has become apparent that there is a desperate need to develop a formal qualification that takes a comprehensive and holistic approach to all the academic knowledge and practical skills that the individuals involved in mentoring and supporting businesses need to be able to effectively support ("take the hands of a promising entrepreneur") the entrepreneurs South Africa so desperately needs to kick-start the economy.

By accepting groups of approximately 20 learners into this fine grained and highly supported practical qualification, direct stakeholder needs are met.

It is assumed that learners should

• Be able to read and critically evaluate academic texts in English and communicate information and their own ideas orally and in written text that is grammatically correct, well structured, clear and concise, using accepted standards of scientific and academic writing at NQF Level 7.
• Be competent in the general theoretical, practical, professional and academic knowledge and understanding developed in learning at NQF Level 7.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

RPL is applied for learners who do not have formal academic achievement to gain access to this qualification. Proven expertise and competency will be considered. Candidates may apply for exemption from certain modules on grounds of prior qualification study achieved.

Access to the Qualification

Learners may be accepted for the qualification if they hold a

• Bachelor of Commerce: Entrepreneurship.
• Bachelor of Commerce: Enterprise Development.
• Bachelor of Commerce Management: Enterprise Management.

The qualification consists of compulsory modules and elective modules at NQF level 8 totalling 120 credits.

Compulsory Modules

• Entrepreneurship, 20 Credits.
• Entrepreneurial Finance, 16 Credits.
• Applied Coaching and Mentoring, 20 Credits.
• Leadership, 16 Credits.
• Business Communications and Information Management, 10 Credits.
• Legal and Regulatory Environment of Business, 10 Credits.
• Small Enterprise Consulting, 20 Credits.

Electives Modules (select one)

• Global Business, 8 Credits.
• Social Entrepreneurship, 8 Credits.

1. Approach entrepreneurial firms and provide a structured approach to the analysis of the special problems of entrepreneurial finance issues.
2. Apply the disciplines of mentoring and coaching and impart insight on how to address common challenges faced by entrepreneurs.
3. Develop an appreciation of the role and value of leadership in organisations and the contributions to develop high-impact leadership.
4. Apply the principles of strategic communication to letters, memos, e-mails, reports and oral presentations.
5. Select entrepreneurs and set up learning and mentoring processes.
6. Create in an entrepreneur the ability to scope for relevant legal regulatory frameworks (e.g. BBBEE) and plan contract executions strategically within such frameworks.
7. Evaluate and analyse business opportunities and investment and business network potentials with a particular focus on the SADC countries, COMESA region and Africa at large as well as within Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC).
8. Examine the conditions required for innovation and entrepreneurship to make a strong impact on societal problems.

Critical Cross-Field Outcomes

The Critical Cross-Field Outcomes are embedded in the qualification and will be assessed appropriately.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Entrepreneurial financing options are analysed.

> Range: Government grants, vendor financing, convertible debt, factoring and lease finance.

• Qualitative simulation and scenario analysis are used to analyse strategic financial options available to a firm, identify and communicate the optimal option and estimate and describe a firm's financial needs based on the recommended module of action.
• Effective Cost Structure that describes all costs incurred to operate the business model is designed.
• Simple cash flow statements are designed and evaluated.
• Basic quantitative tools in analysing financing options and structure are applied.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• The growth and progress of an entrepreneur is critically monitored throughout the life-cycle or stages of business interactions.
• A finalised plan to motivate and mentor an entrepreneur to accomplishment is developed.
• Options for a start-up, existing or growing SME are developed and actionable steps toward a mentoring plan, created.
• Alternative options for growth are explored for entrepreneur.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• An enhanced skill and capability as a leader is demonstrated.
• The tasks and skills of strategic leadership are critically analysed and practiced.
• Effective leadership to entrepreneurs is provided.
• The dynamics of diverse leadership styles are applied and articulated.
• A leadership stance that encourages entrepreneurial savvy, generates responsibility and creates a survival attitude of an entrepreneur is implemented.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Ability to write e-mails, memos and letters effectively to convey business messages is demonstrated.
• Ability to communicate clearly and persuasively in an oral manner is practiced.
• Communication to suit multicultural perspectives and dynamism is adapted.
• Latest information technology that supports e-business, e-marketing, e-communication is synthesised and managed.
• Business information systems to support entrepreneurial growth are applied.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• The entrepreneurial journey/process is monitored and evaluated.
• Systems to provide guidance and support on the entrepreneurial journey are developed.
• Fundamental business tools to enable entrepreneurship are applied.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• The impact of regulatory burdens on entrepreneurship are assessed and evaluated.
• Different regulatory and legal environmental factors are considered and options for entrepreneurship support and survival are synthesised and generated.
• An understanding of the framework of legislations like the BBBEE, Co-operatives Act 2003 and the Small Business Act 2003 for entrepreneurs and work within such frameworks to grow entrepreneurship is demonstrated.
• Opportunities offered by governmental departments and policy agency support for small business and entrepreneurial growth are assessed and prescribed.
• Strategies for adopting and reaping benefits from relevant portions of legislations like Procurement and ED Code under BBBEE are analysed and stipulated.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Viability of SA entrepreneurs ventures' in overseas markets; SADC, COMESA and BRIC are assessed.
• Different modes of engagement with international markets and decisions that relate to the choice of markets and entry strategies are analysed.
• The political, social, economic, technological and other configurations that support cross-border trade within SADC, COMESA and BRIC countries and the possible impact on entrepreneurship are evaluated.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8

• Social conditions requiring entrepreneurial interventions are identified and analysed.
• Social entrepreneurial initiatives are described.
• Social enterprise ideas and concepts are interpreted.
• The development and effectiveness of the financial strategy for a social initiative are analysed.
• Social enterprise concepts to impact on communities are adapted and applied.

Integrated Assessment

Assessment methods are both formative and summative.

Formative assessment component comprises monthly mini-reports based on an evaluation of how well the learner has been able to apply the academic content learned in the previous block, to the entrepreneur.

There will be a total of four such reports to be submitted and assessed. Upon obtaining at least 50% in the reports, a learner qualifies for the summative assessment.