Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration

Purpose

The purpose of the qualification is to equip middle managers and junior managers showing potential with the fundamental skills and knowledge necessary for successful general business management and effective leadership. The qualification is designed to incorporate the core disciplines of business and qualifications in personal and organisational effectiveness to ultimately develop managers and leaders who are effective in both emerging and developed markets.

Rationale

The vision of the Graduate School of Business is in developing leaders in an emerging market while maintaining its objective of being the international business school in Africa. Taking cognisance of both the local and international market trends, the PG Dip BA qualification aims to provide individuals and their organisations with management practice competencies necessary for sustainability and a competitive advantage in an environment that is rapidly changing. Such rapid change, due to globalisation on an international scale and accelerated by unique socio-political and economic factors within South Africa, calls for continuous learning.

Recognition of Prior Learning

In the absence of tertiary level education the following RPL criteria are applicable for admission

• Has been employed full-time for a minimum of five years, and/including.
• A minimum of three years of management experience where personal responsibility, initiative and decision-making is evident.
• Display the ability to identify, evaluate and address own learning needs.
• Possess comprehensive knowledge in a specialised area of work.
• Successfully completes practical tasks in areas of work which require a mastery of skills.
• Displays the ability for independent problem solving using evidence-based solutions and arguments.
• Possess information-processing and IT skills.
• Displays the ability for critical analysis, synthesis and evaluation of quantitative and qualitative data.
• Displays the ability to communicate accurately and effectively to a wide range of audience.
• Displays the ability to work collectively and participates successfully in team projects.
• Be able to participate in discussion of normative issues in relation to the relevant industry or profession.
• Have been employed full-time for at least three years.
• Be a graduate of this institution or another university recognised for this purpose; or satisfy the Senate that he/she has attained an equivalent level of competence for the purpose.
• Have an Associate in Management Certificate.
• Have proven management experience and a strong record of achievement in his/her field of employment, including two reference reports (known in a professional context).
• Have attained a minimum 40th percentile achievement on the Placement Test in English for Educational Purposes (PTEEP) of the institution's Learning Diagnostic Test (LDT), within 24 months of enrolment on the PGDBA qualification.

In the absence of tertiary level education the following RPL criteria are applicable for admission

• Has been employed full-time for a minimum of five years, and/including.
• A minimum of three years of management experience where personal responsibility, initiative and decision-making is evident.
• Display the ability to identify, evaluate and address own learning needs.
• Possess comprehensive knowledge in a specialised area of work.
• Successfully completes practical tasks in areas of work which require a mastery of skills.
• Displays the ability for independent problem solving using evidence-based solutions and arguments.
• Possess information-processing and IT skills.
• Displays the ability for critical analysis, synthesis and evaluation of quantitative and qualitative data.
• Displays the ability to communicate accurately and effectively to a wide range of audience.
• Displays the ability to work collectively and participates successfully in team projects.
• Be able to participate in discussion of normative issues in relation to the relevant industry or profession.

Assessment for RPL criteria will be undertaken as follows

• Interview during which the following topics are discussed: evidence of prior research of and preparation for the qualification (including financial), learning outcomes the learner anticipates from the qualification, managerial qualities, identifying own organisation's challenge, extent and quality of group work experience, critical analysis of own conflict resolution techniques, and extent/level of experience with quantitative data and IT.
• Learner to complete nine essays in addition to the necessary biographical information. The topics cover: alternative careers considered, reasons for choosing the qualification and steps taken to prepare for it, personal and career goals, the appropriateness of a business school education for future plans, the impact of the qualification on personal commitments, the ability to work in groups, examples to demonstrate initiative, responsibility and decision-making, and an evaluation of personal strengths and weaknesses.
• CV and two reference reports (known in a professional context) attesting to a strong record of achievement in the learner's field of employment. Additional information requested from the evaluator/referee include: an assessment of the learner's strengths and weaknesses, the initiative (if any) taken to address weaknesses, identifying the learner's potential in specified areas, the qualification's contribution to the learner's managerial capabilities and the organisation, and the learner's likely contribution to the qualification.
• Undertake the Institution's Learning Diagnostic Test (LDT), within 24 months of enrolment on the PGDBA qualification. The LDT test comprises two components: Placement Test in English for Educational Purposes (PTEEP) and Mathematics Comprehension Test (MCOM).

Entry requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Bachelor of Business Administration, Level 7.

Or

• Advanced Diploma in Business Administration, Level 7.

Breakdown of NQF credits at different levels

• Year 1: 120 Credits.
• Year 2: N/A.
• Year 3: N/A.
• Year 4: N/A.

Qualification; Qualification Code; Year 1; Fundamental/Core/Elective; Number of Credits

Qualification; GSB403F; Financial and Management Accounting; Core; 10 Credits.

Qualification; GSB404S; Financial Value Management; Core; 6 Credits.

Qualification; GSB400F; Business Communication and Management Report; Core; 10 Credits.

Qualification; GSB401F; Managerial Economics-Core; 10 Credits.

Qualification; GSB401S; Operations and Innovation Management-Core; 10 Credits.

Qualification; GSB402S; Managing People in Organisations-Core; 10 Credits.

Qualification; GSB404F; Management of Information Systems-Core; 6 Credits.

Qualification; GSB403S; Marketing for Managers-Core; 6 Credits.

Qualification; GSB400S; Managerial Statistics-Core; 6 Credits.

Qualification; GSB405S; Introduction to Strategy-Core; 6 Credits.

Qualification; GSB402F; Political and Social Context of Business; Core; 10 Credits.

Qualification; Mini; Company Analysis Research Project; Core; 30 Credits.

A sustained research project is not a requirement for a Postgraduate Diploma qualification at NQF level 8; however the qualification may include conducting and reporting research under supervision.

1. A systemic knowledge of what is considered leading thinking and good management and organisational practice in his or her area of specialisation and critical awareness of management issues at the forefront of that specialisation.
2. A comprehensive understanding of the theory, action learning and research methods and techniques that inform his or her own management practice.
3. An ability to apply knowledge and action research methods creatively to interpret and create new knowledge that is relevant to his or her management practice.
4. An ability to evaluate and critique current research and advanced scholarship in the area of management and organisational practice.
5. An ability to use the above to identify and deal with complex issues and problems systemically and creatively.
6. An ability to communicate the results of research to specialist and non-specialist audiences using the resources of an academic/professional discourse in the required medium of instruction.
7. Acquire an understanding of the role of initiative and entrepreneurship in his or her relevant area of commercial activity.
8. The capacity to work in a middle management position in his or her relevant industry or profession.

Learners will be encouraged to relate assignments to their workplace scenarios to allow for the application of knowledge gained on the qualification to real life commercial situations.

Learners are required to

• Successfully complete the mini-company analysis research project through the practical application of acquired knowledge and business administration skills.
• Complete all tests, exams, assignments and presentations and attend all lectures.
• Achieve 50% achievement mark for all individual work.
• Participate successfully in team projects which require a capacity to work cooperatively with others.
• Successfully complete work which requires an ability to think independently and demonstrate initiative in practical problem-solving.
• Be able to participate in discussion of normative issues in relation to business administration and management practices.

Formative assessment

• This is done through assignments, projects, presentations and debates.

summative assessment

• This is through tests and exams which measure the extent to which learning objectives have been achieved.
• Rules in meeting duly performed (DP) requirements for the examination:
• Attendance at all lectures and completion of all assessments for each qualification.

Integrated Assessment

Learners will be assessed for each qualification through a range of methods, including formal examinations, group and individual assignments or projects. These will be designed to enable them to demonstrate their critical understanding of the subject matter to which they have been exposed as well as their competence to deal with practice-based problems or issues arising out of that subject matter. In addition, learners will be required to conduct an analytical project on their organisation which will require identification of the area of study and implementation of research tools acquired on the qualification. This includes the practice of appropriate research methods, critical analysis of findings and practical problem-solving, with results or conclusions and recommendations presented in a carefully structured and coherently argued report. This will provide the opportunity for a 'capstone' assessment of their ability to apply skills and knowledge acquired throughout the qualification to a specific issue of theoretical and practical significance. The exercise lends itself to both formative and summative assessment techniques.