Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration

Purpose

The purpose of the Postgraduate Diploma in (Business Management) focuses on the fundamentals of operations to integrate all relevant disciplines such as finance, Human Resources etc. into the overall operational plan of the organisation. The qualification outline provides learners with an opportunity to apply microeconomic principles to managerial decision-making, the Fundamentals of Financial Accounting and Basic Principles of Cost and Management Accounting, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Relationship Marketing.

The intended outcomes of the PGDip (Business management) include

• To cultivate an understanding of the integrated nature of management and leadership.
• Identifying the principles of great leadership.
• Apply microeconomic principles to decision-making problems faced by institutions.
• Explain how the competitive environment of the firm influences its output, price and other strategic decisions.

Rationale

The Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration is a professional qualification, focused on the training and development of junior and middle managers in a corporate or public administrative environment. Within the ambit of national and institutional strategic priorities, this qualification sets the highest standards for education and advances capacity and leadership in the corporate, public and/or academic environments. This qualification integrates managerial theories and business concepts to develop learners to attain the knowledge and capabilities to establish and sustain themselves in a national and international work environment.

In contrast to the former Master of Business Administration requirements, the Higher Education Qualifications Framework (HEQF) requires that potential MBA candidates are in possession of a qualification at NQF Exit Level 8. Consonant to the decision by the South African Business Schools Association (SABSA), the PG Dip (Business Administration) provides access into a cognate Master's qualification at NQF Level 9, including the Master of Business Administration (MBA).

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The formal RPL process of the university will be applied to the Postgraduate Diploma (Business Administration). Furthermore the following applies to RPL:

• Exemptions will only be granted for modules passed during the past five years.
• Exemptions will only be granted for postgraduate modules.
• Students may apply for exemption for a maximum of four semester modules.
• Students interrupting their studies for longer than five years will not receive any exemptions for modules previously completed.

Entry Requirements

Minimum entry requirements are on the basis of the following

• Bachelors' or equivalent NQF Level 7 qualification in a cognate field of study.

Rules of Combination

The qualification comprises of compulsory modules at NQF Level 8, totalling 136 Credits

Compulsory Modules at NQF Level 8, 144 Credits.

• Business calculations, 16 Credits.
• Integrated Management and leadership, 16 Credits.
• Economics for managers, 16 Credits.
• Relationship marketing, 16 Credits.
• Business Computer Applications, 8 Credits.
• Systems thinking, 8 Credits.
• Financial and managerial accounting, 16 Credits.
• Operational management and logistics, 16 Credits.
• Managing information technology, 16 Credits.
• Human resource management, 16 Credits.

1. Demonstrate a broad, in depth understanding of general management and the business/management environment.
2. Explain the interaction between operational and strategic management.
3. Identify and solve problems on an executive Level, demonstrating critical and creative thinking.
4. Apply the general (core) management skills in the chosen area of specialisation.
5. Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the management issues characteristic of the area of specialisation.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Understanding of the integrated nature of management and leadership is cultivated.
• Basic knowledge framework regarding the generic management functions is created.
• A comprehensive understanding of systems in organisations that facilitate organisational goal achievement, as well as individual and group development are developed.
• Responsible management behaviour, with special emphasis on diversity, ethical behaviour and corporate citizenship is analysed.
• Sound labour processes are applied.
• Regulatory environment within which a firm has to function and identify actions/procedures that could be in conflict with the Competition Act are described.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Proper team management skills are developed.
• How the competitive environment of the firm influences its output, price and other strategic decisions are explained.
• Operations requirements with the strategic plan of the organisation are aligned.
• HR strategy that supports business strategy is determined.
• Relevant pricing strategy to enhance profits is identified.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Data from various business and economic contexts to make informed decisions are analysed.
• Problems related to systems are analysed.
• Solutions to problems related to systems are designed.
• Microeconomic principles to decision-making problems faced by institutions are applied.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• A customer retention plan is developed.
• Principles of great leadership are identified.
• Internal and external relationships of a business are managed.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• The relationship between customer satisfaction and customer retention is evaluated.
• Parameters of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) are described.
• Basic financial statements of an entity are prepared.
• Human resource management is applied.

Integrated Assessment

The objective of integrated assessment in the Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration is to assess learners on the training and development acquired in the application of the principles of managerial decision-making, Fundamentals of Financial Accounting, Basic Cost and Management Accounting, Customer Relationship Management and Relationship Marketing in the Business Environment. Assessment for this qualification is done in two forms namely, formative and summative.

Formative is conducted when learners hand in a number of assignments for assessment. Depending on the module it consists usually of 3 assignments per semester. Various methods are used for the formative assessment for this qualification amongst others, tests, teamwork activities, class participation and presentations, independent projects, simulations and formal examinations. The summative assessment consists of an open book examination where the rules of the university apply.