Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management and Administration

Purpose

As a general management programme the purpose of the qualification is to

• Broaden students' knowledge about the different management disciplines in the business environment.
• Enable working professionals to undertake development by means of a systematic survey of current thinking and practice and to learn via application in a working environment.
• Equip learners with the ability to define and develop an enterprise's value proposition in an increasingly competitive and volatile environment.
• Enable learners to use analytic skills to deal with business problems, but always within the particular social system that they operate.

Furthermore the qualification will enable learners to will strengthen their ability to manage in a complex society and business environment by building knowledge of functional areas and develop analytical skills, to integrate environmental, societal and governance (ESG) principles in their decision-making.

The curriculum contributes toward the intended outcomes by providing learners with a thorough understanding of management theory and practice.

Rationale

This qualification is a necessity for the institution to continue delivering its flagship Master of Business Administration (MBA) qualification due to changes in the regulatory environment. However, it is also an opportunity for the institution to extent the scope of management education to learners that will not necessarily be admitted to, or have a desire for, the MBA qualification.

The qualification will address the need to produce learners for employment at general management and higher levels. The successful completion of the qualification will allow learners to exhibit contextual understanding of the general business areas and allow learners admission to the MBA programme.

There are many employment opportunities in the private and public sectors for learners as the qualification helps learners to acquire business "know-how" when moving up to supervisory or managerial positions. They are also a good training routes when these learners switch to functional areas like human resource, marketing, etc. The qualification will be post-experience in nature, problem-centred and practical-oriented without compromising on academic rigour. It is also a popular alternative to a Master's qualification as the it can provide a more focused curriculum thus reducing the commitment in terms of cost and time for the students.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

According to the institution's policy framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), and the provisions defined in the National Standards Bodies Regulations (No 18787 of 28 March 1998, issued in terms of the SAQA Act 58 of 1995) a limited number of non-degree learners may join the Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management and Administration.

Stringent assessment criteria are applied to determine whether the applicant has developed the necessary competencies required to enter the Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management and Administration.

In addition to the normal application process, RPL applications will also be assessed on

• Work experience: A minimum of eight years of full-time work experience, of which at least three years should have been at management level.
• Curriculum Vitae: An extensive CV that includes which growth and learning over time is shown in the responsibilities associated with successive jobs.
• At least two references: Confidential reports from two referees are required on the candidate's work and management experience.
• Interview: A professional interview with a panel of academics to adjudicate the candidate's ability to cope with the learning programme.

Entry Requirements

The minimum admission requirements include

• A 3 year Bachelors' Degree or Advanced Diploma at NQF Level 7, or higher.

The qualification consists of 16 compulsory modules at NQF Level 8 totalling 120 Credits, with 4 elective modules to choose from.

Compulsory Modules, 96 Credits

• Digital Quotient, 8 Credits.
• Economics for Managers, 8 Credits.
• Entrepreneurship, 8 Credits.
• Human Capital Management, 8 Credits.
• Innovation Management, 8 Credits.
• Managerial statistics, 8 Credits.
• Managerial Accounting, 8 Credits.
• Information Systems Principles, 8 Credits.
• Marketing Management, 8 Credits.
• Principles of Operations, 8 Credits.
• Sustainable Enterprise, 8 Credits.
• Systems Methods, 8 Credits.

Elective Modules (Choose electives to the amount of 24 Credits), 24 Credits

• Future Studies (Elective), 8 Credits.
• Manager as Coach (Elective), 8 Credits.
• Project Management (Elective), 16 Credits.
• Risk Management (Elective), 8 Credits.

1. Apply futures thinking to a societal issue in a developing country context.
2. Provide information for management decision making such as planning, organising, leading and control.
3. An understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation, and by acknowledging responsibility to those in the local and broader business community.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Good and bad work in futures studies is distinguished.
• Key concepts of futures studies to business and societal issues are applied.
• Causal layered analysis to reveal the scope and nature of futures-related problems and issues is applied.
• Trend and megatrend analysis are used to measure the future and expectations.
• Scenarios are used to scope the future.
• Futures studies in the field of strategic management are considered.
• Futures studies are applied to effect change and transformation.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Knowledge and comprehension of the systemic interrelationship between an organisation and the environmental, social and economic conditions in its operational context is demonstrated.
• The most relevant concepts that inform the meaning of sustainable development in application to an organisational context is analysed.
• The importance of social legitimacy and stakeholder engagement critically reviewed and analysed for the development of a sustainable organisation.
• The position of an organisation in terms of its exposure to environmental and social risks and opportunities is evaluated and the ability to apply appropriate models for engagement with it is demonstrated.
• The principles, processes and practices of intra-organisational collaboration and integration for sustainable development are applied and the effectiveness thereof in organisational settings is examined.
• The importance of accountability systems and reporting mechanisms is evaluated to monitor organisational performance for sustainable development and examples are assessed and critiqued thereof in organisational contexts.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Knowledge and comprehension of the need for an integrative worldview given the complexity inherent in society at large and business in particular is demonstrated.
• A critical understanding of the systems thinking philosophy is developed.
• Social systems methodology to analyse and understand business- and management-related issues are applied.
• The ability to use systems thinking to integrate different business and management fields into an integrated whole is developed.
• The links between subjects such as strategic management, financial management, marketing management, etc are identified.
• Systems thinking to define problems and design solutions is applied.
• Systems thinking to foster and facilitate organizational development initiatives are critically reviewed and analysed.
• Systems dynamics (causal loop diagrams) to develop an understanding of the dynamics underlying systemic problems are applied.

Integrated Assessment

Learners will be assessed on a flexible assessment basis. In order to provide a level of consistency in the assessments of the various modules assessments will be standardised, where possible.

The following is a description of the number and types of formative and summative assessments. The standardised assessments will be as follows for each module:

• Formative assessment: Learners will be required to complete online tests on the LMS to test the comprehension of the theory for each module prior to attending contact sessions. It is envisaged that this will not contribute more than 20% of the total grade for a module.
• Summative assessment: Requires the practical application of the module content to a case study, will be administered after students have completed their contact time. These assessments will be written at the current exams centres in Southern Africa used by Telematic Services of the University.
• The final assessment (of application and experiential learning): Each module will be an individual assignment within the student's own working environment to practice, test and reflect on the theory via experiential learning. The assignment will require recognition of completion by a representative of the organisation, but will be graded by the lecturer of the module.