Postgraduate Diploma in Business Process Management

Purpose

The purpose of this Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) in Business Process Management (BPM) is to develop working professionals' ability to think critically and strengthen and deepen their knowledge of aligning business processes with business and corporate strategy and goals, and assuring that Information Technology (IT) applications, human competencies and organisational development, support the process performance objectives of the organisation. This implies a thorough application of process thinking at all levels, from the extended value chain and network, through process architecture, to process modelling, analysis, engineering and design, on to implementation supported by current Business Process Automation tools.

This qualification requires a high level of theoretical engagement and intellectual independence. It enables learners to systematically survey current thinking, practice and research methods in Business Process Management to develop a holistic systemic approach to achieve optimised business process innovation, business value and agility in a real-world business case.

This qualification intends to further strengthen links with industry. Throughout their studies, learners will

• Explore case study-based projects to solve complex BPM problems that are inspired by world scenarios, crafted in collaboration with our industry partners;
• Solve a workplace-based project, applying their specialised BPM knowledge holistically, to solve a concrete problem that is relevant to their profession;
• Work collaboratively in teams while exercising self-reflection and accountability for personal gains;
• Be exposed to state-of-the-art software and technology, as is used in the workplace and in research to complete process modelling, analysis, implementation and monitoring tasks;
• Cover relevant contemporary BPM and interpersonal capabilities necessary for them to move into senior professional positions.

Rationale

Within the world of work, globalisation, decolonisation and the weakness in local market economies are driving business processes within and across organisations and national boundaries. Alliance partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, create a need in businesses to design and implement innovative business processes to support rapidly changing and dynamic organisational strategies and performance management systems. Businesses continue to engage globally and operate in a competitive environment, stressing the need to work more collaboratively and being more process-centric.

Adopting Industry 4.0 is not just a matter of new technologies and/or tools and/or production methods but implies changes in all management aspects, not only at an internal level but also in relationships with stakeholders of the ecosystem in which the organisation operates. To profit from Industry 4.0, managers must design and manage their enterprise processes and carefully align their process strategy to their enterprise strategy as well as their transition to Industry 4.0.

Therefore, in the transition to Industry 4.0 organisations are becoming more process-oriented, BPM tools and methods continue to evolve and the need for BPM expertise is increasing. The highly demanded jobs in South Africa in 2019 based on the skills list SA 2018 in Business Process Outsourcing, is that of a Business Analyst and Customer Service Manager/Team Leader. The Media, Information and Communication Technology (MICT) Seta Sector skills plan for 2018 -2023 also identified the systems analyst and business process analyst as hard to fill vacancies.

While an increasing number of organisations are interested in adopting or expanding BPM approaches and implementing BPM technologies, most lack sufficient internal competencies needed to undertake these BPM initiatives. There is a general lack of understanding of BPM principles in business organisations, stakeholder commitments to implement and support BPM initiatives, and managers' knowledge of BPM (Bandara et al., 2007).

This demand requires higher education institutions to respond by developing qualifications in Management, such as this qualification since the need for Innovation and Transformation Agility in this environment must be driven by a Business Process Management approach to achieve more business value.

Consultation with industry partners and alumni as well as information retrieved from job advertisements and questionnaires distributed to working professionals and alumni indicated that the need for this qualification. The questionnaires also revealed that there is a need to deepen the knowledge of those who are in the industry and that the average ranking for the need of this qualification is critical and that through the qualification structure this qualification provides knowledge and skills set needed in the industry.

Within the National Higher Education context, the qualification is in line with the White Paper for Post School Education and Training since it aims to meet the national development needs by expanding learner access and success through the development in the Government identified scarce skills areas of General Manager and Services Manager.

Therefore, this qualification will enable graduates to contribute to their fields of practice (Young, 2009), as well as their preparation for broader roles in the development of South African society (CHE, 2011). It will provide learners with the disciplinary knowledge that underpins professional practice (Beck & Young, 2005), as well as facilitate the acquisition of specific skills and knowledge for competent practice. (Wheelahan, 2010).

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

RPL is a process of identifying the knowledge and skills of an applicant against the admission requirements of the qualification for access and/or for credits against a part thereof as described in the institutional guidelines. This is to give flexible access to the qualification for the profile of the targeted learners. The process involves the identification, mediation, assessment and acknowledgement of knowledge and skills obtained through informal, non-formal and/or formal learning.

The RPL process is multi-dimensional and multi-contextual, aimed at the individual needs of applicants and is handled following an institutional RPL policy by a unit dedicated to this activity. The RPL process includes guidance and counselling, as well as the preparation of a body of evidence to be presented by the RPL candidate to meet institutional requirements.

When applying for the recognition of previous learning - a candidate is required to reflect on the learning in his/her life and his work experience. The department provides a curriculum map of exit level outcomes. Learners engage with these outcomes based on their current work experience or informal/non-formal learning, which are then included in the Portfolio of Evidence (POE) which is submitted for assessment according to institutional guidelines.

The PoE is required to assess the experience and competence of the candidate against the outcomes of specified subjects. Candidates are required to attend a workshop in which they will be guided in compiling the portfolio of evidence.

Therefore, following national RPL requirements and the institutional RPL policy and practices candidates who submit a body of evidence of informal, non-formal and formal learning will be considered for admission or credits for this qualification. RPL applications will be dealt with on an individual basis.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Advanced Diploma at NQF Level 7 in a Business or non-business discipline.

Or

• Bachelor's Degree at NQF Level 7 in a Business or non-business discipline.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at NQF Level 8 totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 8, 120 Credits

• Enterprise Process Management 5, 20 Credits.
• Business Process Technology and Architecture 5, 20 Credits.
• Business Process Modelling and Analysis 5, 20 Credits.
• Research Methods and Introduction to Capstone Project, 15 Credits.
• Process Management Design and Implementation 5, 15 Credits.
• Business Process Performance Management 5, 15 Credits.
• Capstone Project, 15 Credits.

1. Develop a holistic understanding and application of enterprise process management by integrating business strategies, IT capabilities and business processes.
2. Model existing business processes accurately, investigate and apply the different analysis methods of business processes and align process modelling techniques with process analysis.
3. Optimise processes by applying current process design techniques, transform the designed to-be process, set up and institutionalise process management and sustainable process controlling systems in organisations.
4. Analyse how business architecture (business process content) is translated into IT architecture (hardware and system software).
5. Design an integrated network of business-orientated and technology-orientated performance measurement frameworks for extended enterprise business processes.
6. Plan, manage and present an integrated, assessable enquiry-based capstone project plan in Business Process Management.
7. Provide a research report or portfolio of evidence of research activities that documents the ethical and professional execution of all phases of a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) research-oriented.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Distinguish between the concepts and strategies required to successfully manage business processes from a holistic end-to-end perspective.
• Develop end-to-end business processes that promote collaborative cross-functionality and a business process organisation with business process and sub-process owners to establish clear accountability.
• Tailor BPM to the value drivers of a process-centred organisation and implement value-driven BPM Governance.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Explore the modern methodologies of business process modelling and construct a set of activities to create representations of an existing or proposed business process.
• Evaluate an example of a process model.
• Review the what, why, when and who of process analysis and explore in detail the specifics of how to prepare to analyse a process.
• Analyse processes and process models as they are, compare them to the future and improved designs and determine the necessary changes for arriving at the improved state.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Interrogate and apply business process design principles and examine the steps that are required to transform the approved process design.
• Reflect on practices and conventional theories and models of change and advance their diagnostic skills, competencies and processes in assessing the development, implementation, process evaluation and quality control change strategies at all organisational levels.
• Investigate how the design of sustainable business processes can facilitate enterprise sustainability.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Transform business architecture requirements into a BPM subset of an IT architecture.
• Specify the BPM technology functionality necessary to execute computer-based execution of business processes and supporting manual tasks.
• Integrate business processes and use the latest generation of Enterprise Application Software ushered in by Systems Applications and Products (SAP).
• Critically review methodologies, techniques and tools that underpin the successful implementation of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems through SAP.
• Evaluate a range of implementation strategies and alternative change management models to recommend choices for contemporary organisations operating in a variety of business settings.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Develop Process Performance metrics that improve alignment between the enterprise strategy and business process services.
• Create a closed-loop feedback mechanism for business process performance management.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Prepare and present a proposed plan for an integrated, inquiry-based research project for a real-world BPM problem.
• Demonstrate understanding of the research process concerning the enquiry, and of how to access, process and manage information in interrogating the identified problem.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Solve a complex BPM problem that is inspired and crafted in collaboration with industry partners and communicate the research results convincingly to a range of audiences.
• Provide a research report or portfolio of evidence of research activities that document the ethical and professional execution.

Integrated Assessment

Integrated assessment takes the form of an appropriate variety of both summative and formative assessment methods.

For formative assessments, the learner will complete authentic assessment activities such as problem-solving tasks that are directly relevant to business process management practice. They will receive timely feedback to assist them in their achievement of the learning outcomes.

The summative assessments will include written and oral tasks, problem-solving assignments, projects, presentations, case studies and the successful completion of a research project. The ratio of assignment tasks to academic examinations is 60:40.

All summative assessments are moderated in a three-step process, namely pre-assessment, post-assessment and an integrated review according to institutional rules and assessment procedures. This is done to ensure that each assessment is valid, reliable, fair, accurate and well-designed. Assessments have appropriate criteria and rubrics to guide both the learners and the examiner.

External moderation is done by suitably qualified and Senate approved appointed moderators.