Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Business

Purpose

The Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Business is a management development and general business qualification with a focus on the consequences, efficacy, and administration of digitalisation in organisations. The qualification is aimed at young, entry-level or middle managers who want to enrich their careers, as junior managers with proven leadership potential who want to accelerate their professional advancement into generalist digital management roles. This qualification is aimed at learners from a range of disciplinary backgrounds who want to learn more about how digital processes play a role in everyday life and transform the general management of companies.

The qualification is designed as a contemporary and broad range study of the management issues associated with the successful application of digital systems and technology within business and the development and application of new technologies for the management of digital businesses. This includes new technology companies and applications, as well as businesses seeking to transform areas of their commercial strategies into digital platforms. The qualification focuses on the development of knowledge required for managing digital technologies that will support business needs and is designed for experienced management professionals seeking to advance their careers in management. The qualification concentrates on the development of the digital literacies needed to lead business innovation through the application of new and emerging technologies.

Qualifying learners will study the theory and application of digital business through technical and management principles. This type of study equips learners with knowledge that can be applied to a variety of real-world business situations, many of which they are likely to encounter. The social and economic transformation of South Africa will be enhanced through the graduates as they can operate at entry and mid-level management levels in both private and public sector organisations, and therefore can be a power for good through ethical and effective expertise and management of digitalisation portfolios.

In relation to the curriculum's intended outcomes, the qualification helps demonstrate an understanding of a comparative range of management and technology frameworks within digital environments and will be able to evaluate their applicability to South Africa and African contexts.

Qualifying learners will be able to

• Demonstrate a foundational ability to access, use and manage information relating to a broad range of topical areas of digitalisation.
• Apply appropriate conceptual and analytical frameworks within different organisational management conditions and have acquired skills that allow for the presentation of information in a range of written and oral modes appropriate to various organisational audiences.
• Enhance individual and group leadership, problem-solving skills and approaches to dealing with problems.
• Contribute to the development of ethical and responsible practices in digital business and organisational contexts.

The qualification provides an excellent route for those learners intending to undertake further postgraduate studies and research at Master's level, whilst allowing qualifying learners to focus or up-skill themselves in particular data-driven business management approaches in a shorter time

As an entry-level postgraduate qualification, the intention is fit for purpose in terms of the Business School's universal academic strategy to widen access to management education for a more diverse range of learners in South Africa and the continent, as well as advancing the transformation agenda.

Rationale

The qualification has been developed with a specific set of parameters and principles to serve as the basis for its considered design logic. These include the following aspects:

• The South African business community has a legitimate stake in the value derived from this qualification through Business Connexion Group Limited (BCX) /Telkom's support of the Chair in Digital Business. It is anticipated that the qualification will be in high demand and therefore the learner uptake is expected to reach full capacity, both locally, on the continent and internationally.
• The learner' values, knowledge, technical know-how and skills to act ethically, innovatively and effectively in the general management of organisations pursuing digital strategies are acquired.

Typically learners must have a minimum of two years' work experience, who have a three-year undergraduate degree or equivalent. Young graduates in entry-level positions who wish to develop broad-ranging foundational knowledge in the application of digital business management or to become involved in technical start-ups or new ventures or become entrepreneurs. The opportunities are limitless in terms of how the knowledge acquired can be applied to various professions within a number of sectors. These include, among many others, financial and banking innovation and management, digital marketing and communication, cyber security, business and big data analysis, digital business strategy, business enterprise, logistics and supply chain management, social media and e-commerce, environmental planning and science and technology education.

Qualifying learners are sought after by both private and non-profit sector organisations due to the critical need for digital business generalist managers across all industry sectors. Qualifying learners have unlimited opportunities in how they wish to apply their expertise in the new digital world of work. It is anticipated that all managers looking to enhance their competencies for a world of digital business will be interested in, and benefit from, this qualification. This includes people across the range of management disciplines, from technical/technology management, to finance, strategy, marketing, human resources, operations, and innovation. The qualification content will apply to all business sectors, as all are affected by digitalisation.

The Digital Evolution Index (DEI), a globally recognised survey created, identifies annually which groups of countries are in states of readiness to embrace the digital economy. Factors considered include supply side, demand side, innovation, and institutional readiness. South Africa, together with some other African countries, was featured in the 'Watch Out' group of countries that face significant opportunities and threats, with low scores on both current levels and upward motion of the DEI. South Africa was encouraged to overcome limitations through innovation, and intervention measures such as broadening research and developing a solid digital skills base in labour markets for job uptake. Empirical research such as that referred to above, as well as the industry, calls for education and skills development in response to the severe shortage in digital business expertise (which has been recognised through the generous contributions in this area of companies like Telkom) provide evidence for both demands for the qualification and the benefits to African economies and societies.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

This qualification may be achieved in part or completely through the Recognition of Prior Learning, which includes formal, informal, and non-formal learning and work experience. The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) assessment process involves the identification, mediation, assessment and acknowledgement of knowledge and skills obtained through informal and non-formal learning. RPL is applied in terms of the policy and criteria of the institution. The necessary documentary evidence will have to be provided and a formal RPL process will be followed. The institution will apply in this qualification the RPL for both access and credits in line with the National Policy and Criteria for the Implementation of RPL (Amended in March 2019).

RPL for Access

Learners who do not meet the minimum entry requirements of the required qualification may be considered for RPL. There are two options:

• Advanced Standing, in which case the minimum entry requirements are waived by the admitting institution based on evidence of prior learning, work experience or any other relevant circumstances that may apply to an individual learner. No portfolio is required.

OR

• Applicants may provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that the applicant has acquired sufficient relevant knowledge, skills, and competencies to be able to reasonably meet the expectations for learning demanded by the qualification for which they are seeking access.
• In instances where RPL is applied for the purposes of access, no credits will be awarded for any previous learning. However, the candidate may choose the option of being assessed for credit.

RPL for credits

Learners who do meet the necessary entry requirements for admission to a qualification may be awarded some or all the credits towards the qualification. There are two possibilities:

• Learners may apply for RPL to be exempted from a module or some modules by providing sufficient evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that a level of competency, equivalent to the learning outcomes of the module or modules, has been achieved. Credits will be awarded for such modules.

OR

• Learners may apply for RPL to be awarded all the credits required for the qualification. Sufficient evidence must be provided that demonstrates a level of competency equivalent to all the learning outcomes of the qualification.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Advanced Diploma in Business Management, NQF Level 7.

Or

• Bachelor of Business Administration, NQF Level 7.

Or

• A relevant qualification in the related field, NQF Level 7.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 8 totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 8,120 Credits

• Business Strategy for a Digital World, 12 Credits.
• Digital Technology Fundamentals, 12 Credits.
• Marketing for Digital Business, 12 Credits.
• Digitalising Operations Management, 12 Credits.
• Innovation & Entrepreneurship for Digital Business, 12 Credits.
• Digital Readiness, Transformation & Change Management, 12 Credits.
• Talent Management for Digital Business, 12 Credits.
• Customer Experience Management, 12 Credits.
• Systems Thinking in the Digital Economy, 12 Credits.
• Digital Business in Africa, 12 Credits.

1. Demonstrate understanding at an advanced scholarly level of digital business-management frameworks such that the learner can engage with and critique their applicability to South African contexts, and use in digital management practice
2. Demonstrate knowledge of a broad range of conceptual and analytical fields within digital business management and the ability to choose an appropriate method of enquiry and analysis in a particular aspect of digital business management.
3. Access, use and manage quantitative and qualitative information in such a way that the learner can interpret and produce insights in a range of digital business management areas.
4. Demonstrate specialised skills in applying conceptual and analytical frameworks of digital business to generate solutions and insights that can address complex and challenging problems in a range of complex organisational internal and external management conditions.
5. Ability to understand the probable consequences of management implementation of digital business solutions and insights generated using digital business-management concepts and frameworks, and to address the intended and unintended consequences of such interventions.
6. Present information and defend substantial insights and solutions to digital business management dilemmas in a range of written and oral modes and genres appropriate to both academic and senior business management audiences.
7. Enhance strategic leadership and problem-solving skills and scholarly expertise in digital business appropriate to complex and rapidly changing organisational environments.
8. Develop ethical and practical managerial, leadership and good governance skills including abilities to exercise autonomous judgement about complex organisational and professional issues within an environment of competing values in a digital economy.
9. Conceptualise, pursue, and present research into complex problems in contextualised digital business- management environments and makes persuasive recommendations.
10. Demonstrate abilities to sustain independent and professional learning to interact effectively as well as accountability for his/her own work.

Associated Assessment Criteria are applied in an integrated manner to the Exit level Outcomes

• Analyse and solve complex and ambiguous problems.
• Think strategically in a rapidly changing and contested world.
• Collect, analyse, and critically evaluate information.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving does not exist in isolation.
• Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment in community, national and global contexts.
• Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the modes of written presentation.
• Work effectively with others as a member of a team or group through leadership effectiveness in order to solve complex problems of an organisation.
• Analyse and solve divergent leadership and managerial problems.
• Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment in community, national and global contexts.
• Manage change as individuals and in groups.
• Contribute to the development of ethical standards around digital business practice in specific organizations.