Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to broaden the learners Human Resource Management knowledge within a business framework so as to develop a thorough understanding of its theory as well as the skills necessary to apply the theory. The qualification will prepare learners for entry into, development of existing careers in Human Resource Management in the private and public sectors.

Rationale

The qualification provides learners with a practical, work-related orientation which draws upon a sound theoretical base; provide learners with frameworks with in which a broad understanding of the Human Resource Management discipline is examined, provide learners with a holistic view of organisations, their environment and functioning, and Human Resource Management role therein; recognise that learners, as managers in both private and public sector organisations, need to be able to deal with a rapidly changing environment; emphasise the importance of team work by learners, have a deliberate focus on the development of personal skills and competencies in human resource management.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution accepts the principle underlying outcomes-based, source-based and life-long learning, in which considerations of articulation and mobility play a significant role, and subscribes to the view that Recognition of Prior Learning, whether acquired by formal education curricula at this or another institution or informally (by experience) is an indispensable element in deciding on admission to and awarding credits in an explicitly selected teaching-learning qualification of the institution.

An applicant who falls outside of the formal qualifications system, but who can demonstrate (through the production of substantial and satisfactory evidence) experiential or work-based learning or a non-formal qualification (or a combination), may be considered for admission and/or for the Recognition of Prior Learning for the achievement of the qualification in part or in full. An applicant who after such assessment, is deemed to have sufficient potential, but is in need of further academic development, must be directed to other suitable learning qualifications prior to admission or to parallel qualifications after admission.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Bachelor of Business Administration, National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 7.
• Bachelor of Administration, National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 7.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 8 totalling 128 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 8, 96 Credits

• Business Strategy and Management, 16 Credits.
• Human Resources Management B, 16 Credits.
• Industrial Relations B, 16 Credits.
• Industrial Relations A, 16 Credits.
• Finance and Accounting16 Credits.
• Human Resource Management, 16 Credits.

Elective Modules, Level 7, 32 Credits (Choose two)

• Business Law, 16 Credits.
• Elements of Entrepreneurship, 16 Credits.
• Management C, 16 Credits.
• Special Topics in Management, 16 Credits.
• Business Statistics, 16 Credits.
• Bank Management A, 16 Credits.
• Supply Chain Management, 16 Credits.
• Marketing Management, 16 Credits.
• Marketing Management B, 16 Credits.

1. Apply and evaluate a selected leadership development model within an organisational setting.
2. Analyse group and overt/covert organisational dynamics, with specific reference to power, roles, norms, values and ethics.
3. Diagnose an organisational problem, make recommendations on improvements and develop an intervention based on the findings of the diagnosis.
4. Analyse the strategic context of own organisation to identify an area relevant to strategic leadership.
5. Apply a strategic tool(s) towards strategy making for the organisation.
6. Critically review the development of organisational thinking and values with reference to systems thinking.
7. Apply systems thinking tools and techniques to an organisational practice problem in own work environment and make recommendations on improvement.
8. Formulate a research proposal for conducting a practitioner research project, and conduct the.
9. Research for a research problem in own work environment.
10. Analyse the conceptual models and framing of the portfolio of leadership skills and evaluate.
11. Applicability of these skills in dealing with different leadership challenges.
12. Analyse own leadership in relation to the conceptual models and develop an action plan for.
13. Improving own leadership and organisational effectiveness.
14. Identify key organisational sociological positions and the various systems methodologies in.
15. Relation to their sociological paradigms.
16. Apply the theoretical content relating to organisational complexity to a particular case study and project management tools to a case study.
17. Critically evaluate current project management practice.

The following Associated Assessment Criteria will be used in an integrated manner across the Exit Level Outcomes

• Demonstrate critical thinking as applied to business situations, and can make connections across disciplines.
• Demonstrate knowledge of Finance Banking and Investment Management practice and the interconnectedness across disciplines by preparing case studies and participating in business simulations.
• Develop relevant plans and to conduct relevant research by producing written reports, and to be competent to deliver verbal presentations.
• Prepare a research report on a relevant Finance, Banking or Investment Management topic or problem and this will act as an integrative module.

Integrated Assessment

Each module will be assessed through an integrated individual written assignment, in addition to a range of oral and written, group and individual class assignments in order to give students the opportunities to demonstrate a variety of competencies. The final module assignment requires students to apply their learning in an integrated way to analyse a specific area related to their work context in a work-based assignment and to apply the theoretical frameworks to recommend solutions to identified problem areas. The practitioner research project assesses the ability of learners to integrate themes from different modules appropriately to a real scenario.