Postgraduate Diploma in Management

Purpose

The qualification will provide students with integrated and effective knowledge, functional managerial skills and applied competence therefore, providing them with enhanced opportunities for continued personal intellectual growth, gainful economic activity and rewarding contributions to society.

More specifically, the qualification aims to

• Provide a concentrated learning experience in specific managerial problems in a national and international environment.
• Develop critical understanding of the changing strategy and policy context within private and public organisations.
• Develop competencies in strategic issues associated with organisations.
• Develop an understanding of fundamental concepts and principles from the various business disciplines.
• Encourage students to think broadly and bridge gaps between theory and the actual practice of effective management.

Rationale

As a result of the legacy of the past, many public servants were denied management education, training and development opportunities. The current and future transformation processes of the public sector emphasise management training and education as key pillars.

The large shortage of skilled and well-trained managers or leaders has resulted in the urgent need for a qualification that will contribute towards resolving this recognised shortage on local, provincial and national level. The Postgraduate Diploma in Management was developed to provide the necessary training to address this specific need. The Postgraduate Diploma in Management is designed for students working at management level to be able to add value and play a strategic and transformational role in their organisations.

Currently the Postgraduate Diploma in Management is offered via the contact mode of delivery at the institution. There is an urgent need in the market for this qualification to be delivered via a distance learning platform to widen access to candidates currently working in lower or middle management positions in business and industry.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution and the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences subscribe to the principles underlying outcomes-based, source-based and lifelong learning. In this context, considerations of articulation and mobility play an important role. The institution endorses the view that RPL constitutes an essential element of the transformation of access and admissions policies at education institutions in South Africa. The transformation of access and admissions policies is intended to increase participation and to broaden access to higher education in order to produce graduates with the skills and competencies necessary to meet the human resource needs of the country.

The University and Faculty acknowledge that RPL must be conducted in a valid, reliable and equitable way and that it must take place in accordance with the terms of the University's policy on RPL and in accordance with the relevant procedures laid down by the Faculty. The School for Business and Governance adheres to institution's policy regarding RPL.

Candidates who have exited formal education at a time in their education careers but have since accumulated experience through short courses or other training opportunities may seek recognition for some modules or levels, or status for a full qualification that could make them eligible for admission.

Candidates may apply for recognition of up to one-third of the credits (modules) of the programme based on a prior learning programme or prior experience (informal or non-formal learning). The assessment processes involved with RPL are the same as those followed for awarding credits in a formal setting. An RPL candidate seeking credits for previously acquired skills and knowledge must still comply with all the requirements as stated in learning modules and learning programmes and qualifications. The difference is the route to the assessment. RPL assessment takes a holistic view of the process of assessment where the context of the learning as well as the context of the person who is being assessed is taken into account.

The qualification will promote access, progression and lifelong learning for students (especially those with practical experience but under-developed training and educational backgrounds) by providing them with opportunities to progress to more advanced forms of education and training.

Entry Requirements

For admission to the Postgraduate Diploma in Management, the learner must have

• A Bachelor's Degree at Level 7.

This qualification comprises compulsory modules at Level 7 totalling 120 Credits.

• General Management, 12 Credits.
• Managerial Economics, 12 Credits.
• Information Management Systems, 12 Credits.
• Financial Reporting, 12 Credits.
• Strategic Management, 12 Credits.
• Labour Relations, 12 Credits.
• Marketing Management, 12 Credits.
• Strategic Talent Management, 12 Credits.
• Corporate Governance, 12 Credits.
• Operations Management, 12 Credits.

1. Demonstrate knowledge of and engagement in the theories and principles of general management knowledge, including functional areas of accounting, information systems, economics, statistics, marketing, finance, operations, local governance, small business management, public and non-profit management, training and development, labour relations, human resource, and purchasing management.
2. Select and use appropriate methods of identifying, researching and diagnosing management problems and critically assess environmental influences on management activities.
3. Produce appropriate interpersonal skills and show sensitivity in personal interaction in the business environment in various team-based activities of different organisations in the public and private sector.
4. Select and use appropriate techniques of problem resolution, including developing, defending and implementing recommendations.
5. Demonstrate analytical skills in the area of resource utilisation, including people, finance, equipment, time, space and qualitative and quantitative information for decision making.
6. Contribute effectively to the formulation, implementation and review of policies, plans and the design of accompanying control processes.
7. Analyse own leadership roles, and the roles of others in management situations, and assess its effectiveness in the fulfilment of these roles, and cope with change more effectively through an enhanced understanding of the process of change, and be able to implement change in complex situations.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Explain the theories and principles underlying the theory acquired from general management knowledge.
• Present own relevant theories applicable to the specific subjects and respective areas of work, living and expertise.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Apply theories in relevant situations to prove that the synthesised theories have a sound theoretical and practical basis.
• Use a variety of methods to identify and assess real-life situations in the work environments and/or in other organisations such as non-profit organisations, to identify the relevant issues and problems that need to be solved.
• Apply the necessary skills in case studies that are based on real-life situations, both within different subject disciplines and by integrating subjects.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Effectively work in a group on problems or tasks related to the business environment and take co-responsibility for the outcome of the group process.
• Critically reflect on management principles and processes in different organisations, individually, or as part of a group.
• Review and conduct research on management issues related to the public and private sector, individually, or as part of a group.
• Illustrate how research in management evaluation can be used to effect improvement, individually, or as part of a group.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Solve practice-based problems, individually and in groups.
• Argue and defend possible solutions and the implementation thereof.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Analyse real-life business problems regarding finance, equipment, time, space and information for decision making.
• Use qualitative and quantitative information to solve real-life problems in the different functional areas/disciplines of the business environment.
• Integrate such analysis across disciplines.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Use the management principles of planning, organising, leading and control through all modules presented.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Analyse and manage own leadership role as well as that of others in management situations.
• Analyse and manage applicable resources to attain the learning outcomes of the modules in the qualification.
• Critically reflect on own learning processes towards development of a higher degree of self-directedness.
• Demonstrate the skills and disposition needed to stay up to date with change in complex management situations.
• Remain a lifelong learner.

Integrated Assessment

Formative and Summative Assessment

Opportunities for both formative and summative assessments are embedded in the learning design of the Postgraduate Diploma in Management throughout the year of study, in the form of electronic, written and/or practical assignments, portfolios and practical assessments, and written and practical examinations. Students are assessed on the application of learnt skills in order to assure that theory evolves into effective practice. A number of outcomes are assessed in an integrated manner by means of a project in the second semester of the programme, whereby not only the student's evidence of the mastering of discipline-specific knowledge and skills are assessed, but also his/her writing and communication skills, computer literacy and ability to critically analyse and effectively evaluate a work-place related problem. Report-writing could be used as an important aspect of such an assessment.