Postgraduate Diploma in Management

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to ensure that Postgraduate students are equipped with advanced knowledge, theory and methodology of specific and contemporary topics in General Management. It should also enable them to demonstrate creativity and responsibility in a professional or academic context where application of the theory is emphasised as a basis for entry into, or advancement in, the labour market, professional training, Master's Degree study, or professional practice in a wide range of careers within civil society, the public or private sectors. The modules in this qualification are presented at an advanced level and in an applied manner covering purposeful Generic Management areas and culminating in an integrated manner.

This provides strategic context for Postgraduate students in the following areas

• Operational and risk control.
• Brand Management for Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMMEs).
• Global marketing in the digital era.
• Strategic integrated marketing.
• Corporate finance in mergers, acquisitions, divestures, and turnaround strategies.
• Human capital development and talent management.
• Commercial negotiations.
• Business research methods.

The breadth and depth of learning achieved by Postgraduates reflect explicit skill-sets and knowledge-sets consisting of advanced theoretical engagement and intellectual objectivity characteristic of a first Postgraduate qualification within commerce in Generic Management, which facilitates access to, or advancement in, the world of work and promotes critical and analytical citizenship. For a rapidly evolving and growing nation, this qualification forms part of the increase in provision of Postgraduates with sophisticated higher order capabilities to grow the economy, to advance social transformation, and to remain regionally relevant and globally competitive.

Rationale

Comparing economic and labour trends within modern economies, 60% of jobs were unskilled in the 1950s whereas 65% have a skills prerequisite today. To keep pace with this demand in support of realising economic growth, human resource and higher order skills development are increasingly prioritised. Furthermore, the imperative to redress the shortage of opportunities in South Africa for participation in Postgraduate qualifications for candidates that meet the requirements and the equally compelling need to provide flexible options in relation to participation in first Postgraduate studies for many young students and adult learners are also areas of prioritisation.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Management is a response to the workplace need for highly skilled managers across all economic sectors. The current and future needs for competent senior commercial practitioners have been expressed by employers and employees alike. The skills, knowledge, attitudes and values required by senior managers are captured in this qualification which can be considered a generic qualification for the field of practice by offering good breadth on the salient topics combined with appropriate occupational and professional depth for its intended purpose.

The qualification provides exciting career opportunities in the fields of Business, Management and Marketing. For example:

• General Manager.
• Management Consultant.
• Business Administrator.
• Business Unit/General Manager.
• Production Manager.
• Logistics and Distribution Manager.
• Assistant Researcher and/or Analyst.
• Operations and Risk Analyst and/or Manager.
• Business Operations, Marketing or Brand Advisor/Manager.
• Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMMEs) Advisor and/or Consultant.
• Human Capital Development Manager.
• Talent Management Consultant.
• Entrepreneurial Advisor.
• Small Business Manager.
• Project Administrator.
• Supply Chain Manager.

In the increasingly competitive, sophisticated and changing world of work, the continued development of refined higher order applied knowledge is essential. The curriculum has been designed to shape the Postgraduate student's skills whilst realising the pursuit of lifelong learning to build successful careers and remain productive and responsible citizens. The qualification provides a balance in fields that are broadly enabling in relation to career/professional pathways while providing opportunities for both professional memberships with a variety of local and international bodies and further studies through vertical and/or horizontal articulation pathways.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Applicants may provide evidence of prior learning for which they may receive credit towards the qualification by means of portfolios or other forms of appropriate evidence which may include verified accounts of previous relevant work completed and performance records and which evidence is in accordance with the requirements of the relevant Quality Council.

Mature age applicants and applicants with non-South African school leaving qualifications or previous tertiary education experience may be considered. However, the Recognition of Prior Learning assessment will be considered only on condition that it is assessed as equal to a formal first Bachelor's Degree qualification.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement to this qualification is

• Bachelor's Degree.

Or

• Advanced Diploma.

This qualification consists of compulsory and elective modules at Level 8 totalling 128 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, 120 Credits

• Operational and Risk Control Management, 32 Credits.
• Human Capital Development and Talent Management, 8 Credits.
• Global Marketing in the Digital Era, 24 Credits.
• Strategic Integrated Marketing, 8 Credits.
• Legal Aspects and Commercial Negotiations, 8 Credits.
• Finance for Corporate Action, 8 Credits.
• Business Research Methods, 8 Credits.
• Strategic Branding for SMME's, 8 Credits.
• Research Project Report, 16 Credits.

Elective modules, 8 Credits (Choose one module)

• Advanced Entrepreneurship, 8 Credits.
• Advanced Project Management, 8 Credits.
• Strategic Supply Chain Management 8, Credits.

1. Apply the theoretical frameworks of operations and risk control to real life situations; and evaluate the associated commercial realities of local, national and global operations.
2. Demonstrate an ability to conduct market research, communicate effectively, using graphical and language skills in the modes of oral and/or written presentation.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of maintaining, improving and upholding a brand so that the name is associated with positive results.
4. Demonstrate the ability to collect, organise, analyse, and critically evaluate financial management data and/or information to enhance managerial decision-making.
5. Demonstrate the ability to assess, develop and manage the human capital needs of organisations exhibiting sensitivity when dealing with change management situations.
6. Demonstrate an ability to identify and solve problems in the fields of Commerce/Business Studies, using a variety of techniques, critical and creative thinking.

7.Classify, systematically examine, critically evaluate and solve problems with recommendations that display responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking.

1. Apply the knowledge, skills and applied competencies associated with entrepreneurship, or project management or supply chain and logistics management in a commercial context.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the business management function and scope of operations and risk control according to fundamental theory and practices.
• Methodically explore scenarios/cases to determine challenges, obstacles, shortcomings and/or problems within business, management and marketing contexts.
• Interpret various information-and data-sets to establish a variety of possible solutions within business, management and marketing contexts.
• Apply numerical, communication and creative skills to arrive at suitable solutions.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the complexities of global marketing management principles.
• Demonstrate an understanding of digital and integrated marketing contexts, strategy and management thereof.
• Contrast global and national marketing practices and campaigns.
• Identify and solve problems in practices associated with global and/or digital marketing.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Discuss brand management, with a particular emphasis on the principles and methodologies associated with brand building strategies, brand management and brand equity, and the applicability and/or measurement of brand value for Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMMEs).
• Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the scope of brand management and the core brand management practices for SMMEs.
• Contrast brand management theory and the realities faced in micro-and small business.
• Identify and solve problems in practices associated with building an SMME's brand.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Interpret financial information, with a particular emphasis on the data underpinning mergers, acquisitions, divestures and turnarounds.
• Demonstrate an understanding of commercial funding practices.
• Critique initial shareholder success versus the realities of long term sustainability of shares in corporate transactions that are either under-or over-leveraged.
• Investigate the reasons for lack of funding and/or oversupply of funding for various types of business and industries.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Demonstrate a critical grasp of the interrelationship between human capital and talent management.
• Juxtapose human capital management with human resource management theories and critique the role of contemporary practices.
• Recommend models for managing change to establish an advanced agenda for human capital management within an organisation.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Apply the knowledge and skills that are associated with best practices for commercial negotiations within the context of a commercial agreement.
• Solve a particular dispute or support the overcoming of a contractual impasse between two entities and/or parties.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the theoretical frameworks of planning and preparation for negotiations as well as analyses thereof.
• Critique various factors that affect negotiations and its outcomes.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Evaluate information and data accurately for purpose, clarification and understanding which is reflected in the work product submitted for assessment.
• Apply analytical skills to identify salient facts and elements from various sources of information and data.
• Demonstrate critical and reflective thinking to interpret and organise information and data appropriately.
• Demonstrate applied research knowledge, skills and competencies.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8

• Demonstrate the ability to apply advanced entrepreneurial, or project management or supply chain and logistics management skills in the real world of work.

Integrated Assessment

Integrated Assessment is ordinary practice in this type of qualification and is essential to ensure that the purpose of the qualification is achieved in relation to the occupational or professional focus carried by the qualifier and in terms of its propositional and declarative knowledge, vocational relevance, reflective competency and critical cross-field learning outcomes.

Successful students will have undertaken an extensive process in which assessments progressively build the students' integrated competency to a point where the student is able to express-through a range of mechanisms measured against valid, reliable and transparent criteria-that they can operate effectively in an occupational position within the knowledge system specified by the qualification title Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) Management.

Formative Assessment

Formative Assessment integrates the cycle of teaching and learning, and assessment. Study guides and texts contain self-assessment exercises. The scheme of work includes formal assessments in the form of tests and/or assignments based on the learning material and students are graded and provided written feedback. The process is continuous and focuses on smaller sections of the work and is limited in the number of outcomes assessed.

Summative Assessment

Summative Assessments are in the form of proctored examinations, or equivalent assessment, such as a research report which assesses a representative selection of the outcomes practised and assessed in the formative stage. Summative Assessment also tests the student's ability to manage and integrate a large body of knowledge to achieve the stated outcomes of a qualification. For purposes of assessment, submission of research reports are subject to the processes and approval of the research committee. Research reports are assessed by both an internal and external assessor.