Postgraduate Diploma in Management

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to empower employed graduates, or those aspiring for management positions or those seeking career progression in management, as well as unemployed graduates who would like to increase their chances of employment to obtain advanced general management knowledge. This qualification will ensure learners understand management principles and practices and apply these to better manage teams and organisations or divisions of organisations.

Furthermore, through application of the understanding and knowledge of research as it pertains to management, graduates will be able to resolve management related challenges by conducting research and compiling a scientific research report, as well as presenting the results in a manner that is understood by both management teams as well as senior management of the organisation.

Through an integrated mode of delivery, learners will be able to apply critical learning skills; interrogate specific case studies and simulated business situations and recommend strategic business solutions to specific business related problems. Moreover, the qualification together with the specific mode of delivery prepare learners as effective managers capable of being pro-active and responding positively to a dynamically evolving business environment.

In a nutshell, upon successfully completing this qualification, learners will

• Interpret, interrogate critically evaluate management theory against best practice and implement business practices across national and international boundaries to effectively manage an organisation.
• Display effective research and communication skills for sound management decision-making.
• Be appropriately equipped with general management knowledge to improve chances of employability.
• Better manage own or other organisations through inter-alia effective people, finance, technology and operations and embracing change and innovation.
• Consider business opportunities through acquiring entrepreneurial knowledge and skills.
• Apply management principles to better manage a public service organisation.

Rationale

This qualification will provide access to marginalised groups and learners residing in remote areas far removed from 'on-site' instruction. Furthermore, access is widened through the use of social media and the provision of a Personal Computer (PC) Tablet to undergraduate students and I-pads to Postgraduate students, with all the teaching and learning materials pre-loaded upon registration.

The institution is fully cognisant of the fact that many graduates are unemployed, and by completing the Postgraduate Diploma in Management (PGDM), their chances of employment may increase. Furthermore, an opportunity for further studies is granted to those in full-time employment who may not be able to interrupt their careers or be granted leave to undertake full-time studies. This qualification therefore, will enable the aforementioned individuals to develop through distance education, and study at their pace in their own space, which further relieves pressure on personal and working lives.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Although the minimum requirements for admission to the Postgraduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) is an undergraduate Degree, a select number of learners who comply with institution's RPL policy may be admitted to the.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirements are

• An appropriate Bachelor's Degree.

This qualification consists of compulsory modules and elective modules at Level 8 totalling 135 Credits.

Compulsory Modules: 125 Credits

• Managerial Economics, 15 Credits.
• Marketing Management, 15 Credits.
• Managerial Finance, 15 Credits.
• Innovation and Change Management,15 Credits.
• Human Resources Management,15 Credits.
• Information Technology (IT) Management, 15 Credits.
• Business Research, 15 Credits.
• Research Report, 20 Credits.

Elective: 10 Credits (Choose one)

• Operations Management, 10 Credits.
• Entrepreneurship, 10 Credits.
• Managing Public Service, 10 Credits.

1. Critically engage with managerial economic constructs and frameworks as they apply to management.
2. Develop, implement, measure and manage a marketing strategy with the view to achieving the strategic objectives of an organisation.
3. Effectively manage organisations (private and public) through inter-alia effective financial management.
4. Develop a research proposal demonstrating thorough understanding of the scientific research process.
5. Evaluate innovation strategy and systems and manage innovation.
6. Manage organisations (private and public) through inter-alia effective people management.
7. Ensure effective operations through embracing and embedding technology.
8. Research management issues/challenges and prepare a professional Research Report with recommendations which contribute to the development of solutions.
9. Consider business opportunities through acquiring entrepreneurial knowledge and skills.
10. Apply management theories and principles in a public service organization context.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Apply the conceptsof price, income and elasticity of demand.
• Evaluate outputs and various prices related to profit maximisation, efficiency maximisation and revenue maximisation.
• Apply the cost and revenue concepts in different market structures.
• Assess the effects of national income accounting, unemployment, inflation, the economic cycle and fiscal policy on the macro economy.
• Analyse the impact of international trade and finance on the economy.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Use techniques and tools for the development of a strategic marketing process.
• Develop a marketing strategy with the view to achieving the strategic objectives of an organisation.
• Implement, measure and control the effectiveness of strategic marketing plans.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Evaluate the impact of international trade and finance on the economy.
• Explore the variety of sources of finance and the implications for developing a sustainable business venture.
• Ensure optimum funds utilisation.
• Align sound capital structure to strategy, where balance is maintained between dent and equity capital.
• Evaluate problems of exchange-rate fluctuations and the avoidance of exchange rate risk and other related factors.
• Understand the implications of valuations, acquisitions and mergers to firms.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Identify and define a business/management challenge.
• Develop a scientific research proposal.
• Critically review literature.
• Apply business statistics in management research.
• Analyse and interpret research findings using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques.
• Develop recommendations based on key research findings.
• Prepare a scientific Research Report.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Evaluate various sources and processes of evaluation.
• Appropriate change strategies to accommodate for disruption and change in an organisation.
• Critique a change management process.
• Evaluate innovation strategy and systems.
• Manage innovation and intellectual property.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Evaluate South African legal provision for Human Resource Management.
• Employ mechanisms that facilitates human resources forecasting, talent acquisition and retention.
• Follow processes and procedures in adopting a compensation system, employee development and retention in an organisation.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Evaluate the pivotal role of Information Technology in today's highly complex business world.
• Explore risks associated in developing complex systems and applications and the harnessing of knowledge in order to produce high quality systems.
• Evaluate complex problems associated with implementing and managing Information Technology Systems.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8

• Identify and define a business/management challenge.
• Develop a scientific research proposal.
• Critically review literature.
• Apply business statistics in management research.
• Analyse and interpret research findings using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques.
• Develop recommendations based on key research findings.
• Prepare a scientific Research Report.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9

• Evaluate entrepreneurial opportunities.
• Discuss critical issues associated with corporate entrepreneurship.
• The main causes of business failure.
• Explain key factors required to embed technology in an organisation.
• Evaluate the various theories, issues and concepts involved in understanding public sector management.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 10

• Evaluate requirements for making decisions related to the operations function.
• Take effective managerial decisions in order to ensure that effective utilisation of resources is achieved.
• Demonstrate how operations management decisions can influence the overall strategic objectives of an organisation.

Integrated Assessment

As a Postgraduate qualification the majority of assessments will be case studies and simulations which will require students to draw from the various management disciplines and theoretical models pertaining to specific modules and, apply this knowledge to resolving 'real-world 'problems.

Each module will have formative and summative assessments. Formative assessments may take the form of individual or group assignments and online assessments. The formative assessments will be weighted 40% and the summative assessment 60%. In order to be credited for a module, the student will need to attain an average of 50%. Considering that the Postgraduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) is a general management where possible, cases will integrate aspects of the core/compulsory modules; this however will be difficult with regard to the elective modules. All modules are 'stand-alone'; however, learners cannot register for the Research Project without completing Business Research or attempting it concurrently.