Postgraduate Diploma in Management

Purpose

The purpose of the qualification is to prepare learners to function effectively as managers by developing their ability to apply advanced managerial competencies in workplace situations. It is also intended to prepare students for further study through the deepening of knowledge and understanding of business decision-making, problem-solving and leadership.

The qualification was developed to equip learners with enhanced management and research skills in order to solve management related problems faced by organisations. It empowers students to understand their expected critical role in the effective and efficient management of organisations.

Specific modules in the programme are interrelated to equip learners with a holistic meaningful picture of organisational dynamics. The qualification further deepens the theoretical knowledge by undertaking research project in the field of management. By so doing, possibilities for articulating into a Master's Degree is created. Additionally, the qualification is intended to enhance management skills, problem solving skills, communications skills, and decision-making skills, conflict management skills and other management related skills. During the design of the qualification, career path ways of students were considered by offering specialised academic and professional studies for learners holding a relevant National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 7 qualification.

Rationale

To promote access, the teaching and learning philosophy will be social constructivism which takes realistic cognisance of the material conditions of learners, thereby rendering the learning content contextually relevant to the learners. This qualification will be aligned to industry needs to enhance the employability of students. This qualification will equip learners with managerial competencies required by industry with particular emphasis on research. Targeted learners will be those with supervisory or managerial experience to help them enhance their managerial and supervisory skills to be effective and efficient managers, thereby addressing management challenges of South African and the regional companies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and institutions.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at Level 8 totalling 126 Credits.

• Strategic Management Module 1, 12 Credits.
• Strategic Management Module 2, 12 Credits.
• Financial Management Module 1, 12 Credits.
• Financial Management Module 2, 12 Credits.
• Project management Module 1, 12 Credits.
• Project management Module 2, 12 Credits.
• Organisational Behaviour Module 1, 12 Credits.
• Organisational Behaviour Module 2, 12 Credits.
• Research Project, 30 Credits.

1. Demonstrate an understanding and ability to gather, synthesis and evaluate management processes through the integration and application of detailed management knowledge of strategic business, concepts, principles and theories.
2. Analyse, interpret and apply standard management procedures and financial information impacting on management processes (e.g. strategic planning, financial planning, risk analysis, marketing).
3. Integrate and implement specialised knowledge, theory, methods and practice of organisational dynamics, change and problem resolution to inform and guide the management functions within the workplace.
4. Apply advanced project management skills, methods, tools, techniques and appropriate technologies to identify, evaluate, integrate and work with systems supported by professional communication methods to ensure the achievement of business goals.
5. Interrogate multiple management sources of knowledge within the field of management when engaging in scientific investigative project research to construct results, interpret findings, formulate recommendations/solutions and produce a scientifically written research report.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Assess internal and external environments of any organisation and the impact these environments may have on the vision and mission statements and directive strategies of organisations
• Identify and critique internal organisational variables that could impact on operations and strategic directions.
• Investigate and establish organisational competitiveness through industry analyses.
• Consider and reflect on the critical role played by various strategic drivers (e.g. leadership, organisational structure, culture, compensation and resources) and instruments (e.g. policies, action plans) in the effective implementation, control and evaluation techniques of chosen strategies.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Explain and construct grand strategies that organisations pursue to achieve long-term objectives and strategies (SWOT matrix, SPQM matrix, McKinsey's 7S, balance scorecards).
• Explore and weigh various company policies that serve as catalysts for the implementation of a company strategy.
• Conceptualise, evaluate and construct action plans to support the effective implementation of strategies and processes within the managerial function.
• Perform legal and other regulatory responsibilities and accountability for different financial instruments (e.g. accounting concepts, financial management, stocks, bonds, exchange rate mechanisms, treasury, investment, assets and liabilities, mergers and acquisitions).

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the core concepts of organisational behaviour, the nature, dimensions and levels of organizational culture, ethics and diversity in the workplace.
• Critique underlying theories, models, diagnostics and principles that have an impact on employees and managers in organisational behaviour (e.g. motivation, perception, attitude, etc.) on national and global level.
• Motivate and integrate theories and practices to measure and improve work motivation and performance.
• Investigate and debate the role and challenges of organisational communication to inform, guide and provide resolutions within the workplace.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Explain concepts of project management (e.g. project, project management, programme and portfolio management, project sequencing).
• Compare management processes with project management processes reflecting on management skills, methods, tools, techniques and appropriate technologies.
• Discuss the project design plan and recommending the scope definition, the scope change and control for the project.
• Construct the Work Breakdown structure for a project (e.g. role of critical stakeholders, time and cost management, product lifecycle).
• Manage internal and external project constraints.
• Appraise the significance of professional and ethical communication in project planning, monitoring and execution to ensure the achievement of business goals.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Contextualise a management specific research problem and independently undertake a critical literature review interrogating multiple management sources of knowledge within the field of management.
• Explore and apply sound knowledge of research theories, principles and methods to identify, analyse, evaluate and critical reflect on management problems, approaches and processes to identify, collect, analyse, interpret data and formulate findings.
• Produce and professionally communicate/present scientific researched and written arguments and solutions to assess and address complex problems impacting on management to provide relevant research informed solutions in the form of a publishable journal article.
• Conduct research in an ethical professional manner.

Integrated Assessment

Learning outcomes are assessed on a continuous basis by means of assignments, class tests, semester tests and presentations (formative assessment), culminating in summative assessments (written examinations).