Postgraduate Diploma in Management Information Systems

Purpose

This qualification aims to

• Provide students with best practice application and integration of knowledge relating to Information Management systems.
• Formalise and extend knowledge gained through work in industry.

The qualification is also aimed at developing critical reading and writing skills relevant to IS for IS/IT professionals who have been working in IS/IT, but do not have a formal IS/IT qualification and IS/IT professionals wishing to upgrade their knowledge.

Rationale

The skills shortage in Information Systems (IS) or Information Technology (IT) is widely acknowledged and reported. Modules in this qualification are strongly supported by Industry, the Provincial Governments and the relevant SETA. The qualification contributes towards reducing the skills gap through the provision of appropriate training for IS/IT practitioners.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Admission may be considered through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) as follows

• All non-Degree learners must have at least 3 years of proven IT/IS work experience at operational or management level that can be shown to have compensated for the lack of a Bachelor's Degree.
• They must sit for, and pass the Academic Literacy and Quantitative Literacy National Benchmark Tests with a minimum of an intermediate result.
• They must write a report detailing their life experiences to date (primarily since the completion of formal schooling) and covering personal, work, education and community experiences, closely aligning each experience or job to skills and competencies gained along the way.

Students may also receive credits towards the qualification for relevant knowledge and skills elsewhere through an RPL assessment.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entrance requirement

• Bachelor's Degree Level 7.

This qualification consists of compulsory modules at NQF Level 8 totalling 120 Credits.

• Information Systems Project, 60 Credits.
• Information Systems Management, 60 Credits.

1. Make a positive contribution with respect to IT/IS value in a wide variety of organisational settings and sectors, with specific attention to the needs of each particular context.
2. Manage IS/IT infrastructure and functions within organisations.
3. Communicate effectively with all role players related to a particular the ICT field of operation in.
4. Conduct all negotiations ethically and with integrity while being mindful of the impact that IT/IS decisions may have in both the long- and short-term.
5. Conduct academic research and report on findings.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Information technology challenges faced are dealt with innovatively and resourcefully.
• New opportunities to improve practice are recognised even before a problem is identified.
• Conceptual knowledge is transformed into contextual knowledge.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• The required mix of technical and managerial skills to face the business and IS/IT challenges in organisations is developed.
• Technical skills to effectively address IT issues (architectures, security, databases, etc.) are developed.
• The ability to utilise double loop learning to adopt new strategies for guiding Strategic Management of IT in terms of Business and IT Alignment is demonstrated.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Effective communication which underpins all knowledge areas related to management information systems is practised and appreciated.
• Interpersonal, social and communication skills to negotiate and manage IT-enabled business changes and innovations are developed.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Ethical behaviour is exhibited in general or in computer security.
• Defensive reasoning is avoided and openness for change is practised.
• IT regulations are understood and adhered to.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• A research proposal related to an information technology challenge is formulated.
• Research is conducted in an academically appropriate manner and the process and findings are reported on.
• Research findings are presented to an audience of peers.

Integrated Assessment

The assessment per course is as follows

Information Systems Management

Coursework Assessment: 50%

Assignments, papers and presentations are required of students throughout the programme. Some of this work is completed in groups, through the use of appropriate online collaborative tools. The Learning Management Systems (LMS) has specific capabilities for online group work.

Learners are also assessed continuously for their attendance, participation and contribution during the year. Each learner in each qualification requires a sub-minimum of 50% in the individual proctored work to pass that course. This means that where a learner does not achieve 50% for the individual proctored work, the final mark will consist only of that proctored individual assessment (i.e. The mark for any other non-proctored coursework will not count towards the final mark in that course).

Written Examination: 50%

Information Systems Project

Final Report: 50%

The work-related capstone project will be assessed according to criteria laid down by the course convenor, and these criteria will be regularly monitored by a committee of senior academics. It is assessed based on a single deliverable submitted to the department in the form of a written report. The report should demonstrate clearly how the knowledge gained in the course has been applied in the candidate's day-to-day work environment.

Final Oral Examination: 50%

After the practical work project written work is handed it, the learner will be scheduled for an oral examination (e.g. via Skype, Instant Messaging or the specific capabilities for online presentations and video chat of the LMS). The oral examination will start with a presentation by the learner in which the learner summarizes the project as well as the learnings gained from the project. The examiner (normally the course convenor, the assigned mentor, or both) will have read the written work and poses probing and critical questions to assess both the authenticity of the work as submitted, issues with the work but also the deeper learnings that may not be reflected in the written submission.

Learners are required to achieve at least 50% for both courses.

Examinations are written in examination venues controlled and invigilated according to institutional examinations policy.