Postgraduate Diploma in Management Services

Purpose

The purpose of the Postgraduate Diploma in Management Services is to

• Improve the learner's decision making.
• Develop their expertise in the management of projects.
• Transform the learner's competencies in evaluating and assessing an organisation's issues and problems with the purpose of resolution about the improvement of management services.

Rationale

The Department of Quality and Operations Management (DQOM) has developed the Postgraduate qualification in Management Services, to develop a learner's postgraduate exposure to the industry by providing a relevant curriculum that serves the needs of business of today and more importantly of the future. The qualification, therefore, has been designed to enable learners to reframe theories and principles from the Management Service environment, including functional areas within the production or service environment (both public and private sector), to become a Management Services practitioner specialising in Management Service technologies and methodologies. Furthermore, to be able to formulate appropriate methods of identifying research diagnosis of Management Services problems and critically integrate environmental influences on management activities.

The application of Management Services is very diverse, not only because organisations differ from a small manufacturing unit to a large metropolitan council but also because of the size, shape and organisational structure of the organisation. The diversity of the qualification provides learners with enough knowledge to specialise and be able to deal with many different problems in the organisation. The skills acquired in the qualification provide the key to unlocking the potential of workers and an essential part of a multi-disciplinary approach to better resource management. The qualification provides a profound dynamic modern approach required to deal effectively with the present and future environments in any organisation.

With regards to stakeholders, it is essential to note that the proposed qualification's development and alignment via a Management Services Peer Advisory Board, consists of the institution and other institutions in the country. Following the institution's mission, the Department has achieved this through the collaboration of an Industry Advisory Board implemented in 2011. Such internal and external collaborations seek to bring the institution mission to life and "to inspire the community to transform and serve humanity through innovation and the collaborative pursuit of knowledge", by incorporating and taking cognisance of the many stakeholder contributions.

In this regard, the qualification targets the persons at various levels of management positions, as well as those who aspire to these positions and who wish to increase their promotional prospects by acquiring a postgraduate qualification. Consequently, this contributes to the development of the South African commerce and industry through the provision of quality and professional consultancy services and industry-based learner projects, in order to assist small to medium scale industries to establish sound management service techniques.

The alignment with other institutions offers learners articulation and progression possibilities. Therefore, the qualification aims to enrich learners' body of knowledge with critical skills and abilities needed in today's industry in the field of Management Services, with particular emphasis on management techniques, research methods and management tools. The qualification enhances the learner's knowledge and develops applied competence in understanding research processes, principles and methods. It further develops the research and professional skills of the learner, which includes analysis and interpretation of the research findings. The qualification prepares learners to meaningfully contribute to an organisation's management systems as well as acquisition, utilisation and development of management tools and techniques.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The application of the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is in line with institution policies and guidelines. The institution accepts RPL as an integral part of education and academic practice. The institution acknowledges that all learning has value, and will, therefore, endeavour to assess prior learning and award credit where relevant.

The institution manages RPL according to its RPL policy, applied as follows for purposes of this qualification

i. Through RPL a learner may gain access, or advanced placement, or recognition of status, on condition that he/she continues his/her studies at the institution.

ii. Recognition takes place in terms of requirements and procedures applied by the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment.

iii. RPL in the case of a learner not complying with the formal entry requirements

• Is conducted after payment of the prescribed fees following the policy and guidelines of the institution;
• Is based on other forms of formal, informal and non-formal learning and experience;
• Is considered only where prior learning corresponds to the required National Qualification Framework - level;
• Takes place where prior learning in terms of applied competencies is relevant to the content and outcomes of the qualification;
• Is considered in terms of an assessment procedure that includes a motivated recommendation by an assessment panel to the Dean's Committee of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment.
• The Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment Dean's Committee takes a decision.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Advanced Diploma in Management Services, NQF, Level 7.
• Advanced Diploma in Operations Management, NQF, Level 7.
• Advanced Diploma in Quality Management, NQF, Level 7.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at National Qualification Framework Level 8 totalling, 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, 120 Credits

• Organisational effectiveness A, 20 Credits.
• Advanced Project Management, 20 Credits.
• Organisational Effectiveness B, 20 Credits.
• Business Enterprise Law, 20 Credits.
• Research Project, 40 Credits.

1. Evaluate the source of organisational management service problems at their earliest stage.
2. Design advanced project management plans to enhance Management Services projects and deploy project leadership skills.
3. Compare research strategies to produce and collate data, perform rigorous interpretations and disseminate quality information.
4. Argue and address ethical issues based on critical reflections of ethical values within a complex, abstract and integrated quality context in order to justify, and motivate ethical behaviour in pursuing management service strategies and goals.
5. Analyse and apply business enterprises law, the structure of companies and the legal framework that governs companies as it pertains to board governance and business ethics.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Assess information for decision making and control correctly.
• Identify key sources of management service problems correctly.
• Discuss management service level problems critically.
• Offer viable solutions to these problems.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Explain and discuss six criteria for a useful project selection/screening model correctly.
• Valuate the challenges that arise in maintaining an optimal project portfolio for an organisation critically.
• Demonstrate the application of resource management within a multi-project environment.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Collect data and research a management services area accurately.
• Develop a concise and relevant literature review.
• Evaluate the findings of the research undertaken critically.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Complete the project timeously, ethically and responsibly.
• Illustrate good judgement in respect of time and cost implications of the research study.
• Demonstrate ethical values and awareness during the data collection process.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Differentiate comparatively between and compare the legal forms and different types of partnership, company, close corporation and business trust in a practical set of facts.
• Compare critical elements of the legal structure of the partnership, company, close corporation and business trust in a practical set of facts accurately.
• Identify and resolve both basic and complex legal problems regarding the identification and enforcement of the rights and duties of the different role players in the partnership, the company, the close corporation and the business trust correctly.
• Advise in writing ethically and effectively on both basic and complex legal problems regarding contractual and other relationships between the partnership, company, close corporation and business trust, its internal role players as well as third parties.

Integrated Assessment

There will be at least one assessment opportunity before the final summative assessment for each module.

Formative assessment

The modules consist of different forms of formative assessments consisting of project reports, case studies, and assignments, which will be implemented in each module, depending on the nature of the module.

Summative assessment

For the modules, the institution awards a mark each intermediate or progress assessment, which combines with the final examination mark based on pre-determined weightings for the module. For the Research Report component, two one of whom will be an internal assessor (a full-time academic staff of the institution) and the other, an external assessor do the assessments. The Faculty appoint the assessors based on their scholarship and expertise. The recommendations of the external assessor are received at the Faculty and transmitted to the learner's supervisor for further consideration: comments, corrections or improvements.