Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing and Supply Chain Management

Purpose

The purpose of the qualification is to broaden the learners' marketing and supply chain knowledge within a business framework so as to develop a thorough understanding of marketing and Supply Chain theory as well as the skills necessary to apply the theory. Learners are taught in a manner which assists them to engage with and integrate theory and practice, and which ultimately impacts positively on all spheres in the learners' work performance and lives.

Rationale

This qualification provides learners with opportunity to obtain detailed knowledge into leading in turbulent and complex environments, and to constructively respond to various challenges, for example around continuous change, systemic effects and globalisation. Learners are further equipped with analytical and reflective skills, and are placed in a position to develop competencies and skills that facilitate life-long learning. Relevant and practical methodologies are emphasised, particularly for use in the African context, thus enabling learners to enter the work context to effect positive change.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution accepts the principle underlying outcomes-based, source-based and life-long learning, in which considerations of articulation and mobility play a significant role, and subscribes to the view that Recognition of Prior Learning, whether acquired by formal education curricula at this or another institution or informally (by experience) is an indispensable element in deciding on admission to and awarding credits in an explicitly selected teaching-learning qualification of the institution.

An applicant who falls outside of the formal qualifications system, but who can demonstrate (through the production of substantial and satisfactory evidence) experiential or work-based learning or a non-formal qualification (or a combination), may be considered for admission and/or for the Recognition of Prior Learning for the achievement of the qualification in part or in full. An applicant who after such assessment, is deemed to have sufficient potential, but is in need of further academic development, must be directed to other suitable learning qualifications prior to admission or to parallel qualifications after admission.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is the

• Bachelor of Commerce, National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 7.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at National Qualifications Framework Level totalling 128 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 8, 96 Credits

• Marketing Management C, 16 Credits.
• Supply Chain Management B,16 Credits.
• Supply Chain Management, 16 Credits.
• Marketing Management, 16 Credits.
• Finance and Accounting, 16 Credits.
• Business Strategy and Management, 16 Credits.

Compulsory Electives, Level 8, 32 Credits (Choose TWO Modules)

• Supply Chain Research Project, 16 Credits.
• Elements of Entrepreneurship,16 Credits.
• Special Topics in Level Management,16 Credits.
• Ethics in Business, 16 Credits.
• Financial Management,16 Credits.
• Human Resource Management, 16 Credits.
• Bank Management A,16 Credits.
• Business Statistics,16 Credits.
• Market Research Project,16 Credits.
• Marketing Management B,16 Credits.

Specific marketing and supply chain-related skills, which include

1. Select, apply and evaluate typical methods and procedures involved in marketing and supply chain.
2. Diagnose and analyse complex and uncertain marketing and supply chain management situations, and provide credible and practical solutions relevant to particular work contexts.
3. Critically engage with contemporary trends and issues relating to marketing and Supply Chain Management.
4. Formulate coherent marketing and supply chain strategic policies through consultation with other stakeholders.
5. Describe the consequential impacts on society of participating in a developing and growing economy.
6. Apply the code of ethical behaviour in the field of marketing and supply chain and base decisions and actions on appropriate marketing and supply chain management values. Apply ethics in business research and understand the implications of complex ethical issues in gathering data and in implementing strategies.
7. Critically analyse the marketing environment facing various organisations, private and public, and develop marketing strategies to achieve organisational goals and customer satisfaction.
8. Lead and/or initiate processes and implement systems in a marketing division or company and critically evaluate and analyse challenges in procurement and be able to develop solutions based on evaluation and analysis.
9. Critically evaluate and be able to create and design procurement strategies.

General skills to focus on marketing and supply chain, which include

1. Conceptual skills - the ability to comprehend complex situations.
2. Interpersonal skills - the ability to work with, understand and motivate other people.
3. Networking skills - the ability to network as well as gain allies and gather organisational power.
4. Technical skills - the ability to understand and apply specialised knowledge or expertise.
5. Research skills - demonstrate advanced scholarship and research and use a range of advanced and specialised skills and marketing discourses to communicate to a range of audiences.
6. Communication skills - use resources of academic and professional discourse to communicate and defend ideas and products of research in an area of specialisation.

The following Associated Assessment Criteria will be used in an integrated manner across the Exit Level Outcomes

• Integrate theoretical concepts with practical financial challenges facing organisations.

Integrated Assessment

Each module will be assessed through an individual written assessment, in addition to a range of oral and written, group and individual class assignments in order to give learners the opportunities to demonstrate a variety of competencies. The elective research project assesses the ability of learners to integrate theoretical concepts with practical financial challenges facing organisations. Individual written assessment, in addition to a range of oral and written, group and individual class assignments in order to give learners the opportunities to demonstrate a variety of competencies form part of the assessment methods.