Postgraduate Diploma in Organisational Leadership

Purpose

The purpose of the Postgraduate Diploma in Organisational Leadership is to develop ethical leaders for organisations. It has been contended that numerous challenges facing South Africa and the rest of the world stem from a deficiency in leadership, evident not only within the public sector but also across the private sector. High-profile corporate scandals involving entities such as KPMG and Steinhoff underscore the pressing need for accountable and principled leadership. While undergraduate studies do encompass aspects of organisational leadership, there exists a demand for emerging leaders to possess a deeper comprehension of the complexities inherent in today's business landscape, where uncertainty prevails as a constant.

The impediments to effective organisational leadership posed by a Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous (VUCA) environment are evident. The limited emphasis on leadership studies within undergraduate business programmes is one contributing factor to these challenges within organisations. The absence of a Postgraduate Diploma specialising in Organisational Leadership further constrains the capacity of organisational leaders to navigate and resolve contemporary organisational dilemmas, thereby limiting the potential benefits of fostering efficient and effective organisational leadership practices.

The qualification is multi-disciplinary in nature to strengthen learners' knowledge, understanding and interpretation of ethical issues in an organisational context and is applied at an elevated senior organisational level. Learners will be exposed to current thinking and practice, and they will develop intellectual independence and an ability to recognise moral and ethical issues in the world of work. The qualification is intended for senior professionals in organisations that are responsible for strategic leadership.

In today's dynamic and competitive job market, employers seek leaders who can navigate complexity, inspire teams, and drive strategic change with a growing emphasis on ethical leadership. Organisations are seeking leaders who can uphold integrity, transparency, and corporate social responsibility. The qualification will prepare graduates to excel as leaders in a rapidly evolving global context while upholding ethical standards and driving positive organisational outcomes. It aims to provide advanced knowledge and skills necessary for effectively managing and leading within complex organisational contexts.

Nationally, there's a growing recognition of the importance of effective leadership in organisations across various sectors, including the private sector and government. Economic competitiveness and sustainable development are key national priorities, and effective leadership plays a crucial role in driving innovation, productivity, and growth.

The qualification will offer numerous benefits to learners that will equip them with valuable knowledge, skills, and experiences to enhance their personal and professional growth. Learners will develop a comprehensive understanding of leadership models and best practices that will enable them to effectively lead teams and organisations in various contexts. Through coursework and case studies, learners will learn to make informed and strategic decisions, considering both short-term objectives and long-term goals and the ethical implications of these. The emphasis on ethical leadership principles will cultivate integrity, social responsibility, and ethical decision-making, ensuring that graduates lead with integrity and contribute positively to society.

On successful completion of the qualification, qualifying learners will be able to

• Apply leadership skills to inspire teams, navigate change, and promote innovation to create resilient and agile organisations capable of thriving in volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environments.
• Develop strategic plans that incorporate environmental sustainability and social factors by analysing current global trends.
• Apply ethical principles for responsible decision-making in complex organisational contexts, including robust governance structures and accountability measures to foster transparency and ethical conduct.
• Make informed and ethical decisions in complex organisational contexts, informed by relevant ethics theories.
• Utilise data to guide organisational decisions, using analytical tools to interpret information and drive strategies, operational improvements, and sustainable growth.
• Demonstrate ethical practices in handling data to inform decision-making processes and manage ethical challenges.

Rationale

The institution initiated a project in 2022 to develop the Postgraduate Diploma in Organisational Leadership to broaden access and offer a solid educational pathway to a wide range of learners wanting to specialise in leadership in a complex and rapidly changing environment.

Research argues that management schools can play an important role in the provision of educational expertise in dealing with the challenges that organisations are facing. The research findings pointed to the main challenges experienced by organisations in developing agility, building internal capabilities, improving innovation and maintaining profitability. The researchers recommended that companies should develop soft skills, strategic foresight and a transdisciplinary approach to management. These findings confirmed that ethical corporate leaders are needed to implement strategic corporate social responsibility (CSR) in South African companies.

Considering the challenges in a Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous (VUCA) environment, responsible leadership, specifically in Africa, is of the utmost importance. It is necessary to develop thousands of competent, ethical, and responsible leaders on this continent to ensure that Africa's path of growth changes for the better. Not only for the betterment of its people but the planet and future generations.

Organisational leaders need to become much more creative to deal with complex issues like climate change and the consideration of environmental, social and governance issues to formulate strategy and make decisions. South Africa needs a well-functioning public (government) sector (education, healthcare, tax services, transport, etc.) and private sector with strong organisational leaders to ensure that there is continuous service delivery.

The qualification will contribute to creating a more effective and efficient public and private sector, in which leaders, role-players, citizens and other important stakeholders understand the trade-off that is required to build efficient organisations that can contribute to sustainable development. This programme should also make a significant contribution to individual leadership and personal growth.

The typical learner of this qualification will be a person with a bachelor's degree or equivalent. The prospective learner can be at senior management level, middle management or a person who has taken a break from employment to update his or her leadership skills. However, it is expected that the majority of prospective learners will be employed experienced managers who want to upgrade their leadership skills or managers who foresee future promotion upon completing the programme.

The Ethics Institute (TEI) supported the development of the qualification. This engagement ensured contributions from prominent experts in the field of organisational ethics and leadership. In addition, the curriculum was critically read by a senior professor at a public university and an advisory board with external representation who (senior experts at higher education institutions) approved the curriculum.

The qualification will attract employed professionals with management experience. However, some learners may wish to apply for higher level management and leadership positions or may want to articulate horizontally from a general management role to a leadership role that includes leadership strategy and organisational ethics. These positions, amongst others, may be General manager, senior manager, member of a board of directors, NGO leader, organisational developer and organisational ethics manager.

For individuals who have completed an undergraduate degree in business or commerce, the qualification serves as a progression towards more specialised study in leadership. Starting with a foundation in business or management, this pathway allows learners to deepen their understanding of leadership principles and practices. This pathway is ideal for those who aspire to take on leadership roles within the business world, emphasising a strong connection between foundational business knowledge and advanced leadership skills. This qualification also caters to individuals with an unrelated specialist undergraduate background, such as engineering or law, who now seek to formalise their knowledge and skills in leadership. The qualification offers a bridge between their existing expertise and the competencies required for managerial positions. Graduates can use this qualification as a next step towards a career in senior management. Whether transitioning to leadership roles within engineering firms or legal practices, this pathway ensures that individuals acquire the necessary leadership acumen to succeed in their chosen industry.

For those with a more general undergraduate degree unrelated to the field of business, this qualification opens opportunities to acquire leadership skills applicable to non-business roles. Individuals aspiring to contribute to the social sector in NGOs or NPOs can use this pathway to develop leadership capabilities tailored to the unique challenges of these organisations. Various Master programmes, such as the MPhil programmes in Responsible Leadership and Development Practice, provide specialised tracks for those interested in making a positive impact beyond the traditional business sphere. This pathway enables graduates to lead and drive change in diverse settings, aligning their leadership skills with the specific needs of non-profit and social organisations or the public sector.

This qualification provides versatile learning pathways for individuals and professionals with different educational backgrounds and career aspirations, ensuring that they can seamlessly integrate leadership education into their chosen fields and contribute to sustainable development in various professional contexts.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Applicants who do not meet the stated admission criteria but who have relevant work experience/prior learning may apply for admission under the policy on Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). The institution admits a maximum of 10% per cohort via RPL. The implementation of RPL is context-specific in terms of discipline, programme and level.

In specified circumstances, qualifying applicants may also engage in the RPL for exemption process, where any form of informal, formal or non-formal learning will be assessed for relevance towards possible module exemption.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Advanced Diploma in Adaptive Leadership, NQF Level 7.

Or

• Appropriate Advanced Diploma, NQF Level 7.

Or

• Bachelor of Management Leadership, NQF Level 7.

Or

• Appropriate Bachelor's degree, NQF Level 7.

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

Compulsory Modules, Level 8, 100 Credits

• Organisational Leadership, 20 Credits.
• Contemporary Organisational Strategy, 20 Credits.
• Governance and Organisational Responsibility, 20 Credits.
• Ethical Conduct and Decision-making, 20 Credits.
• Data-led decision-making, 20 Credits.

Elective Modules, Level 8, 20 Credits (Select one module)

• Ethical Information Management, 20 Credits.
• Organisational Behaviour, 20 Credits.
• Ethics Management, 20 Credits.

1. Apply leadership skills to inspire teams, navigate change, and promote innovation to create resilient and agile organisations capable of thriving in volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environments.
2. Develop strategic plans that incorporate environmental sustainability and social factors by analysing current global trends.
3. Apply ethical principles for responsible decision-making in complex organisational contexts, including robust governance structures and accountability measures to foster transparency and ethical conduct.
4. Make informed and ethical decisions in complex organisational contexts, informed by relevant ethics theories.
5. Utilise data to guide organisational decisions, using analytical tools to interpret information and drive strategies, operational improvements, and sustainable growth.
6. Demonstrate ethical practices in handling data to inform decision-making processes and manage ethical challenges.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Apply advanced skills in inspiring and motivating teams to achieve high levels of performance.
• Exhibit proficiency in navigating organisational change, showcasing adaptability and strategic decision-making in response to dynamic environments.
• Foster creativity and implement innovative approaches within the organisation.
• Develop comprehensive plans for developing resilience in VUCA environments.
• Swiftly adapt to challenges and effectively capitalise on opportunities.
• Integrate ethics into leadership practices and critically reflect on personal leadership development.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Analyse and interpret global trends, focusing on environmental and social factors impacting strategic planning.
• Develop plans explicitly incorporating environmental and social considerations, understanding their impact on organisational outcomes.
• Proficiently scan for emerging trends and integrate this knowledge into strategic planning.
• Discuss how environmental sustainability and social responsibility link to strategic decision-making.
• Evaluate risks and opportunities related to environmental and social factors in strategic planning.
• Present ethical, sustainable plans and critically reflect on the planning process.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Apply ethical principles in complex decision-making contexts.
• Prioritise ethics in organisational decision-making processes for morally sound outcomes.
• Establish robust governance structures to foster accountability and ethical conduct.
• Apply clear, principle-based, and accessible decision-making processes to enable transparency and ethical conduct in organisational decision-making.
• Proactively address ethical risks and effectively adapt approaches based on evolving standards.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Discuss key ethics theories relevant to organisational decision-making.
• Skilfully apply ethical theories when analysing complex organisational situations from multiple perspectives.
• Make well-informed decisions based on ethical principles and frameworks specific to the organisational context.
• Incorporate diverse stakeholder perspectives, showing sensitivity and the ability to align decisions to organisational strategic goals.
• Clearly justify decisions using relevant ethics theories and align them with organisational values and legal requirements.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Proficiently use data analysis tools to interpret complex organisational information.
• Apply analytical techniques to extract meaningful insights from diverse datasets.
• Develop data-driven strategies with a clear link to organisational decision outcomes.
• Clearly communicate relevant data analysis results to organisational stakeholders.
• Address data-related challenges, implementing measures to enhance data quality and integrity.
• Reflect on the effectiveness of utilising data in organisational decisions, identifying areas for improvement and ongoing learning in data analytics.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Prioritise ethics in data collection, storage, and processing to enhance quality and integrity.
• Develop and clearly communicate effective data-handling practices to organisational stakeholders.
• Evaluate data sources and methodologies in terms of ethical considerations and implications.
• Manage ethical challenges within complex organisational environments.

INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT

The institution commits to the core principles of assessment, namely validity, reliability, integrity, transparency, accountability, fairness, absence of bias, sensitivity to language, credibility in the form of supportive administration procedures, assessment range, authenticity, directness, integration, manageability and practicability. To ensure that the process results in fair and valid assessment, the entire assessment process is subject to a layered checking and re-checking process that ensures the integrity of the overall assessment.

Formal and informal assessments are used to monitor learners' progress against learning outcomes. For this programme specifically, the institution will set an assessment strategy to assist learners while already immersed in the world of work. The workplace is categorised by constant change, an increased focus on the application of principles and skills, as well as collaboration with other individuals. This means that the assessment strategy needs to make provision for open book, simulations and collaborative assessments.

The institutional assessment model makes use of formal and non-formal, formative and summative assessment tasks to assess learners' progress and their achievements on the modules in a programme. The results of non-formal formative assessment tasks are not recorded formally, but these tasks are applied mainly to provide feedback to the learner and to enhance teaching. The results of formal assessment tasks are recorded towards achievement of success on the module. Modules may make use of a final summative or a continuous assessment approach.

Depending on the nature of the subject matter, a range of assessment methods are applied at the formative and summative assessment stages to facilitate authentic assessment. For panel discussions, presentations and project work, experts from the industry are often invited to provide input into the formal assessment results with the institution's examiners.

The assessment strategy will employ a Final Summative approach. Where a Final Summative approach is used, the final mark on a module comprises a Semester/Year Mark (SYM), as well as a Final Summative Assessment mark (FIS). The SYM contributing 40% to the final mark is made up of a combination of different assessment tasks, each with its own weighting. The FIS contributing 60% to the final mark is often in the form of an invigilated examination, but it may be offered in alternative formats, such as an individual/group project which culminates in a written report, followed up by a presentation.