Postgraduate Diploma in Public Supply Chain Management

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Supply Chain Management qualification is to prepare learners on a tactical to strategic competency level to undertake advanced reflection and development using a systematic survey of current thinking and practice around Public Supply Chain Management. South Africa needs a well-functioning public sector (education, healthcare, tax services, transport, etc.) to ensure that there is continuous service delivery. This qualification will assist public sector Supply Chain Management practitioners to become better equipped to implement their procurement activities to improve performance and service delivery. This change can be realised through the successful completion of this qualification. This qualification ensures that learners are equipped with the necessary expert knowledge, professional skills, and competencies to excel in the workforce. This qualification aims to assist in the application of ethics in public service in a broad context. Thereafter learners will be exposed to the current theory and practice in the fields of demand, acquisition management, logistics, disposal management, performance management, systems, and risk.

Upon completion of this qualification, qualifying learners will be able to

• Apply principles, knowledge, and skills in the public sector context, with due consideration of the specific regulatory environment and including public financial management concepts related to structures, policies, and analysis.
• Identify ethical challenges in the supply chain context of sustainable procurement and supply practices, including NDP 2030 and SDG2030, and contribute to the establishment and maintenance of ethical practice and integrity in the supply chain.
• Implement and critically evaluate supply, sourcing, demand, and acquisition processes in a public supply chain.
• Apply an understanding of warehousing and transport to make logistics decisions with due regard to waste management.

Rationale

A number of challenges linked to Supply Chain Management implementation in South Africa have been noted, and these tend to impact the public and the private sector. Some of these challenges include ambiguity in the understanding and application of Supply Chain legislative policies, corruption and fraud, the lack of monitoring and evaluation, and a lack of the relevant skills base. Other challenges are linked to Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal and Environmental factors (PESTLE) factors, which include a volatile politico-economic environment, social unrest (for example, service delivery protests), rapidly changing technology (4th Industrial Revolution), and legal as well as environmental aspects (for example, climate change).

These challenges are hindering successful implementation in the public sector. As a result, public sector institutions are prevented from reaping the maximum benefits of achieving policy objectives. A possible cause of these challenges in public sector procurement is the lack of a professionalised cadre of public sector practitioners and role-players. The lack of a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Sector SCM to equip public-sector SCM practitioners with the skills, knowledge, and tools, limits the application and benefits of implementing an efficient and effective public-sector SCM system. This well-functioning SCM system is key in promoting an open government, implementing public procurement practices, and eradicating corruption in public sector procurement.

This qualification aims to address these challenges to encourage growth and innovation in the public supply chain. Accordingly, in February 2020, Cabinet approved the publication of the Public Procurement Bill for public comment - setting in motion legislation for procurement strategies that support the government's social-economic objectives. This qualification will take the new public procurement bill into account when setting out modules and content. This qualification will support and help to create a more effective and efficient public procurement environment, in which practitioners, role-players, citizens and other important stakeholders enjoy a sense of shared purpose and confidence in government contracting. This qualification should also make a significant contribution to the supply value chain by ensuring that quality goods and services are delivered to citizens, which is at the heart of the way the government operates.

The qualification is designed for learners who completed an NQF Level 7 qualification, in the field of supply chain and it will further progress the pathway to Master's Degree studies by deepening their knowledge and understanding of theory, methodologies, and practices in the SCM field. Learners will gain an in-depth understanding of the industry and will receive the opportunity to learn hands-on through an applied research project in the areas of the supply chain. They will also learn the necessary skills as a manager which are crucial in this industry.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution has an approved Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy which is applicable with regard to equivalent qualifications for admission into the qualification. RPL will be applied to accommodate applicants who qualify. RPL thus provides alternative access and admission to qualifications, as well as advancement within qualifications. RPL may be applied for access, credits from modules and credits for or towards the qualification.

RPL for access

• Learners who do not meet the minimum entrance requirements or the required qualification that is at the same NQF level as the qualification required for admission may be considered for admission through RPL.
• To be considered for admission in the qualification based on RPL, applicants should provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that they have acquired the relevant knowledge, skills, and competencies through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to cope with the qualification expectations should they be allowed entrance into the qualification.

RPL for exemption of modules

• Learners may apply for RPL to be exempted from modules that form part of the qualification. For a learner to be exempted from a module, the learner needs to provide sufficient evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that competency was achieved for the learning outcomes that are equivalent to the learning outcomes of the module.

RPL for credit

• Learners may also apply for RPL for credit for or towards the qualification, in which they must provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates prior learning through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to obtain credits towards the qualification.
• Credit shall be appropriate to the context in which it is awarded and accepted.

Entry Requirements

• Bachelor of Commerce in Supply Chain Management, NQF Level 7.

Or

• Bachelor of Commerce: Supply Chain and Operations Management, NQF Level 7.

Or

• Bachelor of Public Administration, NQF Level 7.

Or

• Bachelor of Commerce: Public Affairs, NQF Level 7.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Level 8, totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 8, 120 Credits

• Fundamentals of Public Supply Chain Management, 20 Credits.
• Strategic Ethical Leadership, 5 Credits.
• Regulatory Environment for Public Supply Chain Management, 15 Credits.
• Demand and Acquisition Management, 20 Credits.
• Logistics and Disposal Management, 20 Credits.
• Contract and Performance Management, 20 Credits.
• Systems, Resources and Risk Management, 20 Credits.

1. Apply supply chain management principles, knowledge, and skills in the public sector context, with due consideration of the specific regulatory environment and including public financial management concepts related to structures, policies, and analysis.
2. Identify ethical challenges in the supply chain context of sustainable procurement and supply practices, including NDP 2030 and SDG2030, and contribute to the establishment and maintenance of ethical practice and integrity in the supply chain.
3. Implement and critically evaluate supply, sourcing, demand, and acquisition processes in a public supply chain.
4. Apply an understanding of warehousing and transport to make logistics decisions with due regard to waste management.
5. Interpret contracts and design solutions to evaluate and manage the performance of suppliers and of the organisation to support supplier development.
6. Design supply chain systems considering the digitalization of supply chains and address the risks associated with the public supply chain.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Illustrate an in-depth understanding of supply chain management, especially in the public context to identify developments of SCM.
• Synthesise credible and practical solutions for the supply chain management context.
• Identify opportunities to achieve a competitive advantage through the supply chain.
• Evaluate the supply chain challenges in the South African public sector.
• Identify the key role players in the public supply chain.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Provide guidance to others when faced with ethical dilemmas presented in the public supply chain management context.
• Assess the roles of bid committee members in entrenching ethical conduct in the public sector.
• Illustrate insight into the impact of financial misconduct, fraud, corruption, fronting, rig bidding and SCM abuse in the public context.
• Apply the appropriate governance framework and supply chain legislation in context.
• Interpret typical supply chain contracts in the public sector.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Identify and apply methods of acquiring goods and services as well as the specific processes to be followed depending on the threshold of a particular purchase or bid.
• Utilise the procurement plan to assist in developing strategic relationships with suppliers or service providers.
• Implement the various methods of acquiring goods and services based on the threshold of a particular purchase/bid.
• Apply the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act (PPPFA) and regulations, especially with regard to the Preference Points System and calculations thereof to successfully award contracts to tenders.
• Identify the required documents for inclusion in bid applications.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Manage orders and supplier performance after the acquisition.
• Plan and apply inventory management frameworks and control systems to manage inventory effectively.
• Evaluate the efficiency of logistics, including transportation, in the context of the public supply chain.
• Identify and propose disposal management systems that should be in place in the public supply chain and understand the importance of reverse logistics.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Interpret the contents of a range of typical supplier contracts in the public sector.
• Discuss the roles and responsibilities of the contract manager, contract administrator and SCM unit.
• Evaluate the purchasing performance of the supply chain by applying performance measurements.
• Apply performance measurement tools such as the Balanced Scorecard, Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) model and six sigma tools to measure overall supply chain performance.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Evaluate the impact of the fourth industrial revolution and general trends toward digitalisation on the public sector.
• Analyse the current usage of digital enablers in the public supply chain context to propose improvements to the current digital strategy.
• Identify risks in the public supply chains and develop plans to mitigate and eliminate the risks.
• Describe the future of public supply chains with a focus on digitalisation and sustainability.

INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT

Formative Assessment

On a 20-credit module, there are three formal assessment opportunities to give learners a sufficient opportunity to improve, based on feedback received. Feedback is recognised as an essential component of the learning process. However, the type of feedback given to learners will vary depending on the type of assessment task being assessed. Feedback is provided during mock test feedback sessions and in the form of written comments on test scripts, focusing on the strengths and weaknesses of the learner. For all assessment tasks, learners are provided with information as to how marks are allocated, while model answers help learners to improve their understanding of the content that was assessed. Substantive individual formative assessment feedback is given on an individual basis.

Formal formative assessment includes a range of different assessment activities

• Online tests.
• Assignments.
• Presentations.

Summative Assessment

Summative assessments consist of different assessment activities which include

• Examinations.
• Reports.
• Projects.

The final module summative assessment may be based on any of the following formats

• An invigilated, venue-based examination (either open-book or closed-book) testing learners' knowledge and competency regarding all associated module outcomes, as well as exit-level outcomes where applicable.
• An invigilated, online examination either open-book or closed-book testing learners' knowledge and competency regarding all associated module outcomes, as well as exit-level outcomes where applicable. The institution uses online proctoring software in these instances.
• A comprehensive project accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation and or an oral presentation, demonstrating learners' knowledge and competency with regard to all associated module outcomes, as well as exit-level outcomes where applicable.
• An open book 'take-home' examination based on a complex organisational case study, that requires learners to write a project proposal explaining how a particular solution could address the business problems described in the case study, demonstrating learners' knowledge and competency with regard to all associated module outcomes, as well as exit level outcomes where applicable.