SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management and Administration 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
117968  Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management and Administration 
ORIGINATOR
Damelin 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-   HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Postgraduate Diploma  Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies  Generic Management 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Not Applicable  NQF Level 08  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  EXCO 0821/24  2020-12-04  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The purpose for the Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management and Administration is not only to facilitate career transitions to middle and senior management positions but to also provide an academic conduit to pursue further areas of study in the field of business management and administration, specifically the Master of Business Administration. The qualification provides an in-depth understanding of the most important areas of the business management field.

The qualification prepares learners for the field of general business management and administration to be successful middle and senior managers. This is done through enhancing their management skills and knowledge as well as providing them with a solid academic grounding.

Qualifying learners will be able to work across sectors and industries and apply their skills sets to a range of workplace management and administration scenarios.

The topic of ethics is covered in the modules of Marketing and Sales Management, Financial Management and Technology; and Information Management. Learners will be able to understand marketing ethics and standards, ethical aspects of selling, professional ethics and codes of conduct as revised by South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) and the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute and ethical guidelines for Information Use.

The purpose of the qualification is encapsulated in the following four pillars:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of the fundamental business principles and how these impact decisions making;
2. An understanding and application of the fundamental management competencies;
3. Accessing, processing and managing information within the complexities of the current world of work and
4. Understanding the interconnectedness of the current world of work.

The qualification is specifically designed to enable learners to acquire competencies that are expected from someone who holds a Postgraduate Diploma. The qualification addresses both soft and hard skills necessary to succeed in both a professional and academic career. The combination of soft and hard skills is gained in each module as the outcomes are covered providing specific knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the management world at a mid to senior level.

On completion of the qualification, learners would have acquired knowledge and skills which will enable them to be effective mid and senior managers and successfully compete in a business environment.

Rationale:
The qualification is intended to provide the necessary skills and knowledge for individuals aspiring towards management positions. Corporates require competent managers at various levels who understand several business principles across functional business administration levels. The qualification will complement the institution's academic offerings by providing an additional pathway for learners to pursue a Postgraduate Diploma.

The qualification also responds and addresses the scarce skills shortage as detailed by the Department of Higher Education to produce qualified learners who can meaningfully contribute to the economy. The impact for South African industry/commerce is to provide businesses with competent, well-educated managers with a thorough understanding of their work, and ability to critically analyse information, as well as the ability to make informed, meaningful, practical decisions.

The qualification will make an actual, tangible difference in the lives of learners by providing them with further learning and employment opportunities by making them more marketable to employers as a result of their upskilling.

The impact for South African industry/commerce is to provide businesses with competent, well-educated managers with a thorough understanding of their work, as well as the ability to make informed, meaningful, practical decisions. The learner would be required to demonstrate an understanding of the complexities, uncertainties, procedures, processes or techniques within the business environment. Higher-level problem solving as a specialised skill set is required within this discipline. The benefit from this for South Africa as a whole would be the upskilling and educating citizens who will be able to make a valuable contribution to society and national projects.

This aligns well with the stakeholder needs from an industry perspective. The institution aims to supply suitably skilled learners to the industry and position itself as an important stakeholder. To this end, this Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management and Administration qualification has been developed with the national scarce skills in mind. It responds to the findings detailed in the Department of Higher Education's National Scarce Skills List:
  • Director (Enterprise/Organisation).
  • Corporate General Manager.
  • Programme or Project Manager.
  • Sales and Marketing Manager.
  • Supply and Distribution Manager.
  • Logistics Manager.
  • Small Business Manager.
  • Operations Manager (Non-Manufacturing).
  • Logistics Manager.
  • Retail Manager (General).

    These 'occupations in demand' refer to "occupations that show relatively strong employment growth or are experiencing shortages in the labour market" (DHET, 2015). To address these skills shortages and the gaps in the supply of suitably qualified learners, this Postgraduate Diploma: Business Management and Administration will equip individuals who possess technical and/or professional competences with the managerial acumen that is required to take up many management positions. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    RPL Requirements:
    The fundamental underlying principle of the recognition of prior learning (RPL) at the institution is the granting exemption for modules for which it is determined a potential learner meets the exit criteria. In this regard, the institution recognises all forms of informal and non-formal learning to admission into its qualifications. In the case where exemption has been granted, the number of credits on the academic transcript will be less than the required minimum and an "E" will be indicated next to the module on the learner's certificate. Recognition of Prior Learning for admission will only be applied in the institutional academic framework to learners seeking entrance into the qualification.

    Learners may be exempted from credits of the learning qualification into which they will be admitted. Prior learning will be recognised to establish whether learners are competent in the following areas:
  • Foundational competence: understanding what they are doing and why they are doing it, that is, what theoretical knowledge they have;
  • Practical competence: the ability to perform a set of tasks and making decisions;
  • Reflexive competence: the ability to integrate or connect knowledge and skills so that learning is achieved from actions and the ability developed to adapt to changes and
  • Unforeseen circumstances.

    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Relevant Bachelor of Commerce, NQF Level 7.
    Or
  • Relevant Bachelor of Arts, NQF Level 7. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at NQF Level 8 totalling 140 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, Level 8, 140 Credits:
  • Advanced Human Resource Management, 20 Credits.
  • Business Management, 20 Credits.
  • Technology and Information Management, 10 Credits.
  • Strategic Management, 10 Credits.
  • Advanced Project Management, 20 Credits.
  • Financial Management, 20 Credits.
  • Entrepreneurship, 10 Credits.
  • Marketing and Sales Management, 10 Credits.
  • Introduction to Financial Management, 20 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Communicate effectively in the business management and administration context using various modes of communication in both written and oral presentations.
    2. Identify, analyse and apply principles of business management and administration to real-life case studies and problems
    3. Gather, evaluate and utilise business management and administration information in the decision-making process.
    4. Identify and understand connections between economic, social and political factors affecting the management of businesses in the 21st century.
    5. Work effectively with others as a member of a management team in various levels of management.
    6. Self-manage and process the implications for self, business and systems and the different methods of intervention in business management and administration systems and situations.
    7. Apply economics, strategic decision making, human resources, Information technology, finance and marketing in decision making.
    8. Apply the ability of general business management competencies. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Create various types of business-related documents using numerous tools.
  • Effectively communicate both written and spoken word.
  • Obtain data from research and incorporate meaningfully for decision-making purposes.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Identify needs, opportunities and strategies of business administration that may be applied to real-life situations. Analyse, review and evaluation of complex problems related to business administration against sometimes contradicting areas of specialisation.
  • Apply business management skills across specialised fields in the business administration context.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Evaluate information gathered for logical decision making.
  • Critically review organisational strategies using established frameworks.
  • Identify and analyse real-world scenarios using theory-driven arguments.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Demonstrate a thorough understanding of socio-economic challenges in Southern Africa.
  • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of global challenges impacting business and management.
  • Identify, analyse and review the contextual relationship between economic, political and legal contexts including governance.
  • Apply ethical principles in the management of the business.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Work effectively as a part of a team relating to managerial decision making and reasoning.
  • Manage relationships at various management levels.
  • Manage ideas, insights and viewpoints with acceptable sensitivity and engages with others in work and in, business administration and other managerial work environments.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
  • Critically self-assess abilities and areas of improvement for personal development within business administration.
  • Take responsibility for one's self-development.
  • Demonstrate the ability to self-manage within team dynamics and using different systems in varying situations.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
  • Understand resource allocation and process management in a business administration context.
  • Identify and analyse management related challenges spanning business administration specialisation areas.
  • Apply business management skills across specialised fields in the business administration context.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8:
  • Apply general management skills across specialised fields in the business administration context.
  • Lead as well as work in teams to achieve desired results.
  • Influence decision making using researched theories and frameworks.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Learners in this qualification will be continuously assessed through formal and informal formative and final summative assessments. The formative assessment consists of:
  • Theoretical and practical group assignments;
  • Class discussions based on additional reading and case studies;
  • Theoretical and practical individual assignments and class assessments; and
  • Formal module assessments.

    At the end of the module, a learner has to conduct an examination paper or submit an examination equivalent assignment submission (the summative assessment); subject to the module regulations. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The outcomes, assessment criteria, degree of complexity and the notional learning time of this qualification have been favourably compared to similar qualifications from the following institutions:

    Country: New Zealand
    Institution: Auckland University of Technology
    Qualification title: Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration

    Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration is a part-time qualification for senior managers, professionals and administrators. It is designed to shape and enhance the managerial capabilities of and improve their decision-making abilities in an ever-changing global context.

    The Postgraduate Diploma in Business is available for learners who complete at least 75 points in one of the following specialist business disciplines: accounting, business information systems, economics, finance, international business, management, marketing, or sports leadership and management. The course includes modules such as Entrepreneurship, Strategic Management, and Human Resource Development.

    Country: India
    Institution: Albedo School of Business Management
    Qualification title: Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (PGDBA)

    The Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration is designed to meet the needs of middle and senior managers aiming to enhance their careers and move into executive management positions. The purpose of the qualification is to prepare and equip learners to deal with the ever-changing business administration environment.

    This qualification enhances the managerial capabilities of participants, resulting in continuous value addition at their workplace. The consistent use of case studies in each module helps the professionals to develop skills necessary to manage real-life situations. After completion of this qualification, learners will be a professional in a systematic approach to the identification of business problems and their solutions, the ability to make competent decisions, effective communication skills, a broad knowledge of concepts, policies and techniques applicable to efficient administration and management of the business. Subjects include Management Principle, Organisational Behaviour and Managerial Economics.

    Country: Australia
    Institution: University of Technology Sydney
    Qualification title: Graduate Diploma in Business Administration

    The qualification covers the major areas of business administration to shape the senior managers of the future. The qualification emphasizes self and team development essential for careers within the business administration field.

    General management skills are developed to provide expertise in strategic thinking, critical analysis, developing and implementing business plans, decision-making under uncertainty, understanding organisational dynamics, effective communication and promoting change. Modules include Financial Management, Economics for Management, and Marketing Decision Making.

    Conclusion and Comparison:
    The tertiary providers and the specific qualifications offered which are identified above are comparable to the South African qualification. The qualifications identified are very similar to the South African qualification as they all target the same learner outcomes and impact. There are strong business management and administration theme throughout with a focus on producing commercially minded learners. The duration, level and ELOs are similar.

    Therefore, it can be determined that the results of the comparability studies conducted reveal that this qualification compares favourably with international business management and administration qualifications. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Business Management, NQF Level 8.
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration, NQF Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Master of Business Management and Administration, NQF Level 9. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.