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: 

Diploma in Commerce in Business Management 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
84787  Diploma in Commerce in Business Management 
ORIGINATOR
The Independent Institute of Education (Pty) Ltd 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Diploma (Min 360)  Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies  Generic Management 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  364  Not Applicable  NQF Level 06  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  SAQA 1141/23  2021-07-01  2024-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2025-06-30   2030-06-30  

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 replaces: 
Qual ID Qualification Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Min Credits Replacement Status
58671  Diploma: Business Management and Entrepreneurship  Level 5  Level N/A: Pre-2009 was L5  260  Complete 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:

This qualification aims to provide learners with the skills, knowledge and applied competencies to manage an SMME business effectively and efficiently, and provides the foundation for growth into management positions in large businesses. Business management and finance are the core foci of the qualification and these are adequately supported by key skills identified as critical for this discipline to ensure a well-balanced qualification which will provide learners with the required skills and knowledge needed to enter the workplace. The graduate will be suitably equipped to assess business environments, develop appropriate strategies and manage the implementation of such strategies. Provision of skills in this area contributes to national developmental goals.

Rationale:

The purpose of the Diploma is to develop graduates who can demonstrate focused knowledge and skills in business management. Learners will develop depth and specialisation of knowledge, together with practical skills through work integrated learning, to enable graduates to apply their learning in the workplace.

The lack of adequate management and business management skills in South Africa plays an important role in the high failure rate in the SMME arena. This qualification will provide a set of very important and essential skills to support national efforts to equip prospective business managers and entrepreneurs to produce better economic results.

The qualification focuses on the financial, economic and business management aspects of commerce. It includes important business related modules to ensure a balanced perspective of modern corporate business to inform the environment within which the graduates must operate. This, in turn, will ensure a well-rounded qualification.

This Diploma will help address the national skills shortage and graduates will be equipped to take up positions as:
  • Office administrators or managers.
  • Managers (variety of positions).
  • Administrative personnel.
  • Business managers or trainee business managers.
  • Entrepreneurs.

    In addition, it provides graduates of the qualification an opportunity to further specialise in marketing or business. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is assumed that the learner is competent in the language of instruction (English) and the theoretical and practical knowledge and understanding associated with the completion of a qualification at NQF Level 4.

    Recognition of Prior Learning:

    Learners can achieve this qualification in part or in whole through Recognition of Prior Learning. The IIE Recognition of Prior Learning Policy and the IIE Academic Credit Policy guide this process.

    Recognition of Prior Learning for formal learning (Credit recognition):
  • Learners may apply for credits or exemptions for subjects already passed in-house or at other recognised institutions.

    Recognition of Prior Learning for informal and non-formal learning:
  • Skills, knowledge and experience in respect of competencies acquired through informal and non-formal learning are assessed in the Recognition of Prior Learning process.

    The IIE Recognition of Prior Learning Policy and the IIE Academic Credit Policy guide the process whereby skills, knowledge and experience in respect of competence acquired through formal and non-formal learning are assessed. All Recognition of Prior Learning submissions are centralised at the National Offices of each educational brand and sent to the IIE Registrar and the academic Head of Qualification at the Central Office for evaluation.

    Recognition of Prior Learning may also be used by prospective learners who do not meet the admission requirements to gain access to the qualification.

    Access to the Qualification:

    The applicant must:
  • Be in possession of a National Senior Certificate with English and a "D" rating, or recognised equivalent Grade 12 qualification.
    OR.
  • Be 23 years of age at registration and have three years appropriate work experience.
    OR.
  • Be in possession of a Higher Certificate or Advanced Certificate in a cognate field. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    The Diploma: Commerce in Business Management consists of compulsory modules at three NQF Levels which total 364 credits.

    NQF Level 5:

    11 Modules totalling 112 credits:
  • Business Calculations, 10 credits.
  • Accounting 1A, 12 credits.
  • Introduction to personal computing, 5 credits.
  • Marketing 1A, 12 credits.
  • Business Management 1A, 11 credits.
  • Accounting 1 B, 12 credits.
  • Business Communication, 10 credits.
  • Marketing 1B, 12 credits.
  • Employment Practices, 8 credits.
  • Business Management 1B, 11 credits.
  • Introduction to Project management, 9 credits.

    NQF Level 6:

    12 Modules totalling 153 credits:
  • Economics A, 15 credits.
  • Business management 2A, 18 credits.
  • Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Project (year module), 15 credits.
  • Financial Management 2A, 12 credits.
  • Advanced Spreadsheets Projects, 8 credits.
  • Business management 2B, 18 credits.
  • Financial Management 2B, 12 credits.
  • Economics B, 10 credits.
  • Consumer and buyer behaviour, 15 credits.
  • Commercial Law, 10 credits.
  • Quality management, 10 credits.
  • Risk management, 10 credits.

    NQF Level 7:

    6 Modules totalling 99 credits:
  • Business management 3A, 18 credits.
  • Financial Management 3A, 18 credits.
  • WIL Project (year module), 15 credits.
  • Business management 3B, 18 credits.
  • Financial Management 3B, 18 credits.
  • Industrial relations, 12 credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Assess, evaluate and apply managerial functions within the business environment.

    2. Communicate effectively and professionally in a business environment, displaying the skills needed to present and communicate information reliably and appropriately.

    3. Select and use technologies relevant to the business environment.

    4. Demonstrate applied competence in assessing and evaluating business opportunities against the economic environment and other relevant factors to inform business decisions and strategic planning.

    5. Demonstrate a critical awareness of the compliance and ethical considerations that apply to the effective functioning of a business entity.

    6. Perform quality, compliant financial management functions to manage the economic well-being of a business entity.

    Critical Cross-Field Outcomes:

    All the Critical Cross-Field Outcomes are addressed in the qualification. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Demonstrate sound knowledge and understanding of important rules, concepts and theories of principles of management in the business environment.
  • Integrate and adapt managerial practices to various situations within the business environment.
  • Perform key managerial actions competently, utilising the theoretical basis for these actions and analysing them to bring about strategic changes to managerial practices.
  • Integrate various management functions within the business environment in the development of strategic plans.
  • Formulate, implement and evaluate cross-functional decisions that enable organisations to achieve objectives.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Communicate information effectively and professionally in a reliable and coherent format in a business environment using professional business communication discourse and formats.
  • Use verbal and non verbal means to communicate effectively.
  • Apply the principles of conflict management to a given situation.
  • Communicate effectively in a multi-cultural context.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Use appropriate technologies relevant to the business environment.
  • Create a worksheet using a spreadsheet that is modified and formatted using the appropriate tools and features.
  • Create electronic presentations using suitable software.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of macro/micro theories and principles in order to apply them to the business environment.
  • Interpret and apply demand and supply elasticity and applications.
  • Assess and identify perfect competition and monopolies.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of economic equilibrium, aggregates and economic performance indicators.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Explain the concepts and principles of Commercial Law in the business and marketing environment.
  • Determine requirements to ensure compliance with relevant business legislation.
  • Apply appropriate ethical values and approaches to the marketing environment.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
  • Use accounting processes and relevant systems to produce balanced and accurate financial statements.
  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the concepts, principles and practices of accounting in the business environment.
  • Record business transactions by completing financial statements.
  • Apply a sound theoretical foundation to demonstrate practical competency in the performing and evaluation of financial management functions.
  • Apply correct identification and recording of monetary values of transactions.
  • Evaluate financial information in order to make sound business decisions within the business environment.

    Integrated Assessment:

    Formative assessment:

    Learning and assessment are integrated. Continual formative assessment is done so that learners are given feedback on their progress in the achievement of learning outcomes.

    The scheme of work includes assignments based on the learning material and learners are given feedback. The process is continuous and focuses on smaller sections of the work and limited numbers of outcomes.

    Summative assessment:

    Summative assessment is concerned with the judgement of the learning in relation to the Exit Level Outcomes of the qualification. Such judgement includes Integrated Assessments which test the learner's ability to integrate the larger body of knowledge, skills and attitudes that are represented by the Exit Level Outcomes as a whole. Examinations, projects, laboratory reports or equivalent assessment such as a portfolio of evidence assess a representative selection of the outcomes practised and assessed in the formative stage. Summative assessment also tests the learner's ability to manage and integrate a large body of knowledge to achieve the stated outcomes of a module. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Comparison of this qualification was made with qualifications and outcomes in qualifications in higher education institutions in Malaysia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom (England).

    The qualification compares favourably with The Diploma in Business Management from the Olympia College in Malaysia, which has an outcomes based approach and is benchmarked against UK Higher Education standards. The emphasis of the qualification is on business management with electives for the project in management, entrepreneurship, marketing and human resource management. It develops learners' interest and knowledge of the world of business, including an understanding of markets and market economies; the structures, and functioning of business organisations; the dynamic nature of key business functions and processes; the processes and strategies; and the nature and role of policies that impact on business. The qualification also develops key skills required for communication and presentation, numeracy and IT together with the associated cognitive skills of application, synthesis and evaluation.

    The intellectual demand and complexity of skills required to successfully complete the IIE qualification is higher than the New Zealand Diploma in Business - Management (Unitec New Zealand) with third year modules at a level 7. The New Zealand Diploma in Business - Management is a two year qualification on level 6. Both the qualifications, however, cover a similar range of modules and disciplines, such as accounting, commercial law, economics, marketing, business communication, employment relations, financial management, applied computing and management. This qualification is endorsed by the New Zealand Institute of management (NZIM) and provides learners with the opportunity to gain the skills for a career in management, developing a sound understanding of the business environment, organisation and management, and leadership in business.

    The ABE qualifications in Business Management in the United Kingdom offer Business Management at four levels forming a pathway to an MBA. On successful completion of the Certificate course, learners are qualified for the Diploma (level 5) and then the Advanced Diploma (level 6). After the Advanced Diploma learners can enrol for an ABP Postgraduate Diploma (level 7) or into the final year of a Bachelors degree qualification at most UK universities. The IIE qualification is not split up into various levels but, similar to this pathway options, there is a natural progression from the first year to the third year, moving from levels 5 to levels 7. Despite the different structures of the ABE qualifications and the IIE qualification, both provide learners with the opportunity to gain a broad understanding of business, marketing, finance, human resources, accounting, quantitative methods, strategy, economics, information management and organisational development. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification articulates horizontally with any cognate Diploma at NQF Level 6.

    This qualification articulates vertically with a cognate Bachelor's Degree at NQF Level 7. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Moderation:

    All exit level modules are externally moderated, while all others are internally moderated.
    The IIE which is a multi-site provider has a sophisticated system of internal and external moderation to assure quality and ensure equity of provision. Feedback from moderators is used to improve the quality of assessment, material and learner support as well as to ensure fairness and validity in any particular examination cycle. External moderation is also used to ensure that the quality of the qualification content and its assessment is comparable to that offered by other providers.

    Criteria for Appointment of External Examiners/External Moderators:
  • Moderators have relevant educational experience and a qualification higher than the level which they are moderating.
  • Moderators are also required to have more than two years teaching experience.
  • Assessors with less than two years' experience have their assessment work moderated by a peer. 
    		•

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    NOTES 
    This qualification replaces qualification 58671, "Diploma: Business Management and Entrepreneurship", Level 5, 260 credits. 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    When qualifications are replaced, some (but not all) of their learning programmes are moved to the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replaced 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.
     
    1. The Independent Institute of Education (Pty) Ltd 


    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.