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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Diploma in Business Administration 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
88897  Diploma in Business Administration 
ORIGINATOR
Richfield Graduate Institute Of Technology (Pty) Ltd. (previously known as PC Training And Business College (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  370  Not Applicable  NQF Level 06  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered-data under construction  EXCO 0324/24  2024-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2033-06-30  

Registered-data under construction

The qualification content is currently being updated for the qualifications with the status “Registered-data under construction” or showing “DETAILS UNDER CONSTRUCTION” to ensure compliance with SAQA’S Policy and Criteria for the registration of qualifications and part-qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (As amended, 2022). These qualifications are re-registered until 30 June 2027 and can legitimately be offered by the institutions to which they are registered.

 

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.  

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The Diploma: Business Administration is a vocational and industry oriented qualification. The knowledge emphasises general principles, application and technology in the Commerce Field. The Diploma: Business Administration provides learners with a knowledge base in the Business field and the ability to apply their knowledge and skills in Business Management. It also equips them to undertake other more specialised and intensive learning.

This Diploma: Business Administration includes work integrated learning.
The programme is intended to provide learners with access to the labour market. It will provide learners with the necessary skills to contribute to economic growth.

This programme is based on three fundamental disciplines:
  • Internal Business Environment.
  • External Business Environment.
  • Practical and experiential Skills.

    Rationale:
    The Diploma: Business Administration has been formulated such that it reflects the workplace needs of the Business environment as expressed by its stakeholders. The stakeholders' input has been used to ensure that the qualification provides the learner with the prerequisites to be employed in Business. This demand has been coupled with the statistics of the National Scarce Skills list for South Africa (2008), published by the Department of Labour to identify scarce and critical skills required by the country. The institution's endeavours are further correlated in its strategy with that of present government initiatives. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    The learner should be able to communicate in English (NQF Level 4).

    Recognition of Prior Learning:
    For Recognition of Prior Learning the learner will be required to submit a portfolio of evidence of relevant experience, in a prescribed format, to be assessed for formal recognition. The assessor and learner will decide jointly on the most appropriate assessment procedures, subject to the assessment rules of the Institution.

    Access to the Qualification:
    The minimum entry requirement is the National Senior Certificate or an equivalent qualification (NQF Level 4). 

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    The qualification comprises both compulsory and elective modules. Learners must choose an area of specialisation, one out of three, which is carried through from NQF Levels 5 to 7:
    The three specialisations are:
  • Economics.
  • Public Management.
  • Human Resource Management.

    NQF Level 5 modules (10 Credits each):
  • Business Communication 101.
  • Business Communication 102.
  • Accounting 101.
  • Accounting 102.
  • Business Management 101.
  • Business Management 102.
  • Business Information Management 101.
  • Business Information Management 102.
  • Training and Development 101.
  • Training and Development 102.

    NQF Level 6 modules (10 Credits each):
  • Business Management 201.
  • Business Management 202.
  • Business Statistics 201.
  • Business Statistics 202.
  • Business Law 201.
  • Business Law 202.
  • Marketing Management 201.
  • Marketing Management 202.
  • Total Quality Management 201.
  • Total Quality Management 202.
  • Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management (SBM) 301.
  • Entrepreneurship and SBM 302.
  • Industrial Psychology 301.
  • Industrial Psychology 302.
  • Project Management 301.
  • Project Management 302.
  • Work Integrated Learning 300.

    NQF Level 7 modules (15 Credits each):
  • Business Management 301.
  • Business Management 302.

    Electives:
    Choose either Economics or Public Management or Human Resource Management as a specialisation.

    NQF Level 5 (10 Credits each):
  • Economics 101.
  • Economics 102.
  • Public Management 101.
  • Public Management 102.
  • Human Resource Management 101.
  • Human Resource Management 102.

    NQF Level 6 (10 Credits each):
  • Economics 201.
  • Economics 202.
  • Public Management 201.
  • Public Management 202.
  • Human Resource Management 201.
  • Human Resource Management 202.

    NQF Level 7 (15 Credits each):
  • Economics 301.
  • Economics 302.
  • Public Management 301.
  • Public Management 302.
  • Human Resource Management 301.
  • Human Resource Management 302. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Demonstrate an informed understanding of concepts, terms, rules, principles of business, business management, the management processes and the business environment and give a broad overview of the different management functions.
    2. Demonstrate an understanding of and interpret the legal environment for sound business practices.
    3. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of concepts and principles of Business Information Management in relation to Business Management.

    Exit Level Outcomes for the Specialisations:

    Economics:
    1. Demonstrate an understanding of allocation of scarce resources, policy decisions and their implications for society (i.e. macroeconomic and microeconomic environment).

    Public Management:
    1. Demonstrate integrated knowledge and understanding of public management theory and practice.

    Human Resource Management:
    1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the concepts and principles of human resource policies and practices and the importance of training and development programmes.

    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:
  • Explain how business performance is related to strategic management.
  • Develop a basic business plan for small to medium enterprises.
  • Explain the marketing instruments of product, price, distribution and marketing communication.
  • Apply financial management concepts and principles relating to financial analysis, investment decisions and financing decisions in order to achieve continued financial health in a business.
  • Evaluate the current competency level of the HR function in an organisation and prepare a strategic plan to increase the overall level of competency of the HR function from a holistic perspective.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of contracts in general.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the Council for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), unfair dismissal and employment contracts (procedural) fairness.
  • Explain the characteristics of the various forms of businesses, i.e. Partnership, Close Cooperation and Company.
  • Identify the factors which the High Court requires before granting an application for voluntary surrender.
  • Discuss the processes by which persons are rendered insolvent, sequestrated and rehabilitated.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the Competition Act (Act 89 of 1998).

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Explain Business Information Management Systems.
  • Describe how to select and organise computer hardware components to support information systems objectives and business needs.
  • Define general data management concepts and terms, highlighting the advantages of the database approach to data management.
  • Discuss the importance of implementation and monitoring in problem solving.
  • Identify factors that influence the success or failure of a systems development project.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for the Specialisations:

    Economics:

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Demonstrate a sound knowledge and critical understanding of definitions, concepts and principles of micro-economics and macro-economics.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the concepts of demand, supply and prices and analyse the effect of demand, supply and income elasticity.
  • Identify and define market forms with respect to output, cost and price determination.
  • Explain the difference between the goods market and the labour market.
  • Explain and discuss the functioning of the labour market and the role of trade unions.
  • Discuss the use of money in the economy and analyse its implications for policy and growth.
  • Define and analyse macroeconomic phenomena such as unemployment, inflation, economic growth and development.

    Public Management:

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Discuss the approaches to policy making.
  • Give an overview of theories and models for the public policy process.
  • Demonstrate knowledge and application ability of policy analysis and evaluation.
  • Demonstrate detailed knowledge of public financial management and the financial functions of government.
  • Demonstrate detailed knowledge of responsibilities of financial managers.
  • Discuss Public Administration concepts that facilitate public service delivery such as strategy, policy, monitoring and evaluation.

    Human Resource Management:

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Discuss how the effective, strategic management of human resources leads to the strategic goal achievement of the organisation.
  • Identify the processes involved in the effective attraction, selection and retention of employees who will contribute to the strategic goal achievement of the organisation.
  • Discuss the role of positive and equitable labour relations in ensuring long-term organisational success.
  • Discuss an induction programme for a new employee, paying attention to what should be implemented, by whom and on what timescale.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Integrated Assessment at this level provides an opportunity for learners to be able to integrate concepts, ideas and actions across modules in order to achieve competence that is grounded and coherent in relation to the purpose of this qualification.

    Integrated Assessment will judge the quality of the observable performance and also the quality of the thinking that lies behind it. Assessment tools encourage learners to give an account of the thinking and decision making that underpins the demonstrated performance. Some assessment practices will be of a more practical nature while others will be of a more theoretical nature.

    During assessment the assessor will make use of formative and summative assessment methods and will assess combinations of practical, theoretical, applied, foundational and reflective competencies. Input to completing the assessment typically makes use of combinations of the following assessment methods:
  • Time-constrained written examinations.
  • Coursework Evaluations.
  • Continuous Evaluation.
  • Practical Evaluation.

    Work Integrated Learning assessments also provide opportunities for assessments of the various disciplines that compose the curriculum of this qualification. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The Diploma in Business Administration has been compared to qualifications offered internationally. The qualifications identified as most comparable come from only New Zealand and Australia.

    The University of Otago in New Zealand has a Diploma in Business Administration which consists of fourteen topics with each learner having to choose six and write a paper on each. The six papers, together with a business project, are to be concluded in order to satisfy the requirements of the qualification. The six papers are chosen from the following topics:
  • Business Law;
  • Marketing;
  • Organisational Leadership;
  • Statistics and Decision Tools;
  • Economics;
  • Human Resource Management;
  • Accounting;
  • Investment and Global Financial Markets;
  • Strategic Planning for International Markets;
  • Leading Sustainable Enterprises;
  • Operational Excellence;
  • International Business; and
  • Strategy Implementation.

    The Swinburne University in Australia offers a Diploma in Business Administration and is more generic management focusing on management processes then the PC Training and Business College offering which focuses more on business management focusing more on operational business management. The Swinburne University Diploma comprises of the following modules:

    Compulsory
  • Manage meetings
  • Plan and manage conferences
  • Plan or review administration systems
  • Manage business documents design and development
  • Manage projects

    Electives
  • Recruit, select and induct staff
  • Develop workplace policy and procedures for sustainability
  • Ensure team effectiveness

    In general this qualification and its contents compare well with the international counterparts. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This Qualification articulates horizontally with any Diploma of a similar nature at NQF Level 6.

    This Qualification articulates vertically with an Advanced Diploma: Business Administration or Bachelor of Business Administration, both at NQF Level 7. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Moderation of learners' achievements and overall award of the qualification at the exit level will be based on the well established procedures of using external examiners (external to the provider) from accredited Institutions.
  • Moderation will include both internal and external moderation of assessments at exit points of the qualification. 
    		•

    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 2015. 

    NOTES 
    Two delivery modes available - Contact and Distance. 

    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.
     
    1. Richfield Graduate Institute Of Technology (Pty) Ltd. (previously known as PC Training And Business College (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.