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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Diploma in Small Business Management 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
96443  Diploma in Small Business Management 
ORIGINATOR
University of South Africa 
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  Finance, Economics and Accounting 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  360  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:
This qualification will enable the qualifying learner to apply the necessary entrepreneurial and business skills and processes in order to start, establish and grow a business. The qualification is specifically designed for new and established small business owners and managers who wish to enhance their management knowledge with the latest thinking in small business management. The qualification equips entrepreneurs with essential business skills and to exploit the unique set of skills, knowledge and ideas to sell products and services.

Rationale:
Future economic expansion depends on the continued success of small business owners. One factor found to predict business success has been education and training of the small business owner. Much of that training has come from continuing education programmes. The qualification develops business efforts as well as allows the learner to keep up with today's rapidly changing environment. This qualification is designed to meet the needs of a learner who wants to start and grow a small, medium or micro-enterprise. It is designed to provide the learner with the basics of starting and managing his/her own business. It provides the learner with skills to seize a business opportunity, write a viable business plan and apply selected management principles to implement this plan in a real business environment. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
All admission through RPL must be in accordance with the principles laid down in the institutional RPL Policy.

This qualification can be achieved wholly or in part through Recognition of Prior Learning. However, only 10% of the intake to this qualification may be through RPL.

Learners are required to have the following in place in order to be considered for admission:
  • National Senior Certificate (NSC) granting access in to Diploma studies.
    Or
  • National Certificate Vocational (NCV) granting access in to diploma studies.
    Or
  • Senior Certificate (SC) with or without endorsement. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    The qualification consists of 30 modules at NQF Levels 5, 6 and 7 totalling 360 Credits.

    NQF Level 5 modules (10 modules totalling 120 Credits):
  • Business Management IA, 12 Credits.
  • Introduction to Marketing, 12 Credits.
  • Introduction to Retailing, 12 Credits.
  • Fundamentals of Communication, 12 Credits.
  • Administrative Management IA, 12 Credits.
  • End-user computing Module, 12 Credits.
  • Economics IA, 12 Credits.
  • Commercial Law IB, 12 Credits.
  • Financial accounting, concepts, principles and procedures, 12 Credits.
  • Sustainability and Greed, 12 Credits.

    NQF Level 6 modules (14 modules totalling 168 Credits):
  • Entrepreneurial Skills, 12 Credits.
  • Human Resource Management for Entrepreneurs, 12 Credits.
  • Business Management IB, 12 Credits.
  • Personal Financial Management, 12 Credits.
  • Organisational Communication, 12 Credits.
  • Marketing Management, 12 Credits.
  • Advertising and Sales Promotion, 12 Credits.
  • Administrative Management IB, 12 Credits.
  • Economics IB, 12 Credits.
  • Financial Accounting Reporting, 12 Credits.
  • Production and Operations Management, 12 Credits.
  • Commercial Law 2A, 12 Credits.
  • Financial Management for non-financial managers, 12 Credits.
  • E-Commerce in Business, 12 Credits.

    NQF Level 7 modules (6 modules totalling 72 Credits):
  • Entrepreneurship IIIA, 12 Credits.
  • Entrepreneurship IIIB, 12 Credits.
  • Entrepreneurial Practice, 12 Credits.
  • Marketing Planning, 12 Credits.
  • Retail Management, 12 Credits.
  • Risk Financing and Short Term Insurance, 12 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Describe and explain the ethical obligations and responsibilities of business.
    2. Apply decision-support tools to business decision making.
    3. Construct and present effective oral and written forms of professional communication.
    4. Create a comprehensive business plan for a small business. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 1:
  • The impact of management and other economic activity on society and the environment is explored.
  • The personal, social, cultural values and requirements of those affected by economic activity are reflected upon.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 2:
  • Different solution options are evaluated and recommendations motivated.
  • The main and sub-problems of the business are identified and formulated.
  • Information to solve a business problem is gathered and applied.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 3:
  • Concepts and theories with the aid of appropriate media are communicated.
  • Computer packages are used for communication and information handling.
  • Appropriate structure, style and graphical support are used to effectively communicate orally and by other means to the internal and external business clients.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 4:
  • The elements of a business plan are identified and explained.
  • An organisation structure for the proposed business to determine how a business plan can best be integrated is compiled.
  • Resources and information required to complete the proposed business plan are identified.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Formative assessment:
    Learning and assessment are integrated. The study guides contain self-assessment tasks with feedback. The scheme of work includes a combination of written and multiple choice assignments based on the learning material which learners have to submit and for which they earn year marks. Learners are given feedback in the form of written comments in the assignments and suggested solutions and mark plans presented in a formal tutorial letter. The process is continuous and focuses on smaller sections of the work and a limited number of outcomes.

    Summative assessment:
    Examinations of a representative selection of outcomes practiced 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 outcome. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Small business development is considered one of the major drivers of economic development and job creation. Countries that have a culture entrepreneurship also invest heavily on skills development and start-up businesses. For comparability studies this qualification was compared with business-related qualifications from New Zealand and the United States.

    In New Zealand, Southern Institute of Technology offers a Certificate in Business (Small Business Management), the qualification enables learners to acquire acquired small business competence and be able to recognise personal skills, and apply business skills, in areas relevant to the development of their own small business, or within small businesses with which they are associated. The following modules are offered as part of the qualification: Produce establishment plans for small business ventures, Control and evaluate small business operations, Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of marketing, Establish human resource needs of the small business operation and Determine profit projections for an entity.

    Minnesota West Community and Technical College in the United States is designed to equip learners with knowledge of economic principles and with the decision-making process. Modules covered in the qualification include: Organisation Planning, Business Systems, Financial Systems, Financial Management, Financial Analysis and Marketing Systems.

    Conclusion:
    This qualification compares well with the two qualifications cited above in terms of the structure and focus, particularly with regard to the overall purpose. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification is designed to articulate, horizontally, diagonally and vertically within and across the sub-frameworks of the NQF. It may horizontally articulate with the following qualifications:
  • National Diploma in Small Business Management at NQF Level 6.
  • Advanced Certificate in Business Management at NQF Level 6.

    Vertically this qualification may articulate with:
  • Advanced Diploma in Business Management and Administration at NQF Level 7.
  • Advanced Diploma in Business Management at NQF Level 7.
  • Bachelor of Business Management at NQF Level 7.
  • Bachelor of Commerce in Business Management at NQF Level 7. 
    		•

    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.
     
    1. University of South Africa 


    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.