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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Apply advanced principles of complexity theory to organisational transformation 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
116917  Apply advanced principles of complexity theory to organisational transformation 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Generic Management 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies Generic Management 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular-Fundamental  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  12 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-06-30   2029-06-30  

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 unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
A person credited with this Unit Standard is able to demonstrate an understanding of advanced principles of complexity theory and to apply these to the concept of organisational transformation in the South African context, by using all of these to analyse an organisation of over 150 people operating in South Africa.

In particular, on completion of this Unit Standard, the learner is able to:
  • Understand the reductionist view of the world
  • Recognise the role systems play at all levels of society
  • Analyse communities of practice
  • Realise that complex systems can affect and effect change
  • Apply advanced principles of complexity theory
  • Relate the learning gained in achieving this Unit Standard to Organisational Transformation and Change Management (OT&CM) 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Learners should be competent in:
  • Computer Literacy at NQF Level 3
  • Mathematical Literacy at NQF Level 4
  • Communication at NQF Level 4 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    A single organisation with more than 150 people be used throughout this Unit Standard. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the reductionist view of the world. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The Cartesian world-view is analysed with an emphasis on its origins and the effect it has had on our understanding of the world. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    A presentation outlining the contributin of Isaac Newton to the reductionist approach, and which also highlights the significant advances in scientific thought that have come through this approach, is developed and presented using appropriate media. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The impact of quantum mechanics on the reductionist paradigm, and the role of the Uncertainty Principle in changing the prevailing world view at the turn of the 20th century is explained to interested parties. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world from a systems perspective. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    An analysis is provided of the fundamental role networks play in any system. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The network, as the basic building block of a systems view of the world, is elaborated upon using the ecology of any organisation as a case study. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The role that an observer plays in influencing a system is outlined, with reference both to micro and macro occurrences. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Examples of the cumulative effect of small perturbations on a system are documented with reference both to the learner's organisation of choice and to any real world events. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Analyse the existence of communities of practice within an organisation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Three different communities and their practice in organisation is identified and with a careful elaboration of what the salient characteristics are constituting "community" in each case. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The ways in which each of these communities of practice have formed, are examined and documented in a presentation that elaborates on the spontaneous nature of their establishment in response to a specific set of prevailing conditions within the system. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Each community and its impact on the organisation is presented in a manner that highlights both the positive and negative consequences to a system of the existence of each community. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Explain how complex systems affect organisational change. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    An analysis is provided of the impact of diversity on a system, with a clear indication being provided of what it was in the nature of the diversity within the organisation that actually provided the observed effects. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    An example is provided of how a small change has had significant transformational impact on any organisation of the learner's acquaintance. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The ways in which organisational transformation in a selected organisation can be affected using the principles of complex systems are explained with written examples. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Accreditation for this Unit Standard shall be obtained from the relevant Education and Training Quality Assurance Body, through summative and formative assessment by a registered assessor.
  • Assessors must be registered as an Assessor with the relevant ETQA, or with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Moderators must be registered as assessors with the relevant ETQA, or with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Training providers must be accredited by the relevant ETQA or with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.

    Moderation should include both internal and external moderation where applicable. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    The knowledge underpinning the above specific outcomes is:
  • Advanced complexity theory.
  • Advanced systems theory.
  • The fundamentals of OT&CM. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Working effectively with others as an example of Communities of Practice. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communication is established as an area of development in its own right. Also, aspects of personal development feature throughout the achievement of this Unit Standard. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Using an understanding of Newtonian Mechanics and Quantum Theory critically to illustrate the limitations of a reductionist paradigm. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Understanding the world as a set of related systems by elaborating the systems perspective as opposed to a reductionist world view. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

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

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  49076   National Diploma: Organisational Transformation and Change Management  Level 5  NQF Level 05  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  SERVICES 
    Elective  50081   Further Education and Training Certificate: Leadership Development  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  LG SETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    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. Amabamba Recruitment 
    2. AVAX SA 481 CC. T/A Mandisa Development Services 
    3. Bephaswana Skills Development (Pty) Ltd 
    4. Dee's Training (PTY) LTD 
    5. DM Training Consultants 
    6. Faranang Marketing 
    7. Fire Protection Association of Southern Africa 
    8. Furniture World Training Centre 
    9. Inkqubeko Investment (Pty) Ltd 
    10. IQ Skills Academy (PTY) LTD. 
    11. Jobafrik Consulting 
    12. Josmap Training Institute 
    13. KOKANO PROJECTS PTY LTD 
    14. Lewerb Holdings (PTY) Ltd 
    15. Limadi Industrial Projects 
    16. MANCOSA Pty (Ltd) 
    17. Mortarboard Training Solutions 
    18. MTK Corporate Solutions 
    19. Neopeo Trading & Projects 
    20. Networx for Career Development 
    21. Nkinane Trading Enterprise 
    22. Nokusho M Consulting and Trading 
    23. PFIM Trading (Pty) Ltd 
    24. PMA Holdings (PTY ) LTD. 
    25. Progressive School of Business and Engineering (Pty) 
    26. Reflections Development Institute 
    27. Regent Business School (Pty) Ltd t/a Regent Business School 
    28. Resonance Institue of Learning 
    29. Siza Nesu Training and Consultants 
    30. Thusanang Skills & Training 
    31. Tloumogale Business Development & Consulting 
    32. Tshepang Consulting & Project 
    33. Tshwane Training Institute (PTY) LTD. 
    34. Ursivox Interactive Systems 


    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.