SAQA

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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Demonstrate an understanding of a selected business environment

SAQA US ID	UNIT STANDARD TITLE
14357	Demonstrate an understanding of a selected business environment
ORIGINATOR
SGB Administration
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-
FIELD			SUBFIELD
Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies			Office Administration
ABET BAND	UNIT STANDARD TYPE	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	CREDITS
Undefined	Regular-Fundamental	Level 4	NQF Level 04	10
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

This unit standard provides a broad introduction to the business environment. It is the starting point for a learner in a selected sector. The focus is knowledge, skills, values and attitudes in relation to the learner`s own context and experience of the world of work.

The qualifying learner is capable of:

Understanding the basic concepts of a selected business environment

Explaining the market position of a selected organisation in relation to the industry.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Learners should be competent in communication and mathematical literacy at NQF level 3.

UNIT STANDARD RANGE

The sectors listed in the SETA scoping documents as defined by the Department of Labour constitute the sub-sectors for each industry or business sector identified.

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria:

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1

Explain the structure and roles of different types of organisations within their own industry in SA

OUTCOME NOTES

Explain the structure and roles of the different types of organisations within their own industry in South Africa.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. The various types of organisation are named and explained using the terminology accepted within their own industry.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. The roles of the different types of organisation are explained in the context of the business environment.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

3. Business activities common to all organisations within the sector are identified and listed from readily available information.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

4. Two examples of companies in each business sub-sector are identified from advertisements in the media.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5

5. Four of the main players in the field are identified and the kind of products or services offered by each are listed and categorised according to purpose.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2

Demonstrate an understanding of the concept of a market as applied to a selected business sector

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. The principles of trade that define markets are identified at a basic level of understanding.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. The basic principles for the marketing of products are differentiated from the basic principles for the marketing of services.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

3. The role of a selected business sector in the national economy is explained in the context of the business environment.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

4. The value chain describing the way business is conducted in the sector is explained, illustrating with examples.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3

Identify and describe the role of professional bodies in a selected business sector

OUTCOME NOTES

Identify and describe the role of professional bodies, associations or regulatory authorities in or affecting a selected business sector

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. The reasons for the existence of professional bodies, associations and regulatory authorities within or affecting this sector are explained in the context of the roles that they play.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. Three professional bodies, associations or regulatory authorities are identified for each of the sub-sectors.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

3. The benefits of belonging to a selected professional body, association or regulatory authority within the sector are outlined from the perspective of both the organization and the individual.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

4. Information about two of the professional bodies, associations or regulatory authorities is accessed from its website or an industry publication.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4

Discuss the market position of a selected organization in the relevant sub-sector

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. A list of 10 of the products and / or services marketed by a selected organization is tabulated and compared with equivalent products and / or services of competitor organizations.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. A description of the organisation's current competitive position is given, based on available audited data.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

3. The strengths and weaknesses of the organization are compared with those of its two major competitors.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

4. The opportunities and threats facing the organization are explained with reference to the external environment.

UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS

Accreditation and Moderation:

Accreditation for this Unit Standard shall be from the Services Seta Education and Training Quality Assurer (SSETQA) through assessment by a registered Assessor. Assessment should be contextual and be conducted in the workplace as far as possible.

Assessors must be registered as an Assessor and Moderators must be registered as moderators with SSETQA.

SSETQA will co-ordinate all moderation activities in accordance with their policies and procedures.

UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE

Learners can explain the structure and roles of the different types of organisation in this sector in South Africa, including their main business activities, using the terminology accepted within this sector. They are able to name organisations operating within this environment.

Learners can differentiate the marketing of products from the marketing of services and can see how to apply the principles in their own organisation. They understand the role of one`s own business sector in the national economy.

Learners are able to motivate the existence and role of professional bodies, associations or regulatory authorities in the context of the sector and are able to locate relevant information from the Internet. They are able to identify at least four professional bodies, associations or regulatory authorities from each sub-sector, listed in the range statement.

Learners understand how to identify organisational strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats and are able to relate these facts to the current market position of their organisation. They are able to identify at least 10 of their own and competitive equivalent products and / or service offerings.

UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME

N/A

UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES

N/A

Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO):

UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING

The learner is able to collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information when identifying common business activities, when differentiating the marketing of products and services, when describing the roles of the professional bodies, associations or regulatory authorities and when evaluating their organisation`s competitive position in the marketplace.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING

The learner is able to communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and / or language skills in the modes of oral and / or written persuasion when explaining the structure and roles of the sub-sectors in one`s own business sector, describing the roles of the different professional bodies, associations or regulatory authorities, and discussing their own organisation`s competitive market position.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE

The learner is able to use science and technology effectively and critically when searching the Internet for information on the professional bodies, associations or regulatory authorities and when accessing audited data for market analysis.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING

The learner is able to demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of interrelated systems by recognizing that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation, when identifying the reasons for the existence of professional bodies, associations and regulatory authorities within or affecting this sector and when relating the reasons that these organisations or bodies exist.

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

The learner should correctly apply common terminology accepted within their own business sector.

QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD:

	ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	STATUS	END DATE	PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
Core	67465	National Certificate: Business Administration Services	Level 3	NQF Level 03	Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"	2023-07-30	As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual
Core	48663	National Certificate: Mail Handling	Level 3	NQF Level 03	Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"	2023-06-30	SERVICES
Core	49447	National Certificate: Trade Exhibition Support	Level 3	NQF Level 03	Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"	2023-06-30	SERVICES
Core	60650	Professional Qualification: Business Administration	Level 3	NQF Level 03	Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"	2023-06-30	As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual
Core	71729	Further Education and Training Certificate: Public Relations Practice	Level 4	NQF Level 04	Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"	2023-06-30	SERVICES
Core	48875	Further Education and Training Certificate: Public Relations Practice	Level 4	NQF Level 04	Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"	2009-09-09	Was SERVICES until Last Date for Achievement
Elective	48902	National Certificate: Abattoir Supervision	Level 3	NQF Level 03	Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"	2023-06-30	AgriSETA
Elective	67354	Further Education and Training Certificate: Piano Technology	Level 4	NQF Level 04	Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"	2023-06-30	CATHSSETA
Elective	49743	National Certificate: Manufacturing Management	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"	2023-06-30	FOODBEV
Elective	50017	National Diploma: Club Professional Golfing	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	Passed the End Date - Status was "Registered"	2008-11-30	Was CATHSSETA until Last Date for Achievement

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.

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