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 UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Interpret current affairs related to a specific business sector 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
14665  Interpret current affairs related to a specific business sector 
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 3  NQF Level 03  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 is intended to promote general knowledge and understanding of current affairs in a business environment in order to ensure knowledgeable and informed workers in South Africa. It is concerned with how businesses function and interact with their environments within the South African context. Practical competence includes significant choice and a wide range of contexts.

The qualifying learner is capable of
  • Explaining the concept of business environments.
  • Interpreting events in the physical, socio-political and economic, technological and institutional environments that impact on a business sector.
  • Comparing information about the same event from two sources.
  • Accessing information from a variety of media. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    There is open access to this unit standard. Learners should be competent in Communication and Mathematical Literacy at NQF Level 2. 

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    The typical scope of this unit standard is:

    News from a daily or weekly newspaper, television or radio newscast or other news medium. Learners are not expected to access information from dedicated financial newspapers or journals. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Explain the concept of business environments 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. The macro environment in which a business operates is described and an indication is given of the opportunities and challenges that are created by the interaction of the macro environment with management functions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. The market environment in which a business operates is described and an indication is given of the opportunities and challenges that are created by the interaction of the market environment with management functions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. The micro environment in which a business operates is described and an indication is given of the opportunities and challenges that are created by the interaction of the micro environment with management functions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. Ways in which a business organisation interacts with its environment are explained and an indication is given of how business environments influence business decisions. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Interpret information about events in the physical environment that could impact on a business. 
    OUTCOME NOTES 
    Interpret information about events in the physical environment that could impact on a specific business sector. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Includes but is not restricted to natural resources, scenic beauty, infrastructure, and natural disasters. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. Current events in the physical environment are interpreted and an indication is given of how these events affect the materials a business uses, where businesses operate and how products are distributed. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Information relating to current events in the physical environment is collected and organised to allow for comparison. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. Similar events in the physical environment are compared in terms of severity of impact on a selected type of business. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. Opportunities for business that are provided by the physical environment are interpreted for a specific line of business. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5. Threats posed by the physical environment on the ability of a business to achieve its main goals are interpreted for a specific line of business. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    6. Reports on the same event in the physical environment from the main section and the business section of a daily or weekly newspaper or any other relevant medium of communication are compared and the differences between the reports are tabulated. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Identify events in the socio-political environment that could impact on a specific business sector 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Includes but is not restricted to elections, legislation, trends in public opinion, diseases, pandemics, war, riots and other socio political events or disasters. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. Current events in the socio-political environment are interpreted and an indication is given of their possible impact on a selected business sector. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Information relating to current events in the socio-political environment is collected and organised to allow for comparison. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. Changes in society that impact on a business environment are identified from reports in the news. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. The influence of legislation and regulations on labour dynamics is interpreted for a specific business. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5. Political changes that could affect the economy are interpreted for a specific line of business. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    6. Responses of business management to changes in the socio political environment reported in the media are interpreted with reference to the size of the population and the potential impact on business, labour, human resources, markets and productivity. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    7. Reports on the same event in the socio-political environment from the main section and the business section of a daily or weekly newspaper or any other relevant medium of communication are compared and the differences between the reports are tabulated. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Identify events in the economic environment that could impact on a specific business sector. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Includes but is not restricted to customer income, productivity, inflation, level of employment, and economic growth. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. Current events in the economic environment are interpreted and an indication is given of their possible impact on a selected business sector. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Information relating to current events in the economic environment and inflation is collected and organised to allow for comparison. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. Similar events in the economic environment are compared in terms of severity of impact on a specific line of business. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. The concept of inflation is explained with reference to the effect of inflation on costs of goods and services and the value of the Rand in real terms. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5. Reports on the same event in the economic environment from the main section and the business section of a daily or weekly newspaper or any other relevant medium of communication are compared and the differences between the reports are tabulated. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Identify events in the technological and institutional environment. 
    OUTCOME NOTES 
    Identify events in the technological and institutional environment that could impact on a business sector. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Local authorities, regional authorities, central government, the state as a provider of goods and services and innovations in technology. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. Opportunities for business as a result of technological innovations or institutional changes are identified for a specific business sector. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Threats to business as a result of technological innovations or institutional changes are identified for a specific business sector. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. Current events in the technological or institutional environment are interpreted and an indication is given of their possible impact on a selected business sector. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. Information relating to current events in the technological or institutional environment is collected and organised to allow for comparison. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5. Reports on the same event in the socio-political environment from the main section and the business section of a daily or weekly newspaper or any other relevant medium of communication are compared and the differences between the reports are tabulated. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Assessment of this Unit Standard should be contextual and practical.
  • Assessors must be registered as an assessor with the Services ETQA or an ETQA that represents the sectors in which the learner is employed.
  • Moderators must be registered as assessors with the Services ETQA, or with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Services ETQA.
  • The mechanisms and requirements for moderation should be applied in accordance with the requirements of the relevant ETQA.
  • Assessment should include both formative and summative assessment.
  • Training providers must be accredited by the Services ETQA or with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Services ETQA. 
    		•


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Learners are able to explore a variety of strategies of learning when gathering information from a broad spectrum of media. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Learners can collect, organise and evaluate information when researching and interpreting current affairs and indicating the possible impact of current events on a specific business or business sector. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Learners can communicate effectively using visual, mathematics and language skills when presenting the findings of their research. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Learners are able to demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems when comparing and interpreting socio-political, economic, technological, institutional and physical and their effect on a selected business sector. 

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

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  48494   National Certificate: Financial Services Management  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2012-06-30  INSETA 
    Core  83946   National Certificate: Management  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-07-30  As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual 
    Elective  20184   National Certificate: Banking  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  BANKSETA 
    Elective  65409   National Certificate: Building and Civil Construction  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  CETA 
    Elective  74189   National Certificate: Cereals, Snacks, Pasta and Condiments Manufacturing  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  FOODBEV 
    Elective  57694   National Certificate: Food and Beverage Packaging Operations  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  FOODBEV 
    Elective  59386   National Certificate: Fresh Meat Processing  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  FOODBEV 
    Elective  57880   National Certificate: Meat Processing  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  FOODBEV 
    Elective  63929   National Certificate: Spirits Production  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  FOODBEV 
    Elective  63869   National Certificate: Winemaking  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  FOODBEV 
    Elective  48960   Further Education and Training Certificate: Social Security Administration  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  HW 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. AFRICA SKILLS VILLAGE 
    2. Akaf Bodyguards 
    3. Better Best Agri Development 
    4. Bright Storm Projects 
    5. CBM Training (Pty) Ltd 
    6. Certified Training Solutions (Pty) Ltd 
    7. Construction Resource Development College 
    8. Ekurhuleni Artisans and Skills Training Pty Ltd 
    9. Fachs Business Consulting and Training 
    10. Goitsebasadi Construction Project 
    11. HARMONY GOLD MINING CO LTD 
    12. Leps Training Consultants 
    13. Mahumani Empowerment Servives Centre 
    14. Mavco Engineering 
    15. MOLOKO SMALL ENTERPRISE 
    16. MPUMALANGA REGIONAL TRAINING TRUST 
    17. Novi General Services 
    18. Octomate Education Pty Ltd 
    19. PIONEER BUSINESS CONSULTING (PTY) LTD 
    20. Primeserv Corporate Solutions (Pty) Ltd 
    21. Protech Training (Pty) Ltd 
    22. Raubex Construction Pty (Ltd) 
    23. Sakhisizwe Development Training 
    24. Sheq and Environmental Projects 
    25. SIGNA ACADEMY (PTY) LTD 
    26. Sonani Training and Communications 
    27. Tjeka Training Matters Pty Ltd 
    28. Tovani Traiding 299 
    29. Trainers Without Borders 
    30. Umfolozi FET College 
    31. West Coast TVET College 


    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.