The leap from "doing the work" to "managing the business" is often the most challenging transition in a professional career. It requires a fundamental shift in perspective, from a narrow functional focus to a broad, strategic view of the entire organisation.
To navigate this shift successfully, you need more than just intuition; you need a robust toolkit of management competencies. The Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration (PDBA) offered online by the Wits Business School is designed to provide exactly that. It functions as a "pre-MBA", condensing the core pillars of business leadership into a rigorous, practical curriculum that you can apply immediately in your workplace.
Here is a breakdown of the strategic manager’s toolkit you will acquire through the programme’s core modules.
Module: Strategy
Many managers are stuck in the "weeds" of daily operations. This module equips you to lift your head and see the horizon. You will master the principles of competitive advantage, learning how to analyse both internal capabilities and external market forces. By understanding strategic integration, you will learn to align every departmental activity with the organisation’s long-term goals, ensuring sustainability and growth in competitive global environments.
Modules: Introduction to Finance; Management and Financial Accounting
You cannot lead if you cannot read the scorecard. These modules demystify the numbers, moving you from financial literacy to financial fluency.
Modules: Digital Business; Project Management
Strategy without execution is merely a wish.
Module: People Management Including Labour
A manager achieves results through people. This module dives deep into the socio-psychological elements of human performance. You will explore the full talent lifecycle, from recruitment and on-boarding to performance management and succession planning. Crucially, in the South African context, it provides a solid grounding in labour law and employee relations, ensuring you lead with both empathy and legal compliance.
Modules: Marketing; Entrepreneurship; International Business and Economics
By integrating the diverse tools of financial acumen, strategic foresight, operational discipline and people leadership, the Wits PDBA transforms you into a complete, multi-dimensional leader ready to take on executive responsibility.
No, but it is often a pathway to one. The PDBA is an NQF Level 8 qualification (Honours equivalent), while an MBA is a Masters degree (NQF Level 9). Many students use the PDBA to gain the foundational business skills required to qualify for and succeed in an MBA programme later.
You generally need a three-year Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification (NQF Level 7) and a minimum of two years of relevant, mid-professional work experience. Internships usually do not count towards this experience requirement.
Yes, the programme is fully online and designed for working professionals. If studying part-time, it typically takes 22 months. However, you can choose to study full-time (taking two modules at a time) to complete it sooner, though this requires a significant time commitment.
The assessment strategy is designed for distance learning. It typically involves a mix of online participation, written assignments, case study analyses and tests. Feedback is constant to ensure you are meeting the exit-level outcomes.
Yes, the Business Law module specifically introduces the general legal principles regulating business in South Africa. The module also covers various aspects of company and contract law and provides an overview of recent developments in South Africa's consumer protection laws. This knowledge will ensure your management decisions are legally sound.