Admission requirements

A three-year degree OR a Bachelor’s degree (NQF Level 7).

A minimum of two years’ work experience.

Students who have completed the Fundamentals of Business Administration (FBA) suite of courses are eligible to apply for entrance into the Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration (PDBA) programme and may receive credits, if all other criteria are met. Interested students will have to complete a new application for the PDBA as a completed FBA suite of courses does NOT guarantee entrance into the PDBA programme.

Modules

BUSA5204O – Strategy

Candidates will learn the principles of strategy in which they gain an understanding of thinking approaches and actions that allow for the creation and execution of strategic change in an organisation. It will assist the candidate to identify the variables that lead to organisations gaining a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Candidates will explore the vital importance of integration among the activities of an organisation, to ensure both sustainability and long-term success. They will
also utilise the basics tools of strategic analysis of the external and internal environment of an organisation. It also applies analytical thinking and decision frameworks to generate sustainable performance in competitive local and global environments.

BUSA5265O – Digital Business

This module introduces candidates to major technology trends facing organisations, notably fourth industrial revolution trends. It is designed to establish the effects of such trends on operational and strategic decision processes in organisations. Topics include:
1. Introduction to digital business
2. Major technological trends in organisations
3. Effects of technological trends on organisational operations and workplaces
4. Effects of technological trends on organisational strategy
5. Digital transformation and change

BUSA5261O – Introduction to Finance

Candidates will study the foundational concepts of finance. It is largely a survey course in the finance field. It covers major topics in finance and connects these topics to other areas such as accounting. Topics include sources of capital, how capital markets function, time value of money techniques (i.e. discounted cash flow techniques), the role of finance in value creation in the firm, cost of capital techniques, methods of company valuation and capital investment decisions.

BUSA5260O – Management and Financial Accounting

This module provides candidates with the foundation for understanding the role of accounting functions external (Financial Accounting) and internal (Management Accounting) to organisations. It is designed to show candidates how the two areas dovetail and are used effectively to achieve the objective of the firm which is to maximise shareholders wealth and communicate with stakeholders. It also equips candidates to handle an institution’s financial reports and data.
Topics include:
1. Financial Statements – Understanding Statements of Comprehensive Income, Financial
Position and Cash Flows
2. Analysis of Financial Statements
3. Cost Classifications and Allocations
4. Cost Behaviour, Variable Costing and Break-Even Analysis
5. Budgeting

BUSA5263O – Marketing

Here we focus on creating and disseminating theoretical and practical knowledge and skills which translate into the steps in the development of a marketing plan, an understanding of the environment in which the marketing function operates and the role of marketing management. In addition, business models are taught in order to provide an in-depth understanding of the strategic portion of the marketing plan, including a customer-driven marketing strategy (STP) and the ability to construct an integrated marketing programme that delivers superior value. The main outcome of this course is to manage profitable customer relationships using Relationship Marketing and CRM thinking in an emerging market/African context.

BUSA5266O – Essential Business skills

This module develops skills that are pivotal to further business studies and business practice, namely business communication and quantitative analysis skills. Skills development areas of expertise include critical communication skills; quantitative skills; integrating statistics into business analysis skills.

BUSA5267O – Project management

This module is designed to develop the skills needed to make an effective contribution and to have an immediate impact on the accomplishment of a project. It equips candidates to either manage a project or work in a project team. It focusses on project management techniques and the business need for a project. It also explores multiple conflicting stakeholder demands and knowing how to deal with rapid change; myriad communication issues; working with global and virtual project teams, and many other issues that are more challenging than in projects of previous times. Topics include project scope; work breakdown structures and network diagrams; resource scheduling under constrained conditions; project risk and stakeholders; project communication and project closure.

BUSA5262O – Business Law

We introduce candidates to the general legal principles regulating business transactions in South Africa. The first part places the regulatory framework for business transactions in context and highlights the importance of a knowledge of the legal system to business transactions. The regulatory instruments of significance to investments and business transactions are discussed. The second part considers important legal concepts and principles, including legal personality, the sources of South African law, and the hierarchy of the court system, with an emphasis on the impact of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 on law. The third part focusses on the legal requirements for binding contracts, including the enforcement of contracts and the remedies that are available in case of a breach of contractual provisions. Specific types of contracts under the law of sale, the law of lease, and the law of agency are discussed and the legal principles affecting the formation, governance, maintenance and dissolution of common types of business entities in South Africa, with particular emphasis on companies, are introduced. Topics in this course include an introduction to the SA legal system; principles of contract; overview of recent developments in consumer protection law; and company law.

BUSA5208O – Entrepreneurship

This module provides a rigorous introduction to the theoretical and practical issues associated with entrepreneurship. A research evidence-based critical learning approach is used to dispel myths surrounding entrepreneurship to ensure sustainable enterprises. The course relies on case material to critically evaluate best practices underpinning entrepreneurship theories. The course provides a critical appreciation of entrepreneurship in the SA and African contexts and is focused on conducting a business model thought canvas for a start-up.

BUSA5264O – People Management Including labour

We examine people management within the South African context and takes into account the complexity of a changing business environment in an emerging market economy. Emphasis is placed on critical engagement of the socio-psychological elements of human performance in organisations. Candidates are also made aware of the ethical and responsible elements of good people management. Topics include Introduction to people management and global talent management; recruitment and selection; employee on-boarding, training and development, talent management and succession management; performance management and reward and remuneration; employee relations and health and safety; the Human Resource practitioner as a business partner and Project Management leadership; employee relations; and labour law.

BUSA5268O – International Business & Economics

We study the mechanics and theory of international business and trade. The focus of the course is on international business, however, macro-economic factors that affect trade are discussed. Topics include an introduction to international business, international trade, international business environments, doing business in emerging markets, culture and international business, types of international business forms, international business strategies, business functions and international business, and macro-economics.