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

Integrate qualitative and quantitative information, methods and evidence to support decision making in the public sector 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
242912  Integrate qualitative and quantitative information, methods and evidence to support decision making in the public sector 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Public Administration and Management 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies Public Administration 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 7  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L7  8 
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
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

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 for elected political leaders and public sector officials involved with the service delivery activities at a top strategic level. This Unit Standard will enable the learner to become a critical user of information and evidence to support decision making. The learner will also be able to commission research and analysis to inform decision making.

The qualifying learner is capable of:
  • Utilising, interpreting and drawing inferences from information gathered as evidence to support decision making.
  • Identifying the strengths, weaknesses and suitability of selected quantitative and qualitative methods for gathering evidence.
  • Commissioning information gathering and analysis to support management and policy decision making.
  • Demonstrating an understanding of how the policy system and organisational context affects the use of evidence and analysis in public decision making. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    All learners accessing this unit standard must be in possession of Level 6 Public Administration diploma, degree or equivalent. 

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    N/A 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Utilise, interpret and draw inferences from information gathered as evidence to support decision making. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Qualitative information, methods and evidence are distinguished and interpreted to support public administration decision making. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Quantitative information, methods and evidence are distinguished and interpreted to support public administration decision making. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Qualitative information, methods and evidence are utilised to draw inferences and make assumptions to support public administration decision making. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Quantitative information, methods and evidence are utilised to draw inferences and make assumptions to support public administration decision making. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Identify the strengths, weaknesses and suitability of selected quantitative and qualitative methods for gathering evidence. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Strengths of qualitative and quantitative methods of gathering evidence are identified, compared and explained in the context public administration problem solving. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Weaknesses of qualitative and quantitative methods of gathering evidence are identified, compared and explained in the context public administration problem solving. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The suitability of qualitative and quantitative methods of gathering evidence are compared and critically assessed for public administration discussion making. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    An integrative approach to utilising qualitative and quantitative methods is adopted for public administration decision making. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Commission information gathering and analysis to support management and policy decision making. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The commissioning and procurement processes are understood and explained in a public administration context, guidelines, protocols and regulations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Common steps in the pre-commissioning/planning phase are described in terms of the tools and techniques applied in a public administration context. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Pre-commissioning steps and techniques include, but are not limited to, needs analysis, requirement definition, contracting method selection, solicitation design, guidelines and protocols.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Common steps in the commissioning/consultant appointment phase are described in terms of the tools and techniques applied in a public administration context. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Commissioning steps and techniques include, but are not limited to, source selection, focus groups, negotiation, guidelines and protocols.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Common steps in the post-commissioning/administration phase are described in terms of the tools and techniques applied in a public administration context. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Administration steps and techniques include, but are not limited to, kick off meeting, oversight, monitoring, payment system, guidelines and protocols.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Demonstrate an understanding of how the policy system and organisational context affects the use of evidence and analysis in public decision making. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Policy assumptions and constraints are analysed and their effect on data and information assessed in the context of public decision making. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The decision making unit and the roles and functions of the members thereof are considered in the context of their effect on public decision making. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The levels of authority and authorisation are assessed in the context of constraints or enablers of public decision making. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The effect of policy systems, guidelines, protocols and regulations are assessed in terms of being constraints or enablers of decision making. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Any individual wishing to be assessed (including through RPL) against this unit standard may apply to an assessment agency, assessor or provider institution accredited by the relevant ETQA, or an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA, or an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard or assessing this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA, or an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be conducted by the relevant ETQA at its discretion. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • The Public Services Act.
  • The Municipal Systems Act and the Municipal Structures Act.
  • The Promotion of Administrative Justice Act.
  • The Promotion of Access the Information Act.
  • The Batho-Pele White Paper on Transforming Public Sector Service Delivery.
  • Public Sector Corporate Governance policies and procedures.
  • Public Finance Management act.
  • The concept of service value and how different service cultures are formulated.
  • Benchmarking.
  • Qualitative and quantitative analysis.
  • Sociological tools and techniques.
  • Communication and language skills in the context of dealing with conflict relating to decisions, influencing decision makers, and standards of professionalism.
  • Presentation and linguistic skills. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems using critical and creative thinking processes in order to make public decisions. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation or community in order influence decision making effectively and professionally. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly in order to proactively make decisions. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information in order to assess effectiveness of public decision making. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language in the modes of oral and/or written persuasion to convey public decision making. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility to the environment and health of others, as a tool to gather qualitative and quantitative data for decision making processes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of interrelated systems by recognising that problem solving contexts relating the public service decision making do not exist in isolation and that a variety of factors, sensitivities, stakeholders, politics, policies and authorities may impact on effective decision making. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
  • Participate as responsible citizens in the life of local, national and global communities by ensuring that decisions are in the interests of the public.
  • Be culturally and aesthetically sensitive across a range of contexts when making decisions that affect public interests. 
    		•

    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
    Fundamental  57827   National Diploma: Public Administration  Level 7  Level N/A: Pre-2009 was L7  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  PSETA 


    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.
     
    NONE 


    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.