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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Occupational Certificate: Retail Chain Store Manager 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
103150  Occupational Certificate: Retail Chain Store Manager 
ORIGINATOR
Development Quality Partner - W&RSETA 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-   OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Occupational Certificate  Field 11 - Services  Wholesale and Retail 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  106  Not Applicable  NQF Level 05  Regular-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  EXCO 0425/24  2018-09-12  2025-12-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-12-30   2029-12-30  

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 qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to equip a learner with the knowledge, skills and competencies to perform duties as a Retail Chain Store Manager.

A Retail Chain Store Manager manages the functions of a branch of a retail chain organisation.

The industry feels that the qualification will serve to equip qualifying learners with the fundamental skills and attitude necessary to:
  • Manage retail chain store operational processes.
  • Maintain retail chain store stakeholder relations.
  • Implement plans to improve sales in a retail chain store.
  • Manage risk and maintain assets in a retail chain store.

    A qualified learner will be able to:
  • Lead teams to achieve retail chain store operational objectives.
  • Manage service standards of a retail chain store.
  • Manage stock control in a retail chain store.
  • Improve the financial performance of a retail chain store.

    Rationale:
    Feedback from the Wholesale and Retail sector have identified the positions of Retail Chain Store Manager to be a scarce skill. It is also identified as a national scarce skill.

    The industry cannot find qualified people to fill these roles and most of the major retail chains have their own Trainee Manager programmes running over 12, 18 or 21 months.

    There is however no consistency as each organisation is doing just enough to produce managers to manage their stores and the need for a national qualification that sets a national standard allowing people to move between organisations is paramount.

    The qualification developed by the Wholesale and Retail sector at level 6 and titled Retail Store Manager was developed for the manager/owner of a retail business that has to run her/his own business without the help of a Head Office.

    There are many positions opening up each year through the opening of new stores by the many national chains, through promotion and through people leaving the industry.

    These managers control anything from 3 staff to 20 or 30 staff and have many millions of Rands of assets under their control.

    Unless properly trained they could cost their organisations many millions in losses.

    Typical learners would include unemployed persons with grade 12 attending Universities or Technical and Vocational Education and Training colleges, employed learners moving from a supervisory position into store management. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    RPL for access to the External Integrated Summative Assessment:
    Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of result or certifying a work experience record.

    RPL for access to the qualification:
    Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior learning against the relevant access requirements.

    Entry Requirements:
  • National Senior Certificate (NSC).
    Or
  • National Vocational (Certificate) (NC (V)) at Level 4. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification is made up of the following compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skill and Work Experience Modules:
    Knowledge Modules:
  • 142103001-KM-01 Concept and principles of retail operations management, Level 5, 4 Credits.
  • 142103001-KM-02 Concept and principles of communication in retail, Level 4, 4 Credits.
  • 142103001-KM-03 Concepts and principles of leading teams in a retail chain store environment, Level 5, 7 Credits.
  • 142103001-KM-04 Concept and principles of managing service standards of a retail chain store, Level 5, 2 Credits.
  • 142103001-KM-05 Concepts and principles of stock control in a retail chain store, Level, 3 Credits.
  • 142103001-KM-06 Concept and principles of implementing promotional activities in a retail chain store, Level 5, 3 Credits.
  • 142103001-KM-07 Concept and principles of improving the financial performance of a retail chain store, Level 5, 3 Credits.
    Total number of Credits for Knowledge Modules: 26.

    Practical Skill Modules:
  • 142103001-PM-01 Manage retail chain store employee performance, Level 5, 3 Credits.
  • 142103001-PM-02 Manage retail chain store operational processes, Level 5, 2 Credits.
  • 142103001-PM-03 Manage retail chain store service standards, Level 5, 2 Credits.
  • 142103001-PM-04 Maintain effective retail chain store stakeholder relations, Level 5, 2 Credits.
  • 142103001-PM-05 Manage stock control in a retail chain store, Level 5, 3 Credits.
  • 142103001-PM-06 Propose improvements to a retail chain store's range and layout, Level 5, 2 Credits.
  • 142103001-PM-07 Implement plans to improve sales in a retail chain store, Level, 2 Credits.
  • 142103001-PM-08 Implement plans to improve a retail chain store's financial performance Level 5, 2 Credits.
  • 142103001-PM-09 Manage risk and maintain assets in a retail chain store, Level 5, 3 Credits.
    Total number of Credits for Practical Skill Modules: 21.

    Work Experience Modules:
  • 142103001-WM-01 Processes and procedures for planning and implementing retail chain store operations Level 5, 9 Credits.
  • 142103001-WM-02 Processes and procedures for leading teams in a retail chain store environment Level 4, 8 Credits.
  • 142103001-WM-03 Processes and procedures for managing retail chain store service standards Level 5, 8 Credits.
  • 142103001-WM-04 Processes and procedures for maintaining effective retail chain store stakeholder relations Level 5, 4 Credits.
  • 142103001-WM-05 Processes and procedures for managing stock levels and influencing store range and layout, Level 5, 8 Credits.
  • 142103001-WM-06 Processes and procedures for improving the retail chain store's bottom line, Level 5, 8 Credits.
  • 142103001-WM-07 Processes and procedures for managing sales and promotional activities, Level 5, 6 Credits.
  • 142103001-WM-08 Processes and procedures for managing risk and maintaining assets in a retail chain store, Level 5, 8 Credits.
    Total number of Credits for Work Experience Modules: 59. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Maintain or improve customer service standards in a retail chain store.
    2. Manage stock levels.
    3. Manage retail chain store operations.
    4. Minimise shrinkage and loses in a retail chain store.
    5. Plan to improve the bottom line contribution of a retail chain store. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • The customer service standards provided are evaluated and shortfalls in service delivery are identified according to scenario given.
  • Actions proposed to improve service delivery are practical and are within the organisations policies and procedures for maintaining and building customer relations.
  • Service standards meeting or exceeding customer service expectations are identified and proposed action to acknowledge staff performance is practical and within organisational policies and procedures and would encourage the staff members concerned.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Reports on stock performance are evaluated and problem areas identified.
  • The quantities of stock ordered meet the expected sales of the store and take into account stock on hand and outstanding orders.
  • Stock shortages are identified and actions to obtain stock are practical and within the organisations policies and procedures.
  • Excess and obsolete stocks are identified and actions to reduce these stock levels are practical and within the organisations policies and procedures.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Daily and weekly operational objectives are allocated according to their importance, frequency and the time it is expected for them to be completed.
  • The scheduling of staff takes into account experience of the staff, legal working hours and the time expected for the tasks to be completed and will result in all tasks being completed on time.
  • Operational plans are updated according to unexpected additional tasks required and staff absenteeism and still ensure all tasks are completed on time.
  • Unacceptable staff performance is identified and tasks rescheduled to ensure they are completed on time and within timeframes.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Checklists developed will highlight all potential areas of loss in the store.
  • The use of the checklist highlights all areas of potential loss in the given scenario.
  • Action plans developed to minimise shrinkage and losses are practical, legal and within organisational policies and procedures and would have the desired effect of minimising the chances of losses occurring.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • The store reports are analysed and key areas requiring action are identified and prioritised.
  • The proposed action plan to improve the Gross Profit of the store is practical for a chain store environment and would have the desired effect of improving the Gross Profit.
  • The proposed action plans to reduce identified expenses requiring action are practical for a chain store environment and would have the desired effect of reducing costs.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Integrated Formative Assessment:
    The Skills Development Provider will use the curriculum to guide them on the stipulated internal assessment criteria and weighting. They will also apply the scope of practical skills and applied knowledge as stipulated by the internal assessment criteria. This formative assessment leads to entrance into the Integrated External Summative Assessment.

    Integrated Summative Assessment:
    An External Integrated Summative Assessment, conducted through the relevant Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) Assessment Quality Partner is required for the issuing of this qualification. The External Integrated Summative Assessment will focus on the Exit Level Outcomes and Associated Assessment Criteria.

    The external assessment will consist of a set of written responses (paper or on-line) which will test the learner's ability to communicate, solve problems and make decisions in relation to a set of typical situations and circumstances which are encountered when managing a retail chain store.

    The written assessment will be conducted over a period of one day at a QCTO accredited assessment. The assessment will be conducted by a registered assessor. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    A comparison study has shown that worldwide there are few qualifications for Retail Chain Store Manager. Managers training in a chain store environment all go through a structured Trainee Manager programme at the retailer for whom they work. Based on these findings, no standalone qualifications were found in the search except for short courses that are offered by private training providers globally.

    Notwithstanding the fact that there are no standalone Retail Chain Store Manager qualifications, there are retail qualifications in other countries that have comparable outcomes with the Retail Chain Store Manager qualification, namely:
  • Scotland.
  • Republic of Ireland.

    These two countries were used for international comparability against the Retail Chain Store Manager Qualification.

    Scotland:
    Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) have the following related qualification:
    Higher National Certificate Retail Management at SCQF level 7 (96 SCQF Credit points).

    The main outcomes of the qualification are:
    The HNC in Retail (SCQF level 7) develops the necessary knowledge and skills in areas such as:
  • Retail operations.
  • Understanding the retail customer experience.
  • Understanding your retail environment.
  • Stock Management
  • Understanding finance which is similar modules to the Retail Chain Store Manager Qualification.

    Republic of Ireland:
    Irish National Framework (Irish NFQ) has the following related qualification:
    Certificate in Retail Knowledge Level 3.

    Units offered in this qualification include:
  • Management of stock.
  • Security and Loss prevention in a retail business.
  • How the effectiveness of store operations can be improved.

    A comparison between the units in this qualification has shown that knowledge concepts and skills that are covered are similar with the content of the South African Retail Chain Store Manager Qualification.

    Conclusion:
    The Retail Chain Store Manager qualification compares well with the above cited international qualifications in terms of range and level of complexity. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontal Articulation:
    This qualification articulates horizontally with the following qualification:
  • Occupational Certificate: Supply Chain Practitioner; Level 5.

    Vertical Articulation:
    This qualification articulates vertically with the following qualification:
  • Occupational Certificate: Facilities Manager; Level 6. 
    		•

    NOTES 
    Qualifying for external assessment:
  • In order to qualify for an external assessment, learners must provide proof of completion of all required modules by means of statements of results and work experience records including the Foundational Learning Competence.

    Additional legal or physical entry requirements:
  • None.

    Criteria for the accreditation of providers:
  • Accreditation of providers will be done against the criteria as reflected in the relevant curriculum on the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) website.
  • The curriculum title and code is: Retail Chain Store Manager: 142103-001-00-00.
  • Encompassed Trades.

    This qualification encompasses the following trades as recorded on the NLRD:
  • This is not a trade qualification.

    Assessment Quality Partner (AQP):
  • Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W&R SETA).

    Modules:
    Part Qualifications:
  • None. 
    		•

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    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.