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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Advanced Diploma in Management Practice 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
117034  Advanced Diploma in Management Practice 
ORIGINATOR
Henley Business School Limited 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Advanced Diploma  Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies  Generic Management 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Not Applicable  NQF Level 07  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  EXCO 0821/24  2020-05-28  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

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 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 the Advanced Diploma in Management Practice broadly seeks to engage with the learning around shaping the transactional environment within which the function operates by managing internal processes and also responding to broader normative issues in the contextual environment. The learner engages with principles for application in a theoretical, social and workplace milieu.

The purpose of the qualification is to enable managers to develop an appreciation of the managerial capabilities required to establish and maintain the conditions for viability and sustainability within a changing context. In addition, the qualification aims to provide learning opportunities designed to develop the ability to manage future learning and self-development and, in the process, develop a range of the requisite managerial competencies.

Qualifying learners will be able to immediately utilise the lessons and models learnt and integrate these learnings into practice to equip themselves better, their teams and their companies to handle management complexity in a challenging and complex emerging economy. The organisational and management skills gained allow managers to apply better value in the professional context.

The qualification achieves this via the use of systemic tools and action-learning principles. A more appropriate way of thinking and behaving is learned in addition to the re-organising of existing knowledge and experience to higher levels of complexity, enabling managers to deal with issues and opportunities at a higher level of complexity, known as transformational learning through a process of changing perspectives and mindsets. Managers learn to have a greater sensitivity to their environment; more openness to new information; new categories for structuring perception and the enhanced awareness of multiple perspectives in problem-solving.

Rationale:
Management development qualifications are essential in the South African context, as good management skills are scarce and critical. So often, in the landscape, managers are promoted or fast-tracked without the relevant training and skill set, and this can have dire consequences for both the manager and his/her team or unit. Many newly promoted managers hold a professional qualification, yet lack development in the managerial arena as well as the intra- and inter-personal skills required to manage at ever-higher levels of complexity.

Organisations are seeking to address this critical issue and, as a result, are seeking modular offerings, yet span many months in duration to change behaviours over time, to ensure tangible, sustained results without having the manager out of the office for too long. In addition, organisations are expecting their employees to undergo experiential development in interactive contact sessions incorporating plenary sessions, group work and study, self-study, business simulations, field trips and contextualised learning, interspersed with ample time back in the workplace to translate their management theories into plausible and actioned solutions in their work context. Group study gives rise to rich learning (due to fluctuating group dynamics) around, among other things, dealing with multiple perspectives, conflict, negotiation, time and project management and complexity.

This qualification will assist in the re-dressing process and make a tangible difference to workplace diversity within South Africa and beyond. The qualification is suitable for managers who wish to acquire further formal management training and others who are contemplating a career in management. The qualification is targeted at middle to senior managers in governmental and non-governmental organisations. Alternatively, they would have acquired the entrepreneurial skills, confidence and resilience to run their businesses.

The rationale for the qualification, in addition to the above, is to provide a further qualification in management practice and help address the dire shortage of suitably trained managers in the country and the sub-region at appropriate levels of management. This is a critical level, as mentioned above, as it straddles the domains of operations and strategy even more so than at NQF Level 6. These managers need to be equipped to 'jump the curve' from middle to senior management. The qualification will certainly equip them to do this. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):

RPL for access or credit will be applied in line with institutions' policies and guidelines. In terms of RPL for access for this qualification, learners must have at least 3 to 4 years' management experience, at least 8-10 years' work experience, have a good grasp of English and be able to prove, via a Recognition of Prior Learning portfolio.

Entry Requirements:

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Diploma in Management or related fields with three years of relevant experience, NQF Level 6. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of the compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 7 totalling 120 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, Level 7,120 Credits:
  • Thinking Processes and Practices, 30 Credits.
  • Creating Present Value, 30 Credits.
  • Creating Future Value, 30 Credits.
  • Managing Legitimacy in Social Contexts, 30 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Apply and evaluate the key concepts and theories of the management field.
    2. Understand knowledge as contested and evaluate types of knowledge, typical within the arena of management study and/or practice.
    3. Understand, evaluate, select and apply a range of methods of enquiry to resolve problems or introduce change in the field of management practice in this instance.
    4. Use an evidence-based approach and theory-driven arguments to identify, analyse and solve complex problems in unfamiliar contexts appropriate to the field of management practice.
    5. Act ethically and professionally and justify these based on ethical values and approaches within a supported environment.
    6. Develop information gathering processes for their management context and independently validate, evaluate and manage the information.
    7. Develop and communicate ideas and opinions in well-formed arguments, using appropriate academic and professional discourse.
    8. Manage in unfamiliar and variable contexts and understand the systemic nature of problem-solving.
    9. Identify, evaluate and address own learning needs and facilitate collaborative learning processes.
    10. Take responsibility for own decisions, actions and use of resources and when engaging in group work, be responsible to a limited degree for others. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Apply management principles to the discipline, adapting theory to context and drawing on critical thinking.
  • Understand others' theory adaptation in various management settings from their own.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Apply newly learnt management theories to own management context and use the relevant models taught in the contact periods.
  • Display an understanding of relevant management theories.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Understand, evaluate, select and apply a range of methods of enquiry to resolve problems or introduce change in the field of management practice in this instance.
  • Discuss theories using the knowledge to make good decisions about the practice based on hypotheses.
  • Put forward ideas on problem resolution or changes required in their direct environment or beyond if necessary.
  • Test and implement ideas, sweep in multiple perspectives, hypothesise about causal mechanisms, diagnose and re-design where required.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Identify, analyse and solve complex problems in unfamiliar contexts appropriate to the field of management practice.
  • Perform data collection and evaluation by means of interviews, observation and documented research.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Decide and act ethically and professionally within a supported environment.
  • Evaluate the ethical implications of whatever they decide to act upon.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
  • Use relevant data analysis process to develop contextually relevant explanatory theories that explain problems.
  • Put forward ideas on problem resolution or changes required in their unfamiliar management contexts.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
  • Use relevant academic theories to practice own skills during the contact blocks, after each module in the theoretical assignment as well as the reflective paper.
  • Develop well-formed arguments and communicate clearly in groups in a technical action learning paper and a presentation to the class.
  • Use argumentation skills when applying the knowledge to the case study exam.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8:
  • Follow the same process in the action learning group work (summative).
  • Apply an understanding of problem-solving in complex situations in the case study exam.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9:
  • Share tasks and pool independent thoughts for consideration by the group in their sense-making and problem formulation for their group assessment.
  • Exercise self-discipline to adhere to strict assignment deadlines while in the workplace doing their regular jobs.
  • Collaborate with other learners between blocks while undertaking the group work component.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 10:
  • Exercise responsibility and self-discipline to adhere to strict deadlines while in the workplace doing their regular jobs.
  • Collaborate with others between blocks while undertaking the group work component.
  • Take accountability for own progress in undertaking assignments per block, in addition to the case study exam that requires additional attention in the form of knowledge retention and practice.

    Integrated Assessment:
    The qualification has appropriate policies and procedures for internal assessment; internal and external moderation; monitoring of learners progress; explicitness, validity and reliability of assessment practices, recording of assessment results and the development of staff competence in assessment.

    The following assessment instruments will be used to assess learner progress across all:
  • The Individual Paper.
  • Individual Reflective Paper.
  • Workbooks and other specified tasks.
  • Webinar.
  • Group project.
  • Case study exam.
  • The Action Learning Technical Report.

    Assessment of knowledge and understanding of content is continuous throughout the qualification. Assessment provides a balance between summative and formative approaches, recognising the needs of the learners and the learning outcomes. Formative assessment is intended to provide opportunities for improvement, through feedback and summative assessment contributes to the marks across each individual course and determines a pass or fail. Assignments, projects, tests/exams and the action learning technical report affect a pass or fail for the relevant individual course. Each has its own assessment purpose:
  • Assignments assess the development of subject knowledge and understanding, and the application of that learning in relevant management contexts (typically in the learners' organisations) and where possible, the integration of that learning across management disciplines.
  • Exams assess subject knowledge and understanding under timed conditions; most exams are case-study based and open-book.
  • The research-based action learning technical report assesses knowledge and understanding relating to a research topic and the learners' ability to undertake relevant business research. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The qualification is comparable to the following international qualifications were identified as being comparable to this qualification.
    Bournemouth Business School International (BBSI) in the United Kingdom offers a CMI Diploma in Management and Leadership that provides the critical skills and competencies required to become an effective middle manager. The Bournemouth Diploma in Management and Leadership is a step towards achieving a Chartered Manager status, and is meant to assist learners with the basics of management and also enable them to enrol for an Honours BA in Management on its completion.

    Diversitat Training in Australia offers a 12-month Advanced Diploma of Leadership and Management that is aimed at providing specialised knowledge and skills, together with experience in leadership and management, across a range of enterprise and industry contexts.

    Elite Management School in New Zealand offers a Diploma in Business (with a strand in Leadership and Management) that provides a general and specialised knowledge and skills that can be applied to a range of operational roles in management. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Advanced Diploma in Management Services, NQF Level 7.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Management Practice, NQF Level 8. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    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.
     
    1. Henley Business School Limited 


    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.