Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration - Modules

The Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration (PGD BA) offered by the SBL is presented as a structured one-year programme comprising two semesters. Students MUST register for five compulsory modules in the first semester and four compulsory modules in the second semester.

The five modules offered in Semester 1 are a prerequisite to the Integrated Management Practice module. It is important to note that students who do not successfully complete all the Semester 1 modules, will NOT be allowed to register for the Integrated Management Practice module.

Semester 1

Economics for Managers (PBA 4801)

Upon completion of this module students will be able to explain economic phenomena that influence business organisations. They will be able to predict the effect of changes in economic variables; analyse the impact of economic changes on specific business organisations; and revise business decisions by monitoring changes in economic phenomena.

Value Chain Management (PBA 4805)

The effective management of the value chain as a system is vital for continual upgrading and improvement. Students who complete this module will be able to manage value chains for effective organisational functioning.

Leadership and Organisational Behaviour (PBA 4806)

Students who complete this module will be able to lead and manage individuals and teams, and contribute to effective leadership within organisations. They will gain knowledge, values, attitudes, skills and competencies that will enable them to analyse and solve problems related to current leadership challenges in the workplace.

Accounting for Managers (PBA 4807)

The Accounting for Managers module aims to enable successful students to interpret and evaluate different types of financial reports; to read and analyse financial statements; understand the capital budgeting process and evaluate a company’s management of working capital. They will further be able to evaluate costing and product-pricing decisions; and evaluate the budgeting process of an organisation.

Information and Knowledge Management (PBA 4808)

Once a student has passed this module, they will be able to evaluate the various acquisition methods of data, information and knowledge. Successful candidates will further be able to evaluate the management information and knowledge management systems; explain and evaluate information technology strategy, as well as manage various decision support systems and competitive intelligence tools.

Semester 2

Global Business Environment (PBA 4802)

Successful completion of the Global Business Environment module will enable students to analyse the global business environment with a view to making informed business decisions. They will be able to integrate closed and open systems thinking; to evaluate global business opportunities for purposes of decision-making and design solutions for cross-border business relationships.

Stakeholder Management (PBA 4803)

The Stakeholder Management module aims to enable successful candidates to gather, interpret and synthesise information for stakeholder group decision-making. They will be able to explain the influence of various contemporary theoretical perspectives on managing stakeholders; discuss the key institutional and legal frameworks that influence stakeholder group relations and access the relationships between organisations and stakeholder groups. They will also be able to incorporate stakeholder group issues and expectations into business decision-making.

Decision Support Systems for Managers (PBA 4804)

Creativity and innovation play a vital role in the decision-making process. Successful candidates will not only be able to explain the importance of creativity and innovation but also the art and context of decision-making in business organisations. They will also be able to evaluate the impact and consequences of decision-making in business organisations, as well as apply quantitative and qualitative techniques to improve decision-making.

Integrated Management Practice (PBA 4809)

Students who complete this module will be able to synthesise and integrate the eight discipline-based modules of the PGD BA. They will be able to determine the information that is required of the operating environment of an organisation to make well-informed decisions. Students will have to synthesise and integrate cross-disciplinary knowledge and skills.

Completion of qualification

The PGD BA is a one-year qualification and students must register for all the modules in one academic year. All failed modules MUST be repeated in the year following the first year of registration.

Upon completion of the programme, a student will receive the Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration, conferred by the University of South Africa.