Cape Peninsula University of Technology

Bachelor of Business Informatics

Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences - Information Technology and Computer Sciences

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Purpose and Rationale

Purpose:

The purpose of the Bachelor of Business Informatics is to provide a foundational knowledge base for an interdisciplinary qualification that engages learners in deep learning in both combined fields of Business and Informatics study. Learners are trained to work as team members, solve problems, engage in analytical thinking, communicate professionally, and possess good negotiation skills to engage constructively at different levels of the organizational structure, including support teams, middle managers, and administrators in business and informatics from the perspective of innovation in business management, business information systems, business applications, business accounting, economics, business communication, and database management. Qualifying learners will have integrated knowledge in the form of key terms, concepts, facts, principles, rules, theories, and practices, and detailed knowledge applicable in the field of business management and business informatics.

Qualifying learners will have an understanding and applicable knowledge of methods of business analysis, systems designs and development, and implementation of Information Technology (IT) solutions. Upon completion of this qualification, qualifying learners will be able to:

  1. Solve previously identified business problems and critically reflect on business challenges in both familiar and unfamiliar situations.
  2. Apply the appropriate ethical code of conduct to ensure that decisions are made in the interest of the organization, its stakeholders, and environmental sustainability.
  3. Apply general management principles in the strategic planning process.
  4. Use business informatics principles to create flowcharts and redesign processes to improve business operations.
  5. Analyze business challenges and design and implement business systems and applications to improve business competitiveness.
  6. Apply accounting principles to interpret accounting statements to assess the financial viability of the organization.
  7. Apply economics knowledge in the interpretation of data and graphics to explain the economic condition.
  8. Select appropriate communication media and apply principles to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing within an organization.
  9. Select and employ appropriate quantitative methods tools and formulas to solve business problems.
  10. Use database management principles to design, implement, and manage data for decision-making in the organization.
  11. Apply legal principles and framework in contract negotiation and business dealings.
  12. Use business informatics project management knowledge areas to plan, coordinate, and manage informatics projects and programs within an organization.

The qualification is designed to help learners adapt to a business environment where different technologies are used to support business operations and digital transformation. Qualifying learners will be able to analyze the business environment and conditions, assess its current business vision, objectives, technology, and human capability, and recommend and lead the implementation of appropriate technology and business digitalization solutions that can support the organization to achieve its objectives and remain competitive.

Rationale:

There is an urgent need in South Africa and worldwide for additional scientists and information technologists, and the proportion of learners enrolled in science and technology qualifications in Higher Education should increase. The National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS) III indicated the following skills are urgently needed in the economy of South Africa to meet the National Development Plan and National Growth Plan targets by 2030. These scarce skills have been highlighted by combined work done by the following bodies and reported as such since 2010:

  1. Report of the Joint Initiative on Priority Skills Acquisition (JIPSA) published by the Presidency in March 2010.
  2. The Scarce and Pivotal Skills Lists (2013/2014) compiled by SETAs.
  3. The Scarce Skills List compiled by the Strategic Integrated Projects (SIPs) (2013/2014) compiled by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), in August 2013.
  4. The Human Resource Development Strategy for South Africa (2010) produced by the Human Resource Development Council of South Africa (HRDCSA).
  5. A report, Job Opportunities and Unemployment in the South African Labour Market 2011-2012 (2013) produced by the Department of Labour.
  6. The National Development Plan (2011) asserts the important role of higher education in enhancing national economic competitiveness within a global knowledge-driven economy.

The Bachelor of Business Informatics is an alternate qualification which focuses on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for school leavers seeking considerable knowledge in business management, technology, and digitalization and its impact on business and its operations. The purpose of the qualification is to develop hybrid practitioners with the knowledge and innovative skills in the use of technology embedded in business and management and the impact of digitalization on business growth, stability, and competitiveness to improve services to the citizens and/or consumers.

The qualification is designed to attract ICT practitioners in business and government who have no formal qualifications in either business management or the ICT field to obtain this knowledge and innovative skills as a formal qualification through part-time studies. Consultation was conducted with industry role players, including IBM, Vodacom, Microsoft, Shoprite, Provincial Government, PetroSA, and Sanlam, who are part of the industry advisory committee. This qualification was designed based on feedback, where the industry stated the required skills and knowledge, as well as a review of other global institutions of higher learning confirming the required knowledge and skills.

The qualifying learner would be able to assist national and global organizations to assess their current situation, manage the IT project, and propose solutions which shall enhance the organization's economic and social stance. Graduates may benefit from the qualification in that they may be eligible for professional member designation endorsed by The Institute of Information Technology Professionals South Africa (IITPSA).

Outcomes

  1. Apply general management principles in the strategic planning process.
  2. Demonstrate business informatics principles to create flowcharts and redesign processes to improve business operations.
  3. Apply business informatics to analyze business challenges and design and implement business systems and applications to improve business competitiveness.
  4. Demonstrate the ability to apply accounting principles to interpret accounting statements to assess the financial viability of the organization.
  5. Apply economics knowledge in the interpretation of data and graphics to explain the economic condition.
  6. Apply appropriate media and principles to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing within an organization.
  7. Demonstrate the ability to select and employ appropriate quantitative methods tools and formulas to solve business problems.
  8. Use database management principles to design, implement, and manage data for decision-making in the organization.
  9. Apply legal principles and framework in contract negotiation and business dealings.
  10. Use business informatics project management knowledge areas to plan, co-ordinate, and manage informatics projects and programmes within an organization.

Assessment Criteria

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

  • Apply SWOT analysis to analyse the business environment.
  • Critically examine the importance of entrepreneurship in the economy.
  • Produce written texts of descriptive, prescriptive, and argumentative characters to explain the framework for business management and its importance in the organisation.
  • Use components of the business cycle to explain current business conditions.
  • Explore the components of the strategic planning process and use them to plan and implement strategies in the organisation.
  • Analyse the role of short-term and long-term business strategies in the achievement of business objectives.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

  • Produce written texts of descriptive, prescriptive, and argumentative characters to explain the components of computer-based information systems in an organization and describe their support to the organization's operations.
  • Evaluate and contextually compare the effectiveness of the fundamental tenets of ethics and describe four categories of ethical issues related to information technology.
  • Distinguish between data, information, and knowledge in the organization.
  • Classify and contextually demonstrate the different system development and strategies according to the appropriateness of project requirements.
  • Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different system development methodologies.
  • Describe the challenges and benefits of implementing an enterprise system in a global business organization.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

  • Use flowcharts and algorithms and explore their importance in the development of computer software.
  • Describe and appropriately use the elements of the Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) environment.
  • Use Visual Studio to integrate properties applicable to a VB.Net Business Application.
  • Categorize and compare the logical operators and fit them in each business application.
  • Categorize the values and variables applicable to a business application developed in an OOP environment.
  • Use Java scripts to design working Business Applications to address organization requirements.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

  • Differentiate between different forms of business entities such as sole trader, partnerships, and companies and their characteristics.
  • Analyse the key concepts and aspects of financial accounting to enter transactions into a general journal and post it to the general ledger.
  • Reconcile the transactions between different books and accounts and reflect common truth.
  • Analyse the key concepts and aspects of financial accounting to use petty cash journals and record transactions correctly in petty cash journals.
  • Calculate the ratios applicable to different accounting accounts and statements.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

  • Distinguish between the discipline of economics and other disciplines.
  • Discuss the differences between needs, wants, and demands.
  • Use examples to show the relationship between total, average, marginal and weighted marginal utility.
  • Use graphs to represent the structures of each market structure, with a focus on perfect competition and its characteristics.
  • Contextually analyse the implications of a perfectly competitive market for a firm's demand curve, prices, and revenue.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

  • Assess and evaluate the impact of technology on communications.
  • Select appropriate communication for the appropriate audience.
  • Evaluate the impact of cultural orientation in communication and the selection of communication media.
  • Categorise and appropriately use the components of interpersonal communication.
  • Apply appropriate referencing methods in assignments and projects.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

  • Calculate and explain simple and compound interest rates and their importance.
  • Draw a graphical representation of the business data set by applying descriptive statistics and explaining their meaning for the organisation.
  • Apply probability to business data set to calculate the likelihood of occurring event or loss thereof.
  • Collect and explain business data by applying descriptive statistics such as average, mean, and standard deviation.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8

  • Critically describe the characteristics and advantages of effective data management for supporting business operations.
  • Analyse, and apply entities, queries, fields, and primary keys and their roles in database design and management.
  • Use Sequential Query Language (SQL) to explain the functions of a database management system (DBS).
  • Use data analytics graphs and reports to represent and explain the importance of big data to a decision-making process.
  • Produce a query report using a NoSQL statement to explain big data in the organisation.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9

  • Explain the difference between derelict and breach of contract.
  • Develop and apply guidelines to the interpretation of statutes.
  • Discuss the rights and obligations of contractual parties when drafting a contract.
  • Describe the various forms of breach of contract.
  • Identify and narrate the remedies available to the aggrieved parties in each instance.
  • Interpret and apply the fourteen chapters and seven schedules of the South African Constitution.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 10

  • Explain the characteristics of successful and unsuccessful business informatics projects.
  • Produce systems, user, and project documentation suitable for system operation and maintenance as part of informatics projects.
  • Play a defined role as a member of a project team and understand the requirements of informatics project management.
  • Understand, identify, and communicate an understanding of a project and the environment that influences its success.
  • Read, critically understand, and integrate technical, organisational, management and behavioural data and reports relevant to the field of business informatics.

INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT

  • The institution uses continuous assessment of learners' progress, including formative assessments (FA) and summative assessments (SA).
  • Formative assessments are for learning exercises and do not carry marks.
  • Summative assessments include presentations, assignments, projects, tests, and examinations.
  • Timely feedback on formative assessments is provided to learners.
  • Integrated assessment at the exit year includes project reports, a portfolio of evidence, and an oral presentation related to industry needs.
  • The assessment strategy aims at holistic development and aligns with professional/industry requirements.

Qualification Details

Type
National First Degree
NQF Level
07
Min. Credits
360
SAQA Source
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Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Description
Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) is a public university located in Cape Town, South Africa. It was established in 2005 through the merger of three separate institutions. CPUT offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in various fields including engineering, business, health sciences, applied sciences, and design and informatics. The university is known for its focus on applied research and innovation, and it has strong partnerships with industry and community organizations. CPUT is committed to providing quality education and preparing students for successful careers in their chosen fields.
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This page includes information from the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) . Builtneat Pty Ltd trading as Study Start, has modified all or some of this information. SAQA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.