Bachelor of Commerce

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome:

The following Associated Assessment Criteria are designed separately for each of the four specializations of the qualification and are applied in an integrated manner to the Exit Level Outcomes with a specific focus on competencies in the chosen field:

Economics:

• Demonstrate informed general knowledge and understanding of the content and context of Economics.
• Demonstrate systematic and thorough knowledge of the assumptions and theories of Economics.
• Interpret topical issues using different perspectives in Economics.
• Interpret, explain and/or develop an argument around and an understanding of newly-encountered material and demonstrate an ability to marshal an approach used in Economics.
• Engage with a well-defined problem/issue in Economics and write a report on findings.
• Describe the concepts of macro-economics and micro-economic theory.
• Explain how an economy as an entity solves the economic problems and ensures economic growth.
• Analyse and interpret some major macro-economic issues experienced in South Africa by referring to the composition of the national economy, unemployment, poverty as well as the latest government economic strategies and the issue of globalisation.
• Analyse and interpret the concepts and modern theories about price discrimination in the market place.
• Relate macro events and policy issues to the holistic context of Economics as a social science.
• Demonstrate the ability to interpret and apply concepts in acquisition, interpretation and application of knowledge relating to international and financial markets.
• Describe the process of economic development.
• Identify the common barriers to development and the challenges to overcome these barriers in the South African context.

Industrial Psychology:

• Demonstrate informed general knowledge and understanding of the content and context of Industrial Psychology.
• Demonstrate systematic and thorough knowledge of the assumptions and theories of Industrial Psychology.
• Interpret topical issues using different perspectives in Industrial Psychology.
• Interpret, explain and/or develop an argument around an understanding of newly-encountered material using an approach used in Industrial Psychology.
• Engage with a well-defined problem/issue in Industrial Psychology and write a report on findings.
• Demonstrate thorough knowledge and understanding of the key concepts, principles and contemporary issues related to human behaviour in the world of work, including the foundational components, major theories, models and research techniques in Industrial Psychology.
• Utilise a variety of theories on vocational choice, career development and management in the business sector.
• Apply ergonomic principles to design tools, machines, equipment and workstations for optimal human performance in the workplace.
• Use psychometrics, knowledge of the essence of measurement and the development of measuring instruments, as well as measuring procedures, to apply measurement procedures, the statistical analysis of measurements to decision-making.
• Analyse factors that influence the purchasing decisions of consumers and the main determinants of consumer purchasing in terms of external factors (e.g. culture, social, lifestyle, reference group and family influence) and internal factors (e.g., personality, motivation, perception, learning, attitude and ethics).
• Utilise the latest techniques, legislation and practices needed to address the challenges in human resource management in the workplace in South African.
• Effectively manage the procurement, development, maintenance and leadership of human resources and the relevant procedures and policies that are implemented to ensure optimal utilisation of the Human Resource (HR) function.
• Manage employee relations (labour relations) as an integral part of everyday business management with specific reference to the South African context.
• Identify and analyse training needs, design and implement training programmes and interventions that meet the developmental needs of employers and employees.
• Understand the role and impact that individual behaviour (e.g. emotions, perceptions, values, attitudes and motivation) and group behaviour (e.g. teamwork, communication, leadership, power, politics, conflict and negotiation) have on organizational effectiveness.
• Integrate theoretical HR modalities and practical HR skills.

Marketing Management:

• Demonstrate informed general knowledge and understanding of the content and context of Marketing Management.
• Demonstrate systematic and thorough knowledge of the assumptions and theories of Marketing Management.
• Interpret topical issues using different perspectives in Marketing Management.
• Interpret, explain and/or develop an argument around and an understanding of newly-encountered material and demonstrate an ability to marshal an approach used in Marketing Management.
• Engaging with a well-defined problem/issue in Marketing Management and write a report on the findings.
• Develop marketing communications in order to assess strategic and creative strengths of different marketing campaigns, using a number of tools to implement strategic marketing campaigns.
• Explain the fundamental principles of marketing management with emphasises on management principles in dealing with customer service management and marketing research for decision making.
• Define marketing problems and use researching tools to structurally execute, analyse and derive meaningful information from marketing research.
• Demonstrate a working knowledge of the retail industry, its challenges and the strategic decision-making process in retail.
• Develop strategies to effectively communicate with customers.
• Integrate the cultural and social impact on buying behaviour and the legal and ethical issues confronting retailers into marketing strategies.
• Implement service strategies for competitive advantage across industries considering service quality and service recovery and linking customer management to performance measurement.
• Develop, implement and control marketing strategies for an organisation's competitive advantage.
• Identify and use appropriate methods and tools to formulate, implement, monitor and evaluate marketing strategies in diverse organisational and market situations.

Entrepreneurship:

• Demonstrate informed general knowledge and understanding of the content and context of Entrepreneurship.
• Demonstrate systematic and thorough knowledge of the assumptions and theories of Entrepreneurship.
• Interpret topical issues using different perspectives in Entrepreneurship.
• Interpret, explain and/or develop an argument around and an understanding of newly-encountered material and demonstrate an ability to marshal an approach used in Entrepreneurship.
• Write an extended research-based essay aimed at engaging with a well-defined problem/issue in Entrepreneurship.
• Explain what entrepreneurship and innovation is.
• Utilise the knowledge and insight gained to initiate a new entrepreneurial business venture.
• Demonstrate command of the competencies, organisational principles and participative processes required to manage creative and successful innovation.
• Contribute to building a winning organisational culture that nurtures creativity and innovation in a small and medium-sized enterprise.
• Apply creativity and innovation management in a business environment, utilising the integration of the individual tools and competencies, organisational principles and processes required to manage innovation.
• Explain the processes and thinking required in the process of new business development and the creative and organisational aspects that need to be considered.
• Differentiate between entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship in medium-sized enterprises and corporate businesses respectively.

Integrated Assessment:

• Learning and assessment will be integrated throughout this qualification.
• Continuous formative assessment is required to ensure that learners get feedback on their progress towards the achievement of specific learning outcomes.
• Summative assessment is concerned with the judgment of the learning in relation to the Exit-Level Outcomes of the qualification.
• Assignments are designed to meet the requirements of integrated assessment are such as to achieve:
  • An integration of the achievement of exit-level outcomes in a way that demonstrates that the purpose of the qualification as a whole has been achieved, either in total or in the component parts of the programme of study.
  • Evaluation of learner performance to demonstrate applied competence.
  • Criterion-referenced assessment, which is clearly explained to and understood by the learners and can be applied in the recognition of prior learning.
• It is essential that a wide range of knowledge, skills, competencies and attitudes be integrated using innovative methods and in the assessment of outcomes due recognition should be given to criteria and methods of assessment that assess these appropriately and adequately.

General Assessment:

• Learner assessment procedures differ based on the type of instruction provided.
• Modules that emphasize theory will utilize reports, case study responses, research papers, quizzes, class tests and oral or written examinations.
• Practically orientated modules will utilize immediate feedback from faculty during online discussions, peer review in groups and written and oral assessments.

Final Integrated Assessment:

• Learners are finally assessed in the form of a 6-week practicum (18 Credits).
• This module assesses whether or not all that has been learned is fully integrated and the outcomes have been achieved.
• This practicum comprises four weeks of active engagement with a wide spectrum of operational functions in the student's chosen study field (entrepreneurship, human resource management or marketing) in a medium-sized business enterprise under the direction of a supervisor in the workplace.
• Evaluation of the experience is based on the following:
  • An essay written by the student, reflecting on the experience and integration of knowledge and practical application during the practicum.
  • A written report on the performance, insight and knowledge demonstrated by the student from the student's supervisor.
  • A personal interview with the student's faculty supervisor after completion of the practicum.
• Assessments will take into account the following factors:
  • Effort expended in planning, organising, executing the fieldwork.
  • Depth of insight in the student's personal reflection.
  • Personal growth of the student through the fieldwork experience.
• The practicum will also assess:
  • The learner's knowledge of current and conventional insights into the most important aspects of the chosen study field.
  • The learner's ability to do research in the above areas, so that he/she is able to interpret and address leadership issues in business, community and national spheres of South Africa.