University of South Africa UNISA MBA Programme Modules

MBA programme modules

Master of Business Administration Modules

Year 1: Semester 1

Accounting for Managers (MBA 4807)

Students who complete this module will be able to interpret and evaluate different types of financial reports. Students will be able to read and analyse financial statements; understand the capital budgeting process; evaluate a company’s management of working capital; evaluate costing and product-pricing decisions; and evaluate the budgeting process of an organisation.

Economics for Managers (MBA 4801)

Students who complete this module will be able to analyse economics for managers with a view to making informed business decisions. This implies that they will be able to explain economic phenomena that influence business organisations; 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-based Management (MBA5901)

Students who complete this module will be able to manage an organisation in a way that will increase market as well as the organisational value. Qualifying students will be able to identify and categorise the drivers of value, and develop and apply performance measures to manage sustainability in the organisation.

Corporate Governance and Ethics (MBA5902)

Students who complete this module will be able to make ethical and sustainable business decisions. Students will be able to evaluate business decisions on the basis of their ethicality and sustainability, and will be able to make recommendations to organisations about business ethics and corporate governance.

Year 1: Semester 1 & 2

Managing Human Capital (MBA5904)

Students who complete this module will be able to manage the human capital function on a strategic level. They will gain comprehensive and systematic knowledge of: transformation of the current domain of HR; the HR value proposition and strategic HR management. They will also be able to masterfully manage the complexities of strategic HR management. Finally, upon completion of the module, students will be able to collect, analyse and plan according to predetermined HR metrics.

Strategic Management (MBA5905)

Students who complete this module will be able to integrate the process, content and context in evaluating and developing strategies at the business and corporate level. They will be able to identify opportunities for strategic innovation, and will be able to make recommendations on strategy implementation. They will also be able to appreciate the role of strategic leadership in crafting and implementing strategies.

Year 1: Semester 2

Strategic Financial Management (MBA5903)

Students who complete this module will have a knowledge base of the regulatory framework for the preparation and presentation of financial statements. Upon completion, they will also have a firm knowledge base of strategic financial decision-making and management processes; how it supports the business and corporate financial management processes. Ultimately students will be conversant with the skills and competencies required by a Chief Financial Officer in a contemporary organisation.

Electives

Students can choose any TWO of the following electives. These electives are offered in Year 1, Semester 2. An elective will only be offered if a minimum of 30 students are registered for the module.

Applied Business Informatics (MBA5908)

Students who complete this module will be equipped with the necessary technical subject knowledge of the components of information systems and how they relate to a modern IT environment. Upon successful completion, students will also be able to critically analyse a given IT environment and define the necessary metrics in order to measure the value added by the ICTs to the organisation. Through analyses and measurements, recommendations for improvements will be made and students should be able to construct an implementation plan for the new environment, based on their recommendations.

Strategic Project Management (MBA5909)

Students who complete this module will be equipped with a comprehensive and systematic knowledge base of strategic project management, including a set of best practices for creating an environment for successful projects. Students will have a contemporary and comprehensive knowledge base on how to develop project management as an organisational practice.

Financial Reporting and Analysis (MBA5928)

Students who complete this module will have a coherent understanding of financial reporting and good corporate governance and will have a comprehensive and systematic knowledge base and skills that will enable them to make informed strategic business decisions based on the information contained in the financial reports and to interpret the analysed information. Students will further understand and be able to apply the regulatory framework for the preparation and presentation of financial statements. Lastly, students will be able to interpret and critically analyse corporate financial statements and reports, reflecting on the limitations of both published accounts and standard analytical techniques.

Strategic Supply Chain Management (MBA5927)

Students who complete this module will be empowered with the knowledge, values, attitudes, skills and competencies required to effectively manage and lead complex supply chains in any industry. They will be able to lead and manage individuals and teams and contribute to the effective and sustainable performance of complex supply chains.

Operations Management (MBA5926)

Students who complete this module will be able to manage the operations of an organisation, whether it is a service or a manufacturing organisation. They will be able to make recommendations to organisations on how to improve productivity, increase responsiveness, provide more choice to the customer, and deliver higher-quality standards of products or services. Upon completion they will further be able to rigorously analyse business processes and make recommendations on how to improve them.

Strategic Sustainable Marketing (MBA5910)

Students who complete this module will be equipped with a coherent, contemporary and comprehensive understanding of how the triple bottom line principles of sustainability are becoming an integral part of marketing strategies. They will be able to develop marketing strategies that maximise the organisation’s performance and create sustainable and responsible value.

Strategy in a Global Context (MBA5907)

Students will be able to gain a coherent understanding of the global business environment and will acquire a comprehensive and systematic knowledge base and skills that will enable them to make informed strategic business decisions in a complex and dynamic global business environment. They will also be able to take advantage of international business opportunities that arise from changing global market needs, as well as the globalisation of markets and the globalisation of production. They will be able to appreciate the role of global leadership in the global business environment, and demonstrate their ability to decide on and develop strategies to compete successfully in increasingly competitive and dynamic global markets.

Advanced Labour Law (MBA5906)

Students who complete this module will acquire a systematic knowledge base and comprehensive understanding of the practical implications and implementation of labour law and the law of contract applicable to the employment relationship. This will ensure that students are well equipped with the competencies to manage employment relations, both individually and collectively. A systematic knowledge base of dispute resolution procedures applicable in the employment relationship and their practical use and implementation, will enable students to effectively manage dispute resolution processes such as arbitration and mediation. Students will gain a comprehensive practical knowledge base of the implications of labour law and the various obligations that arise from this for both employer and employee, from the stage before hiring all the way through to the termination of the employment contract and beyond.

Business Research (MBA 5944) (Recommended)

Students who complete this module will be able to conduct high-quality business and management research either as practitioners or academics. They will be able to apply a range of research methods and techniques in a practical environment. They will be able to apply the spectrum of research methods including statistical analysis of data and the theory to the analysis of data. Although the module is not compulsory, it is recommended that students enrol for the module as it will assist them when completing the research project. It is also advantageous for those wishing to pursue a doctoral degree.

Year 2

Integrated Management Project

Students have to complete their research report in the second year of their studies.

Completion of qualification

Students will have a maximum of three years to complete the MBA degree curriculum successfully. A student may apply for one additional year of study to the Registrar. After this time the student will be removed from the SBL system. Upon completion of the programme, a student will receive the Master of Business Administration, conferred by the University of South Africa.

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