Diploma: Retail Business Management
Subject Guide
2025
Subject: Business Management 1A & 1B (MBMA 511 & 512)
NQF LEVEL: 6
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Table of Contents
1. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................3
1.1. CONTACT INFORMATION ............................................................................................................3
2. GENERAL MODULE INFORMATION ...............................................................................................3
2.1. ASSESSMENT CRITERIA .............................................................................................................4
2.1.1. Formative Assessment ................................................................................................................4
2.1.2. Summative Assessment ..............................................................................................................4
2.2. EXAMINATION ...............................................................................................................................5
2.2.1. FINAL MARK CALCULATION - OPPORTUNITY FINAL EXAMINATION Ошибка! Закладка не
определена.
3. STUDY MATERIALS .........................................................................................................................5
4. WORK SCHEDULE ...........................................................................................................................6
5. Assessment breakdown...................................................................................................................11
6. CRITICAL CROSS-FIELD OUTCOMES ..........................................................................................12
7. STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES ......................................................................................................12
7.1. Class attendance ..........................................................................................................................12
7.1.1. Punctuality .................................................................................................................................12
7.1.2. Attendance ................................................................................................................................13
7.1.3. Absence from class ...................................................................................................................13
7.1.4. Absence on test days ................................................................................................................13
7.1.5. Submission of assignments .......................................................................................................13
7.1.6. Behaviour ..................................................................................................................................13
7.1.7. Unscheduled class tests and/or pop quizzes .............................................................................14
7.1.8. Technological Rules of Engagement .........................................................................................14
7.1.9. Line of communication ...............................................................................................................14
7.1.10. Contact with your lecturer .........................................................................................................14
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1. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION
Welcome to Business Management 1A & 1B. This module is offered with the main purpose of preparing
you for the retail industry with regards to operational skills. While doing this module, you will have an
opportunity to become proficient, effective, and efficient in a retail business management context.
After completing this module, students should have a solid foundation and efficient knowledge of the
ground principles of operations used in the retail and wholesale environment. This knowledge is of great
importance to students as the skills and knowledge they gain will assist them in understanding and
possibly making business decisions in the retail and wholesale environment, among other industries.
As lectures progress through the year, students should pay attention to the factual and relevant
knowledge presented in class (lectures) and out of the class (news, etc.), and should be able to apply
this knowledge to all forms of required assessments throughout the year.
Constructive discussions and interactions between the lecturer and students are encouraged. Always
keep in mind that success in your studies is very possible – the key to this success is 100% hard work!
1.1. CONTACT INFORMATION
Details
Full-time
Lecturer
HOD
Name
Room
Dr. Maphelo
345
Malgas
Mr
Isaac
Patsa
Head of Prof
p
a
School
Joubert
Admin
B Mabija
Assistant
Tel
E-mail address
0739985334
maphelo.malgas@spu.ac.za
053 491 0265
Isaac.patsa@spu.ac.za
053 491 0280
Pierre.joubert@spu.ac.za
053 491 0153
boitumelo.mabija@spu.ac.za
2. GENERAL MODULE INFORMATION
This module will be taught at an NQF 6 level. The credits attached to this module are 12. This means that it
will take an estimated 120 notional hours to master the outcomes of this module.
The 120 notional hours are broken down into the following facets:
► Actual lecturing in class by lecturer (3.2 hours per week) [±52 hours].
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► Revisiting work done in class (1 hour per week) [±16 hours].
► Consultation [±28 hours]
► Subject-related research (2 hours per week) [±32 hours].
► Student evaluations [±10 hours].
► Overall administration [±2 hours]
Please feel free to contact the course lecturer should you require assistance at any time during the course of
the academic year. Do not wait until the end of the year, by then it may be too late.
2.1. ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
Formative and summative assessments will be used in this module.
2.1.1. Formative Assessment
This type of assessment will be used to inform both the learner and the lecturer. It will be used to allow the
learner and lecturer to monitor his/her progress in achieving the course goals and specific module outcomes.
It will take the form of self-review, peer review, and lecturer review and should be seen by the learner as a
valuable learning aid. It will also be used to provide valuable feedback to the lecturer regarding his/her
instruction techniques, topics that require revision or additional attention, etc. Learners will be asked to
provide comprehensive evaluations of the course and lecturer at least once during the course cycle.
2.1.2. Summative Assessment
This type of assessment is used to formally measure the learning of particular skills, knowledge, and
understanding and is associated with a recorded mark.
Business Management 1A is a semester course which will be assessed as follows:
All summative assessments will count towards the year mark as indicated in the table below:
Assessment
Formative Assessment 1 (June Test)
Class Test 1
Group Assignment 1
Group Presentation 1
Summative Assessment (June Exam)
Description (Scope)
Topic 1,2,3,4,5
Topic 1
Topic 2, 3, 4 & 5
Topic 2,3,4&5
Topic 6,7 & 8
Summative Assessment (June Exam)
Total
Topic 6,7, & 8
Weight
100x0.6
25
25
10
40
100x0.4
100
Please Note: A student must score at least 50% for the final mark (calculated as shown
above) in order to pass the course.
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Medical certificates regarding missed tests and/or assignments, etc. must be submitted to the lecturer or
site department secretary within 5 working days of the test date or due date. Medical certificates not
received within 5 days will not be considered – unless the learner was hospitalized.
If a medical certificate is accepted, an assessment will be prepared for the student. Complaints or queries
about assessment marks must be raised with the lecturer concerned within 7 days of the assessment
being returned to the students.
2.2. EXAMINATION
There will be a 3-hour written examination at the end of the semester. However, there will be a
subminimum of 40% required to pass an examination. If a learner scores below 40% in the examination,
he/she does not qualify for a final mark and does not pass the course.
3. STUDY MATERIALS
Students will require the following materials for this module:
Students should purchase the following prescribed text-book which is available at van Schaik Book
Store. Introduction to Business Management 11e: 11th Edition
Erasmus, BJ., Strydom, JW. & Rudansky-Kloppers, S (2019)
ISBN: 978 0 19 074576 9
Oxford University Press
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4. WORK SCHEDULE
UNIT
TOPIC
CHAPTER
LEARNING OUTCOME
SEMESTER ONE
TERM 1
Week 1
17/02 - 21/02
The business world
and
business
management
CHAPTER 1
•
Explain
the
role
the
business
organisation plays in making available
the products and services society
must have to exist and thrive
•
Describe the needs of society and how
a
business
organisation
satisfies
those needs in a market economy
•
Distinguish between the world’s three
main economic systems
Week 2
24/02 - 27/02
Entrepreneurship
•
Describe the nature and purpose of
business management as a science,
•
Discuss
CHAPTER 2
the
concept
of
entrepreneurship and its processes
•
Describe the roles of entrepreneurs
and small businesses in the economy
•
Explain on what a feasibility study is
and its value to the entrepreneur.
•
Week 3
03/03 - 07/03
Establishing a
Explain
how
entrepreneur
to
become
an
• Understand and discuss the key
considerations that are applicable
when a form of business has to be
chosen
CHAPTER 3
business
•
Distinguish between the different
forms of enterprise found in South
Africa
•
Explain the objectives, importance
and need for a business plan
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•
Evaluate a business plan
•
Give an overview of a business plan
Week 4
10/03 - 14/03
The business
•
CHAPTER 4
Understand
environment
the
meaning
of
environmental change
•
Explain the characteristics of business
environmental model
•
Differentiate between micro, market
and macro environments
Week 5
17/03 - 21/03
Corporate Social
CHAPTER
Responsibility
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FRIDAY
21/03
PUBLIC
HOLIDAY
•
Explain the difference between
opportunities and threats in external
environments
•
Define corporate social responsibility
(CSR)
•
Explain why a company would
consider implementing CSR
TEST 1
programmes
•
Define corporate governance
•
Explain who the stakeholders of a
company are
Week 6
25/03 -29/03
Introduction to general CHAPTER 6
•
Define sustainable development
•
Give an overview of the role of
management
management in businesses
•
Describe the four fundamental
management functions, namely
planning, organising, leading and
controlling
Group Assignment 1
& Presentations
Week 7
01/04 -05/04
UNIVERSITY BREAK
Week 7
01/04 -05/04
TERM 2
Week 8
07/04 -11/04
Week 9
14/04 -18/04
Planning
Planning
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER
7
Group
Assignment
•
Explain the nature of planning as a
management function
•
Describe the importance of planning
•
Describe the planning process
•
Describe the different organisational
goals
•
•
Week 10
21/04 – 25/04
Organising
CHAPTER
8
Group
Assignment
•
•
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Depict the hierarchy of goals
Differentiate between strategic,
functional
and
operational
planning
Explain
the
concepts
of
organising and organisational
structure Describe the importance
of organising
Week 11
28/05 – 02/05
•
Discuss the fundamentals of
organising
•
Explain how an organisation evolves
from a single-entrepreneur
organisation to a large one
the
 Understanding
Transformation process diagram
Operations
Management
Week 12
Revision
05/05 – 09/05
Week 13
10/06
FINAL EXAMS STARTS (summative assessment 1)
Week 14
27/06
FINAL EXAMS ENDS
Week 15
02/07
SUPPLEMENTARY EXAMS STARTS
Week 16
12/07
SUPPLEMENTARY EXAMS ENDS
Week
07/07 – 11/07
UNIVERSITY BREAK
Business Management 1B
SEMESTER TWO-TERM 3
Week 1
14/07 – 18/07
Leading
Define the term ‘leadership’
CHAPTER 9
Differentiate between leadership and
management
Describe the components of leadership
Discuss the major leadership theories
Week 2
21/07 – 25/07
Leading
CHAPTER 9
Identify contemporary leadership issues
Explain why managers should understand
what motivates their employees’ behaviour
Differentiate between groups and teams in
organisations
Week 3
28/07 – 31/07
Controlling the
CHAPTER 10
Give an overview of the purpose of control
management
process
Describe how a control process should
function
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Week 4
04/08 -08/08
Week 5
11/08 – 15/08
Controlling the
CHAPTER 10
Explain the various types of control Discuss
the characteristics of an effective control
system
management process
Operations
CHAPTER 11
•
management
Explain why operations management
is important for a business
Define operations management
Week 6
18/07 – 22/08
Operations
CHAPTER 11
•
management
Identify and explain the components
of an operations-management model
•
Distinguish between the six general
operations-management
performance objectives and explain
what each entail
Week 7
25/08 – 29/08
Student Recess
Term Break
TERM 4
Week 8
08/08 – 12/08
Human
resource
•
CHAPTER 12
management and the
Describe the basic steps involved in
human resource planning
•
SA labour legislation
Explain how companies use
recruiting to find qualified job
framework
applicants
Week 9
01/09 – 05/09
Human
resource
CHAPTER 12
•
Describe the selection techniques and
procedures that companies use when
deciding which applicants should
receive job offers
•
Describe how to determine training
management and the
needs and select the appropriate
SA labour legislation
training methods
•
framework
Discuss how to use performance
appraisal
to
give
meaningful
performance feedback
•
Describe
basic
compensation
strategies and how they affect
human resource practice
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Week 10
08/09 – 12/09
Human
resource
•
CHAPTER 12
management and the
Describe the role of the human
resource function in organisations
•
SA labour legislation
framework
Explain the contribution human
resource management can make to
the effectiveness of an organisation
Week 11
15/09 – 19/09
Marketing
management
CHAPTER 13
•
Provide an outline of who is
responsible for human resource
management.
•
Define marketing as a part of the
management process
•
Describe the marketing concept
•
Describe the market offering
•
Week 12
22/09 – 26/09
Marketing
management
•
CHAPTER 13
Indicate how to use market research to
know the environment
•
Describe the behaviour patterns of
consumers
•
Week 13
29/09 – 03/10
Marketing
management
CHAPTER 13
•
•
•
Week 14
06/10 – 10/10
Week 15
13/10 – 17/10
Explain how to segment the consumer
market and how objectives are chosen
in the market
Financial management
Define the marketing mix
Describe
the
product,
price,
promotion, and distribution decisions
Explain what is meant by customer
service and customer experience
management.
CHAPTER 14
•
Explain the role and importance of
financial management in retailing.
Illustrate and explain the logical
steps to be followed in a purchasing
and supply transaction
CHAPTER 15
•
and CHAPTER 15
•
Indicate the role of the purchasing
and supply function in quality
decisions
•
Explain the role of quantity decisions
in the purchasing and supply process
Purchasing and
supply management
Week 15
13/10 – 17/10
Purchasing
Week 16
10/10 – 14/10
Purchasing
and CHAPTER 15
supply management
supply management
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Week 16
17/10 – 21/10
Purchasing
and CHAPTER 15
supply management
•
Give an overview of the selection and
management of suppliers
•
Pinpoint certain aspects of pricing as
purchasing and supply activity
•
Place the right time for purchasing and
supply in perspective.
Explain the application of the
management functions of planning,
organising and control in the
purchasing and supply function
Week 17
27/10 – 30/10
28/10
Lecturers ends
Week 18
03/11
MAIN YEAR-END EXAM STARTS
Week 19
10/11
MAIN YEAR-END EXAM ENDS
Week 20
17/11
SUPPLEMENTARY EXAMS STARTS
Week 21
25/11
SUPPLEMENTARY EXAMS ENDS
03/12
UNIVERSITY BREAK
5. Assessment breakdown
SEM ONE
Assessment Type
Date
Class Test 1
18/03
Group Assignment 1
25/03
Presentation 1
25/03
EXAM
JUNE
SEM TWO
Assessment Type
Date
Class Test 1
18/08
Group Assignment 1
25/09
Presentation 1
25/09
EXAM
NOV
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6. CRITICAL CROSS-FIELD OUTCOMES
The following are the critical cross-field outcomes that are fully embedded within this qualification:
Understand the bigger picture of business management
Creatively make responsible decisions
Work effectively with others as a member of a team
Organise and manage oneself and one’s activities and responsibilities effectively
Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information
Communicate effectively by means of language skills (oral and written)
Ability to demonstrate the use of management principles effectively
Maintain a responsibility towards the environment and the community
7. STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Being a successful student is your responsibility. To this end, a few key areas have been identified as
crucial to your success as a Business Management student. We would like you to take note of these
points and strive at all times to adhere to these guidelines, so as to ensure a professional and cordial
relationship with lecturers and peers alike.
To participate fully in the learning process and derive maximum benefit from classes, you will be
expected to do reading, preparation and research for class discussions, and to complete assignments
on each section of the work covered.
7.1. Class attendance
Class attendance is of the utmost importance. Bear in mind that unannounced class tests and other
activities that you miss as a result of non-attendance cannot be made up later, unless you produce a
valid reason (valid source) for your absence in writing (e.g. medical certificate to indicate that
you were sick).
Your responsibilities include:
7.1.1. Punctuality
You must be in class when the period starts. You are expected to be on time for all lectures. If you are
late, with a plausible reason for your late arrival, make sure that you are no more than 5 minutes late
after the start of the lecture.
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NO entrance to the lecture/venue is admitted thereafter.
7.1.2. Attendance
Attendance is vital and a student must attend a minimum of 80% of all classes on the dates when roll
call is taken. The lecturer may give a 0 (zero) class mark in cases where an absenteeism of more than
20% (for legitimate reasons) is recorded. Absence from a class where any mark is given e.g.
presentation, class test, etc. will result in you obtaining 0% for that assessment.
7.1.3. Absence from class
In case of a justified and valid absence (illness or any other reason), you must see to it that YOU know
the work you have missed out on (as set out in the scheme). Proof of a justified absence (e.g. a legal
doctor’s certificate) must be submitted to the lecturer on the next contact session with the lecturer.
The lecturer and the university reserve the right to question and follow up on any proof of justified
absence and to reject such proof if the reasons for the absence are not substantive to warrant the
absence. Attendance will form part of your continuous assessment mark.
7.1.4. Absence on test days
If you are absent during a scheduled test, you will receive 0% for the test concerned and only an accepted
doctor’s certificate or authorised document from the Head of Department (RBM) will qualify you to have
a supplementary evaluation. You must contact the lecturer concerned immediately (within 1 day) after
the test, so that the time and date for the supplementary evaluation can be decided on by the lecturer.
You should be prepared to do the supplementary evaluation on any day. NB - Proof of absence must
be presented upon returning to university.
7.1.5. Submission of assignments
Due dates will be strictly enforced. Students must sign a register when handing in an assignment. The
same register then gets signed when the student sees their mark. The assessment itself will also be
signed by the student. If there are any mark queries, they must be addressed with the lecturer in class
while viewing the assessment. Mark queries will only be allowed for two weeks after the assessment has
been handed back to the student. No queries will be dealt with after that.
No late assessment will be accepted. You will receive a ZERO (0%) mark.
No marks will be given for any task (or class test) if it is handed in without mentioning the name and
student number of the student (make sure your names, student number, course name and code,
lecturer’s name are clearly indicated on your assignment cover page or answer sheet).
7.1.6. Behaviour
You are expected to respect your lecturer, peers, SPU assets (furniture, pc’s, etc.) and the work ethic in
the class. Students’ conduct in class and during the any subject-related activity should make a positive
contribution towards the achievement of the above-mentioned objectives and must be in line with the
Students’ conduct policy of the SPU.
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No action that may have a negative effect on the classroom environment, other students, the lecturer,
the subject or the university, shall be accepted. This includes such actions as low-class attendance, late
coming, talking during lectures, eating in class, inappropriate use of cell phones during class, and
improper conduct during classes and visits by/to organisations. Students guilty of the above will be
reported to the relevant Head of Department (RBM) so that the necessary steps may be taken.
7.1.7. Unscheduled class tests and/or pop quizzes
Students are expected to be ready for any tests or pop quizzes given to them at any time. It is the duty
of the students to be well aware of the subject field and be prepared at all times. At any time during the
year, without any form of prior notice, the lecturer may hand out a class test or pop quiz on a specific
topic, which may, together with the marks for assignments, count for the year mark.
7.1.8. Technological Rules of Engagement
No student will be permitted to make use of a cellular device in such a manner as deemed disrupting to
peers, lecturer, or the classroom goal of learning. No calls will be permitted during class. No
lectures/lecturers may be recorded without express permission, both verbally and in writing, from the
lecturer. No recordings of lectures/lectures may be posted on the internet in any way, shape or form.
Any computing devices brought into the class fall under the same rules of engagement. Neither the
lecturer nor SPU is responsible for student property on campus and/or during lectures. Contravention to
the above understanding deems expulsion from the lesson/classroom, and further disciplinary actions
may be taken.
7.1.9. Line of communication
You are expected to follow the line of communication within the School of Economics and Management
Sciences in the case of a query. Talk to your lecturer first. If the matter is not resolved, then speak to the
HOD, who reserves the right to hand the matter over to the next appropriate authority.
7.1.10. Contact with your lecturer
Remember to communicate with your lecturer (first in class or during tutorial sessions). Never say “I
couldn’t find you!” Leave a message with the secretary and make sure you follow up. Make use of the
email for official matters only. Make sure that you have proof of any such communication. You are
doing a Communication Course, so find ways of communicating effectively!
TEACHING MODE (BLENDED)
80% Face to Face (20% Online)
GOOD LUCK
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