Module Descriptions
Bachelor of Commerce
Below is all the Module Descriptions for Bachelor of Commerce 2025.
Year One
This module is designed to help the student build an ethical framework that considers a holistic understanding of the human person (head, heart and hands). Students are exposed to ethical theories that enable them to reflect on ways in which to respond to current moral, intellectual and social questions. Students work to integrate ethical theory into their experience of life and explore how this contributes to the good of the world.
This module introduces the student to the theory of business strategy, planning and business models. Students will learn about importance of organizing, aligning, decision-making and managing business performance. Students will understand the fundamentals of enterprise systems and technologies and the importance of supply chain alignment, risk management and business improvement systems. Students will also become aware of global conventions, core legislation and international standards that impact a business. At the conclusion of the module, students will be able to evaluate the impact of the changing global landscape, digital transformation and new innovations in business strategy.
This module enables students to gain a solid understanding of the basic principles and concepts of accounting as they navigate the financial aspects of the world of business. Students will learn about the purpose and conceptual framework of accounting, business transactions, financial statements, internal controls, ethical considerations, and the various types of legal entities. Students will be able to record, classify and interpret business transactions accurately and be able to prepare basic financial statements, specifically, the statement of comprehensive income, statement of financial position and statement of equity.
This module is designed to enhance students' academic writing and research skills while fostering critical thinking and analytical abilities
This module introduces students to marketing theory and practices. Students will understand how to analyse the competitive landscape, identify the core competencies within a business, recognise opportunities and assess risks, which are the building blocks of every marketing strategy. Students will further explore up-to-date marketing thinking in respect of the development and management of value-based customer relationships. At the conclusion of the module, students will be able to create a marketing plan; position their brand and products; as well as apply a marketing mix to be the preferred choice of customers.
This module introduces students to the basic concepts of business statistics. Students will learn about the role and importance of statistics in solving business problems, the categories of analytics, types of data, data collection methods, descriptive statistics, data visualisation, probability, statistical inference and linear regression. At the conclusion of the module, students will be able to select appropriate statistical techniques, apply these techniques and interpret the results making appropriate inferences.
This module introduces students the development of entrepreneurship and its role in the economy in South Africa and internationally. Students will understand the drivers behind entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation theory, the development of entrepreneurial strategy as well as the challenges of business start-ups and franchising. At the end of the module students will be able to formulate a business plan for an enterprise whilst understanding the legal requirements that need to be considered.
This module introduces students to the basic concepts in economics including demand, supply, trade-offs, production and allocation of resources. Students will acquire an understanding of different market structures, pricing, money, interest rates and exchange rates and how these relate to economic policy, international economic relations and economic growth Students will also gain an understanding of inflation, unemployment, poverty and inequality. Students will, through understanding these concepts and the South African reality, be challenged to think critically and practically about the distribution of wealth and the role of individuals, organisations and government in the economy.
Year Two
This module focuses on understanding the important principles of financial management to effectively manage financial resources. Students will learn about financial planning and analysis, capital budgeting and investment, risk management and decision-making, working capital management and financial performance measurement, as well as the valuation of bonds and shares and developing financial strategies. Aspects of multinational financial management are also covered. At the conclusion of the module, students, will be able to assess the financial health of organisations and make informed financial decisions that contribute to the financial success of organisations.
This module is designed to help the student build an ethical framework that considers a holistic understanding of the human person (head, heart and hands). Students are exposed to ethical theories that enable them to reflect on ways in which to respond to current moral, intellectual and social questions. Students work to integrate ethical theory into their experience of life and explore how this contributes to the good of the world.
This module provides students with an introduction to Customer Experience (CX) and the management thereof on a business’s journey towards customer-centricity. Students will understand the fundamental practices, concepts, and frameworks of CX and gain a deeper understanding of ‘the customer’ so that they can build real value for a business. At the conclusion of the module students will be able to define and apply components of the CX eco-system, specify a business’s customer value proposition, describe the various components of CX and create empathy and customer journey maps for targeted customers. Students will also be able to apply and interpret key CX and operations metrics.
This module explores the concepts of strategic management and innovation within the context of today's rapidly changing environments in business organisations. Students will learn how strategic management relates to business planning, modelling, analysis, decision-making and influencing others. Students will also learn about an organisation’s vision, mission, and values, and the aligned business strategies to best utilise the organisation’s resources. Students will develop an understanding of strategic decisions and leadership with a strong focus on ethical and innovation considerations. At the conclusion of the module, students will be able to apply strategic management concepts and techniques in case studies which helps develop skills to solve real-world business challenges.
Year Three
Business Integrated Customer Experience is a comprehensive module that equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in today's customer-centric business landscape. Divided into four sections, the module covers essential aspects of customer experience (CX) vision and strategy, effective leadership and management, organisational adoption and governance, and cultivating a customer-centric culture with a focus on employee experience (EX). Through a blend of theory and practical insights, students will gain a deep understanding of how CX vision, leadership, governance, and culture are interdependent to drive business success. By exploring real-world case studies and engaging in interactive learning experiences, students will learn to develop and implement CX strategies that deliver exceptional value to customers while fostering sustainable growth and innovation within their organisations.
Employee relations are an integral part of everyday business management in South Africa and the global marketplace The objective of this module is to familiarise students with the field of labour relations and to expose them to the different role players in the South African labour relations system. Various theoretical perspectives of conflict will act as a basis for developing the learner’s framework of thought when studying the dynamic nature of the tripartite relationship, roles and responsibilities between the state, employer and employee. The Module also covers ethics in industrial relations and phases of global industrial development
This module introduces students to the theories and underpinnings of teamwork with particular reference to the business environment. Students will consider team roles, team behaviours, team effectiveness, team measurement and different forms of team leadership. Special attention is paid to the opportunities and challenges of online teamwork. At the end of the module students will be able to assess organisational cultures which will be conducive to teamwork and will be able to apply team improvement processes in both physical and online environments to optimise team effectiveness and to enable the achievement of defined performance outcomes.
This module introduces students to the theories and underpinnings of teamwork with particular reference to the business environment. Students will consider team roles, team behaviours, team effectiveness, team measurement and different forms of team leadership. Special attention is paid to the opportunities and challenges of online teamwork. At the end of the module students will be able to assess organisational cultures which will be conducive to teamwork and will be able to apply team improvement processes in both physical and online environments to optimise team effectiveness and to enable the achievement of defined performance outcomes.
This module explains in detail the strategic and global issues facing value chains. Using a strategic framework, students are guided through the key strategic drivers of value chain performance while providing students with practical tools that are necessary to solve value chain challenges. Students will learn about value chain alignment and strategic fit, integrated business planning, governance, network design, value chain financials, environmental sustainability and green logistics, risk management, maturity models, as well as many other key areas for responsible managers. At the conclusion of the module, students will be able to analyse and interpret issues and challenges facing value chains and know how to develop and apply various strategic decisions and solutions to drive and sustain competitive advantage.
This module is based on a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) approach, positioned at level 2 in terms of the WIL categorisation by the Council for Higher Education. As such, problem-based or problem-orientated learning constitutes a core part of the module. This involves acquiring an integrated knowledge base which can be applied to the analysis and solution of problems, constituting real world scenarios. The module aims to help students gain practical skills in building integrated theoretical knowledge and combining this with data gathered through fieldwork experience in a selected setting. Students will be given an opportunity to then apply their integrated theoretical knowledge with their data from the field to solve a set of practical problems of relevance to the new world of work.
This module is based on a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) approach, positioned at level 2 in terms of the WIL categorisation by the Council for Higher Education. As such, problem-based or problem-orientated learning constitutes a core part of the module. This involves acquiring an integrated knowledge base which can be applied to the analysis and solution of problems, constituting real world scenarios. The module aims to help students gain practical skills in building integrated theoretical knowledge and combining this with data gathered through fieldwork experience in a selected setting. Students will be given an opportunity to then apply their integrated theoretical knowledge with their data from the field to solve a set of practical problems of relevance to the new world of work.
This module is based on a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) approach, positioned at level 2 in terms of the WIL categorisation by the Council for Higher Education. As such, problem-based or problem-orientated learning constitutes a core part of the module. This involves acquiring an integrated knowledge base which can be applied to the analysis and solution of problems, constituting real world scenarios. The module aims to help students gain practical skills in building integrated theoretical knowledge and combining this with data gathered through fieldwork experience in a selected setting. Students will be given an opportunity to then apply their integrated theoretical knowledge with their data from the field to solve a set of practical problems of relevance to the new world of work.
This module is based on a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) approach, positioned at level 2 in terms of the WIL categorisation by the Council for Higher Education. As such, problem-based or problem-orientated learning constitutes a core part of the module. This involves acquiring an integrated knowledge base which can be applied to the analysis and solution of problems, constituting real world scenarios. The module aims to help students gain practical skills in building integrated theoretical knowledge and combining this with data gathered through fieldwork experience in a selected setting. Students will be given an opportunity to then apply their integrated theoretical knowledge with their data from the field to solve a set of practical problems of relevance to the new world of work.
In this module students will revisit the fundamental tenets of Human Capital (HC) referring to the collective skills, knowledge, experience, and attributes of an organization's employees that contribute to its overall productivity and success. New HC technologies will be explored which enable increasing self-service and that empower employees to manage their own requirements, enabling HR teams to focus on more strategic initiatives including improved data driven decision making. New HC areas such as mergers and acquisitions, circular economy and growth mindsets, are explored as are new forms of work organisation to drive employee empowerments and to enhance workforce agility. By the end of the module students will have a deep understanding of the growing importance of Human Capital where HC Executives are now essential to business strategic decision-making and where it is recognised that HC has a fundamental impact on the bottom line and can contribute in a major way to competitive differentiation and organisational sustainability.
This module covers the economic theory, policy issues and latest research relating to the problems and prospects of developing countries. Students will acquire a range of knowledge, skills, and perspectives related to understanding and addressing the complexities of economic growth, poverty reduction, and sustainable development challenges. Students will learn about economic development theories, models, strategies and policies, as well as global economic systems and institutions, sustainable development and development indicators, for example. At the conclusion of the module, students will be able to identify the common barriers to economic development and be able to apply the concepts and principles in dealing with these challenges in the South African context.
Students will learn about continuous improvement principles and concepts in Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, Total Quality Management (TQM), and process improvement in driving efficiency, effectiveness, and productivity in organisations. Students will acquire skills in performance measurement, data analysis, root cause analysis, data-driven thinking and problem-solving, for example, and will gain key insights into implementing continuous improvement initiatives, in integrating continuous improvement into business strategy, and the importance of change management, teamwork, collaboration and personal development in promoting a continuous improvement culture. At the conclusion of the module, students will be able to enhance business processes, drive positive change, enhance efficiency, and contribute to the overall success of an organisation.
This module is based on a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) approach, positioned at level 2 in terms of the WIL categorisation by the Council for Higher Education. As such, problem-based or problem-orientated learning constitutes a core part of the module. This involves acquiring an integrated knowledge base which can be applied to the analysis and solution of problems, constituting real world scenarios. The module aims to help students gain practical skills in building integrated theoretical knowledge and combining this with data gathered through fieldwork experience in a selected setting. Students will be given an opportunity to then apply their integrated theoretical knowledge with their data from the field to solve a set of practical problems of relevance to the new world of work.
This module is based on a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) approach, positioned at level 2 in terms of the WIL categorisation by the Council for Higher Education. As such, problem-based or problem-orientated learning constitutes a core part of the module. This involves acquiring an integrated knowledge base which can be applied to the analysis and solution of problems, constituting real world scenarios. The module aims to help students gain practical skills in building integrated theoretical knowledge and combining this with data gathered through fieldwork experience in a selected setting. Students will be given an opportunity to then apply their integrated theoretical knowledge with their data from the field to solve a set of practical problems of relevance to the new world of work.
This module is based on a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) approach, positioned at level 2 in terms of the WIL categorisation by the Council for Higher Education. As such, problem-based or problem-orientated learning constitutes a core part of the module. This involves acquiring an integrated knowledge base which can be applied to the analysis and solution of problems, constituting real world scenarios. The module aims to help students gain practical skills in building integrated theoretical knowledge and combining this with data gathered through fieldwork experience in a selected setting. Students will be given an opportunity to then apply their integrated theoretical knowledge with their data from the field to solve a set of practical problems of relevance to the new world of work.
This module is based on a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) approach, positioned at level 2 in terms of the WIL categorisation by the Council for Higher Education. As such, problem-based or problem-orientated learning constitutes a core part of the module. This involves acquiring an integrated knowledge base which can be applied to the analysis and solution of problems, constituting real world scenarios. The module aims to help students gain practical skills in building integrated theoretical knowledge and combining this with data gathered through fieldwork experience in a selected setting. Students will be given an opportunity to then apply their integrated theoretical knowledge with their data from the field to solve a set of practical problems of relevance to the new world of work.