National Certificate in Business (Small Business Management)

Learners in this programme will acquire a core of small business competencies and be able to recognise personal skills and apply business skills in areas relevant to the development of their own small business or within a small business that they are associated with.

Note: For assessment purposes learners must have access to a small business or a small business idea. 

Please note that prior to 2013 SBM104 and SBM105 were known as SBM101.

The programme is made up of the following modules:

SBM104 Small Business Operations 1A – 15 credits from the following unit standards

US 1989 - Research small business operations (Level 4) 5 credits

This paper is about investigating and assessing small business opportunities and operations to establish or participate in small business ventures.  It provides a context for the rest of the programme.

US 1990 - Assess small business ownership options and business structures (Level 4) 5 credits

This unit standard is about assessing ownership options and business structures for owning or participating in small business ventures.

US 6404 - Develop marketing options for small business (Level 4) 5 credits

This unit standard is about analysing potential market demand for products and/or services, determining the mix to be provided and development of options for their effective marketing.  We also pay attention to some of the legal issues that can impact on your marketing plan.

SBM105 Small Business Operations 1B – 15 credits from the following unit standards

US 1991 - Produce establishment plans for small business ventures (Level 4) 5 credits

This unit standard is about producing plans to establish a small business venture.

US 1992 - Control and evaluate small business operations (Level 4) 5 credits

This unit standard is about selecting and implementing control techniques and evaluating business performance against business goals.

US 6408 – Determine profit projections for an entity (Level 4) 5 credits

This unit standard is about identifying and analysing the nature of fixed and variable costs and assessing the profit potential of the business.

SBM102 Small Business Operations 2 - 15 credits from the following unit standards

US 6406 - Establish and maintain quality customer relations for a small business enterprise (Level 4) 5 credits

This unit standard is about assessing customer needs and preferences, and fostering quality customer relations. We also pay attention to some of the legal issues that need to be taken into account.

US 6407 - Establish human resource needs of the small business operation (Level 5) 5 credits

This unit standard is about assessing human resource requirements to establish a small business, the identification of potential staffing sources, employment obligations and responsibilities, the allocation and evaluation of work and staff development. 

US 26367 Demonstrate and apply knowledge of costing for an activity within an entity (Level 5) 6 Credits

People credited with this unit standard are able to, for an activity within an entity: explain and classify costs; determine and allocate costs; and make recommendations based on cost information.

Application Criteria:  SBM101 or SBM104 and SBM105 are the pre-requisites for this module.

SBM103 Small Business Operations 3 - 15 credits from the following unit standards

US 2926 – Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of marketing (Level 4) 10 credits

People credited with this unit standard are able to describe: the marketing environment and determine variables for marketing activities; the role of marketing research and marketing information systems in the marketplace; the different characteristics of major markets; segmentation and targeting; influences on consumer behaviour; and the relationship between marketing mix development and the achievement of marketing objectives.

US 19025 - Demonstrate knowledge of quality assurance in a business operation (Level 4) 7 credits

This unit standard provides an understanding of quality assurance and how it is applied to a business operation.

Application Criteria:  SBM101 or SBM104 and SBM105, and SBM102 are pre-requisites for this module.

Graduates of this programme will have the competence, knowledge and skills required to assess small business opportunities and establish small business ventures.

Graduates may wish to continue on to further study in our National Diploma in Business (Level 5), or National Diploma in Business (Level 6) (upon meeting eligibility criteria).

SUGGESTED STUDY PATH/COMBINATIONS

Full time study

For a learner to be considered a full time student all four modules must be completed within one 17 week intake.

Part time study

Here are a couple of part time study options:

CROSS CREDITS

Students who have previously completed any of the above units at SIT or another learning institution can apply to have the unit(s) cross credited to their record of learning at SIT.  This is done by filling in a cross credit application form and attaching proof of achievement. The cross credit application form is available on MySIT or from the Programme Administrator on 0800 748 257 ext. 3337.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• As a guideline, one credit equates to approximately 10 hours study within an intake period.  Click HERE to download a Study Load Calculator (spreadsheet).
• All papers selected within a particular intake must be completed within that intake unless a transfer is requested (conditions apply; see FAQs).
• Application forms are filled out on a year by year basis and students are welcome to apply for multiple intakes on the one application form.  Further enrolment is the responsibility of individual students.  There is no automatic enrolment rollover.

Assessments for this programme typically include essays, analytical business reports, question and answer assessments and practical assessments.  There are no exams for this programme.

The Zero Fees Scheme applies to this course, so there are no tuition fees as long as you are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident (residing in NZ), BUT there is a student direct material cost of $6.50 per credit of study undertaken, plus a non-refundable administration fee of $50.00 for each application processed, and the required textbook/s listed below.  You must maintain satisfactory academic progress to retain your Zero Fees Scheme entitlement.

Fees must be paid by the due date shown on the invoice.

All SIT2LRN courses are approved by Studylink.  Any queries regarding Studylink allowances, loans, and terms and conditions should be made directly to Studylink on 0800 88 99 00 or www.studylink.govt.nz.

Please check the textbook list to see if you need a textbook for the unit(s) that you are applying for. The list is available here:

http://www.sit.ac.nz/documents/pdf/textbooklist.pdf

All SIT2LRN courses require you to have a computer and internet access. Students are required to use their SIT webmail only for all SIT2LRN communications. All course materials and information, including assessments and due dates, are located on the online Blackboard system. Once you have been accepted into a programme you will receive a Welcome Kit that includes information that you can use to familiarise yourself with our online Blackboard learning environment. From the intake start date you will have access to the online course materials to work through.

Facilitator Assistance:  During the enrolled intake period, students have email access to Facilitators, who endeavour to respond to emails within 48 hours (week days only).  All students are required, within the first two weeks of an intake, to send an email to their Facilitator confirming their start on the programme of study.  Students who have not emailed their facilitator or embarked upon their course of study by the end of the 2^nd week of an intake, will be Faculty Withdrawn from the programme.  Such withdrawals may impact on future access to SIT Zero Fees Scheme and Student Direct Material Costs are still liable for payment.

We recommend students new to SIT2LRN read through the ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ section of our website at http://www.sit.ac.nz/pages/FAQs for further study and enrolment information.

• This qualification is designed for people from a variety of skill backgrounds and ages with a demonstrable interest in small business management and with an interest in owning their own business or further study in the field of business.
• School leavers will be at least 18 years of age, with a minimum of 4 years secondary education and should have attained a minimum of 12 credits at NCEA level 2 in each of 4 subjects.
• Mature students will be over 20 years of age at commencement of programme and be able to demonstrate a reasonable likelihood of success in the programme.
• For assessment purposes learners must have access to a small business or a small business idea.

For students to be considered to have satisfactorily completed this programme and be eligible for the award of the qualification National Certificate in Small Business Management they must have completed all scheduled course work requirements and assessments successfully, completed assessment requirements for all unit standards, and achieved a minimum of 60 credits as specified in the programme schedule.