New Zealand Diploma in Business (Level 5) (Project Management strand) - SIT2LRN Distance Learning

Programme Structure

Compulsory (all strands)

• MGT100 Introduction to Accounting
• MGT101 Introduction to Human Resource Management
• MGT103 Introduction to Applied Management
• MGT104 Introduction to Applied Marketing
• MGT105 Business Communications

Project Management Strand

• MGT109 Quality Assurance and Compliance
• MGT110 Workplace Relationships
• MGT113 Introduction to Project Management

Paper Descriptions

MGT100 Introduction to Accounting (Level 5) 15 credits 

This paper provides students with an introduction to management accounting, finance processes and their associated components.

On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to: explain the role of management accounting; apply processes for controlling and allocating costs; prepare information for management decision making; develop financial strategies; identify opportunities to improve financial performance; analysis and interpretation and analyse and interpret an entity’s financial report.

MGT101 Introduction to Human Resource Management (Level 5) 15 credits 

This paper provides students with an overview of human resource management specific to the New Zealand Environment.

On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to: discuss human resource management and its place in organisations in new Zealand; outline the main functions of human resource management in the New Zealand context; discuss the impact of key legislation on human resource management practice in new Zealand; explain human resource requirements and potential sources for personnel; analyse employment obligations and responsibilities within a particular context; assess staff development needs and policies and apply human resource management options to a specific situation.

MGT103 Introduction to Applied Management (Level 5) 15 credits 

This paper provides students with an introduction to the principles management and strategic processes and how these may be applied to address current issues in the New Zealand context.

On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to: discuss the role of strategy and strategy formulation in organisational planning and development; explain strategies for organisational development; identify the resources and capabilities of a specific organisation in relation to its external environment; identify the strengths and weaknesses of business vision concepts, including entrepreneurship and innovation with reference to relevant management models and theories; outline an ethical framework for business operations, which includes te ahurea Māori and develop management goals and objectives and strategic plans and justify the approach with reference to relevant applied management theories.

MGT104 Introduction to Applied Marketing (Level 5) 15 credits

 This paper provides students with an introduction to marketing principles and processes used in the promotion of products or services and in the establishment of direction and targets for marketing operations.

On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to: discuss the role of promotion in marketing; explain the inter-relationships of the promotional mix; outline how situational analysis is used to determine appropriate promotional objectives and target market with reference to relevant marketing theories and modes; identify marketing objectives within a given context and justify the approach with reference to relevant marketing theory and develop an operational plan for a marketing campaign.

MGT105 Business Communications (Level 5) 15 credit 

This paper provides students with an overview of applied communication techniques within the business context of working within teams or groups.

On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to: discuss advantages and disadvantages of working within teams/groups with reference to relevant business communications theory; analyse team/group processes and their effect on team/group functions; discuss the social and cultural aspects of communication within teams; compare and contrast strategies to manage conflict within a team/group; identify theoretical approaches for team building and provide examples of a relevant team building approach in a selected context and develop goals and team/group processes to achieve objectives and justify the approach with reference to business communication theories and models.

Project Management Strand

MGT109 Quality Assurance and Compliance (Level 5) 15 credits

This paper provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to undertake an audit of quality management systems within a business environment.

On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to: discuss the concepts, systems and principles of quality assurance with reference to relevant compliance models; identify and describe the quality assurance requirements for a business operation; outline the steps necessary to prepare for an audit of quality management systems; explain the technical aspects of an audit of quality management systems; discuss the interpersonal aspects of an audit of quality management systems and complete a quality management systems audit, in a simple organisational context including identification of corrective actions with reference to relevant quality assurance theories.

MGT110 Workplace Relationships (Level 5) 15 credits

This paper provides students with an overview of strategic workplace relationships, including managing conflict situations and the potential impact of workplace relationships upon business operations.

On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to: with reference to relevant theories and models, develop strategies to establish and maintain positive workplace relationships; examine the issues of interpersonal conflict in a workplace situation; implement strategies for avoiding and/or resolving conflict situations and justify choices of strategy using relevant theories and models and utilise conflict resolution strategies for a business operation.

MGT113 Introduction to Project Management (Level 5) 15 credits

This paper provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary to be able to select and use project management tools in order to manage the life cycle of a project from initiation through to close.

On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to evaluate project management tools applicable for the development of a project plan, undertake and monitor a project in accordance with the project plan, assimilate project documentation for the finalisation of a project, and critically assess and review a project outcome and processes.

The Zero Fees Scheme applies to this course, so there are no tuition fees as long as you are a New Zealand citizen, resident/permanent resident (residing in NZ), BUT there is a student direct material cost per credit of study undertaken, plus a non-refundable administration cost of $50 for each application processed, and the required textbook/s listed below. You must maintain satisfactory academic progress to retain your Zero Fees Scheme entitlement.

Zero Fees Scheme – applies to NZ citizens and residents/permanent residents (residing in NZ). 2019 Cost (NZ$) $7.00 per credit + admin cost $50 per application (e.g. $700 for 100 credit course) - includes GST

International Students $100 per credit

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

Withdrawals & Transfers

• Early withdrawals within the first week of the intake starting are entitled to a full refund of the Student Direct Material Costs but not the non-refundable administration cost of $50.
• Withdrawals have to be requested within 75% of the intake, withdrawals after the early withdrawal date are not eligible for a refund.
• Transfer requests have to be within the first two weeks of the intake starting and will incur a $50 transfer cost. Transfers can only occur to a subsequence intake within the same calendar year.

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.

In addition to gaining core knowledge and skills necessary to contribute to the achievement of organisational strategic objectives, graduates of the leadership and management strand will gain the following specific knowledge and skills to apply to a relevant project management position in an organisation:

Technical Knowledge and Skills

• Manage and lead people to enable them to achieve personal and entity goals for efficient and effective performance of the entity
• Lead and implement change within the entity for efficient and effective performance of the entityLead and manage projects and/or entity initiatives
• Access and manage resources to improve entity performance
• Analyse and apply financial information to make informed decisions and forecasts for efficient and effective performance of the entity

People Skills

• Communicate with stakeholders to engage them with the strategic vision of the entity
• Lead and model an entity culture and/or values that support success for efficient and effective performance of the entity

Business Environment

• Management compliance with internal and external requirements
• Analyse the impact of operating in a global context on entity goals and on modern business practice

School Leavers
Applicants should be a minimum of 18 years of age, have completed a minimum of four years secondary education, and have attained a minimum of 12 NCEA credits at Level 2 in each of four approved subjects.

Mature Applicants
Applicants over the age of 20 years will be considered where they can demonstrate the ability to succeed in a programme (e.g. Record of Learning, or Curriculum Vitae). They may be admitted subject to programme regulations approved by the Head of Faculty in consultation with the Programme Manager as appropriate.  Personal commitment and a belief in one’s own ability to succeed are important personal traits and will always be taken into consideration during the selection process.

English Language Requirements

Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following:

NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or

an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A- level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English; or

Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA), or Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL); or

Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in  either New Zealand, Australia­, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or

Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or

Successful completion of a Bachelor ‘s Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters’ Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be  from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States or

Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment.

Diploma at Level 5

• IELTS test - Academic score of 5.5 with no band score lower than 5
• TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 550 (with an essay score of 5 TWE)
• TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 46 (with a writing score of 14)
• Cambridge English Examination – B2 First or B2 First for schools with a score of 162.  No less than 154 in each skill
• OET - Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests
• NZCEL - a) Expiring Level   b) Current:
• Level 4 (General) or (Workplace) b) Level 4 (General) or (Employment)
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 42 with no band score lower than 36
• Language Cert - B2 Communicator IESOL (LRWS) with HIGH PASS and no less than Pass in each skill
• Trinity ISE - ISE II with no less than merit in any band

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 an Important Information Booklet 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 for further study and enrolment information.

To satisfactorily complete the New Zealand Diploma in Business (with strands in Accounting, Administration and Technology, Leadership and Management, and Project Management) (Level 5), and be awarded this qualification the student must successfully achieve:

• A minimum of 120 credits in accordance with the programme schedule for the New Zealand Diploma in Business (with strands in Accounting, Administration and Technology, Leadership and Management, and Project Management) (Level 5).
• The student will normally be expected to complete the New Zealand Diploma in Business (with strands in Accounting, Administration and Technology, Leadership and Management, and Project Management) (Level 5) full-time over 1 year or part-time over a maximum of 5 years.

Please Note: Students failing to engage in study as per programme requirements may forfeit zero fees entitlement.

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 programme requires access to, or knowledge of, a business or organisational workplace. This could be:

• Your current workplace
• A past workplace
• A family business
• A voluntary organisation (church, playgroup, sports club etc.)

For more information on required and recommended textbooks for this course please refer to the textbook list here. 

Please note that textbooks need to be ordered at least 3-4 weeks prior to the commencement of your study