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PROGRAMME HANDBOOK
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
BACHELOR OF COMMERCE IN
INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY
MANAGEMENT DEGREE
(YEAR 3)
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Copyright© 2018
THE MANAGEMENT COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
All rights reserved, no part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, including photocopying machines, without the written permission of the publisher
MANCOSA: BCOM (INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT) YEAR 3 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. WELCOME
1.1 MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL 3
1.2 MESSAGE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE DEAN 4
2. INTRODUCTION TO MANCOSA
2.1 BRIEF HISTORY OF MANCOSA 4
2.2 PROGRAMME OFFERINGS 5
6. PROGRAMME ADMINISTRATION
6.1 PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT 17
6.2 FINANCE
6.2.1 FEE PAYMENT 17 – 19
6.2.2 PAYMENT OF FEES AND OTHER DUES 20
6.2.3 PAYMENT PLANS 20
6.2.4 ADDITIONAL FEES/CHARGES 20
6.2.5 REGISTRATION SPECIFIC/INCOMPLETE MODULES 20
6.2.6 CANCELLATION OF REGISTRATION/FEE LIABILITY 21
6.2.7 DEFERRALS 21
6.2.8 CHANGE OF ELECTIVES 21
6.2.9 RE-REGISTRATION OF MODULES 21
6.2.10 MISCELLANEOUS COSTS 22
6.2.11 PAYMENTS 22
6.2.12 ACCOUNT DETAILS 22
6.2.13 FOREIGN PAYMENTS 22
6.3 ASSESSMENTS
6.3.1 METHOD OF ASSESSMENT 23
6.3.2 MARKING CRITERIA 23
6.4 STUDENT SUPPORT
6.4.1 STUDENT SERVICES 24
6.4.2 REGIONAL OFFICES/REPRESENTATIVES 24 – 25
6.5 ACADEMIC SUPPORT
6.5.1 REGIONAL TUTOR SUPPORT (ACADEMIC FACULTY MEMBERS) 26
6.5.2 MODULE CO-ORDINATION AND EMAIL SUPPORT 26
6.5.3 LIBRARY SERVICES 26
6.5.4 MODULE GUIDES 26
6.5.5 WEBSITE/ONLINE LEARNING CENTRE 27
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7. WORKSHOPS
7.1 WORKSHOP VENUES 30
7.2 WORKSHOP DATES 31
7.3 WORKSHOP PROGRAMMES 32 – 34
8. ASSIGNMENTS
8.1 SUBMISSION
8.1.1 RULES REGARDING THE SUBMISSION OF ASSIGNMENTS 35 – 48
8.2 ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION DATES 49
8.3 ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS
- INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT 3A 50 – 51
- INFORMATICS 3A 52 – 53
- AUDITING 54 – 55
- SYSTEMS ANALYSIS AND DESIGN 56
- INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT 3B 57
- INFORMATICS 3B 58 – 59
9. EXAMINATIONS
9.1 EXAMINATION DATES AND TIMES 60
9.2 EXAMINATION VENUES 61
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1. WELCOME
Choosing a business school is certainly one of the most important decisions, made even more difficult in our
changing times where the world has lost its old equilibrium without having found new values.
The frontiers of the economy are reforming and in continuous evolution and work opportunities are emerging.
In this brave new world tertiary institutions can no longer limit itself to provide textbook knowledge and mere
academic preparation reducing itself to an 'exam house' attaching titles and empty labels, neither can it continue
to ignore the changing needs of a global employment market and the profound changes in the environment
awaiting the students beyond the campuses.
MANCOSA’s mission is to prepare a new breed of leaders, courageous, sincere individuals with the intellectual
abilities, cross cultural versatility, practical skills and ethics needed to operate in today's business world. With
programmes designed to accommodate individuals with diverse needs and lifestyles, MANCOSA supported
distance education programmes are in great demand with the rigour and innovation to create reflective
practitioners. Participants are immersed in an active education that will challenge their assumptions, disrupt
their ordinary ways of doing business, and introduce them to new and unexpected ways of thinking. By
participating, you will be prepared for the next step in your career and life, demonstrating leadership skills among
your peers. Most important, you will return to your organisation with fresh ideas, new business skills, and a
greater capacity for addressing the challenges your company will face.
MANCOSA programmes promote a high level of independence through innovative learning and assessment
interventions. You can expect a carefully integrated mix of lectures; access to well designed self study materials
and online learning resources. One key feature of MANCOSA is its use of case studies, an active learning model
that teaches participants how to assess, analyse, and act upon complex business issues. Rooted in real-life
experiences, the business case method develops analytical skills, sound judgement, and the leadership potential
within each participant. This will equip you with cutting-edge skills that will position you to be a leader in your
organisation and community.
For those who are prepared to embrace the challenges of this programme, you will find unique rewards with
lasting impact for your organisation and career. We wish you well in your academic endeavours and assure you
of our continued support towards realising your goals. I wish you well in your studies.
Prof YM Karodia
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Welcome to the MANCOSA Bachelor of Commerce (BCOM - IT) degree programme. You are about to embark
upon a challenging, new journey, discovering new horizons and breaking new frontiers of knowledge. For the
duration of the programme you will be exposed to highly competent academics, who will not only share with
you their knowledge of the current practices necessary for a global, dynamic and turbulent environment, but
who will also guide you and mentor you to enable you to develop the desired graduate attributes (knowledge,
skills, attitudes and qualities), including critical-thinking and life-long learning skills. Enjoy your journey on this
road that will lead you to a higher level of knowledge, skills and abilities.
2. INTRODUCTION TO MANCOSA
The Management College of Southern Africa (MANCOSA) is a private higher education institute registered in
terms of the Higher Education Act (Act 101 of 1997, as amended). It was established in 1995 as a post-apartheid
empowerment institution offering affordable and accessible management education primarily to persons
previously denied access to postgraduate education. MANCOSA has 100% black ownership, i.e. it is owned
entirely by previously disadvantaged individuals in the South African context. The Master of Business
Administration (MBA) degree programme has been offered since 1995. Between 1995 and 2000 MANCOSA
provided management programmes in association with the Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College (BCUC),
a College of the University of Brunel in the United Kingdom. During this period MANCOSA was successfully quality
assured by the British Quality Assurance Agency (QAA). In 2002 MANCOSA received full institutional accreditation
from the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC), the quality assuring committee of the Council on Higher
Education (CHE).
MANCOSA is one of the leading providers of international and local management programmes through
supported distance education in Southern Africa. Recent developments have included the introduction of
support classes which cater for those students who prefer additional support. In delivering its range of
Management Education programmes to a diverse body of students from both the public and private sectors,
MANCOSA has developed significant infrastructural, academic and intellectual capacity. As a leading provider of
management programmes by supported distance education, MANCOSA has considerable expertise in the design
and development of high quality and relevant course materials. It has developed unique teaching and learning
strategies, particularly suited for transferring knowledge and skills to adult students, the majority of whom are
in full-time employment. Through its active research focus, MANCOSA is also at the cutting-edge of the latest
management and leadership training trends.
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MANCOSA programmes cover the areas of business administration, commerce, tourism management, functional
management and leadership and range from certificate programmes to master’s degrees.
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MANCOSA’s vision is to be the leading distance higher education provider that is responsive to the evolving
education and training needs of dynamic economies through a commitment to people, opportunity and quality.
MANCOSA endeavours to respond to the changing education demands of both public and private sectors in
dynamic economies through the provision of innovative education.
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The main focus of the programme is to ensure that students develop the ability to apply management theory in
practice.
The curriculum consists of 360 credits progressively arrayed in 22 modules and a Capstone Project over a
minimum of 3 years of study. Students must pass a particular module before proceeding to the consecutively
numbered module with the same title. Six of the modules (90 credits) are fundamental.
All students take the same (fundamental and core) modules in the all levels of the curriculum. These modules
induce the students to learn the basic skills that the programme demands, to understand the theoretical core of
the disciplines of Information technology, Economics and Business Management, and to understand the context
in which these disciplines are practiced.
The modules covered in the BCom (Information and Technology Management) degree Programme are as
follows:
STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3
Business Management 1A IT Management 2A IT Management 3A
Informatics 1A Informatics 2A Informatics 3A
Analytical Techniques Management Accounting Auditing
Economics 1A Project Management Systems Analysis and Design
Business Management 1B IT Management 2B IT Management 3B
Informatics 1B Informatics 2B Informatics 3B
Financial Accounting Advanced Business Statistics Capstone Project
Economics 1B Information Systems
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YEAR 1
Outcomes
At the end of the module the student will be able to:
Define Management
Trace the evolution of management theories
Outline the challenges confronting managers
Describe the management environment
Describe the functions of managers
Differentiate between the different functions of management.
Outcomes
At the end of the module the student will be able to:
Use a computer to solve problems.
Analyse, design and evaluate algorithms.
Program algorithms in an object-oriented language such as Visual Basic.
Demonstrate the correctness of a computer program.
Outcomes
At the end of the module the student will be able to:
Identify and apply appropriate statistical methods for data interpretation
Process and present statistical analyses
Appreciate the importance of analysis in research
Develop a research protocol
Describe and select an appropriate analytical method to solve a particular problem
Use a range of analytical methods
Record data in an appropriate style
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Purpose
This module offers an introduction to the workings of market systems. It deals with the economic behaviour of
consumers and firms, covering analysis of demand and supply of goods, services and resources within an
economy. The framework developed is used to examine and evaluate the operation of the market mechanism
for various market structures and government policies.
Outcomes
At the end of the module the student will be able to:
Explain the economic problem of scarcity
Discuss the goals and instruments of a market economy
Analyse the forces of supply and demand
Identify and explain the role of the various economic subjects in the economy.
Interpret price elasticity of demand, income elasticity and cross-price elasticity
Explain the concept of a rational consumer
Apply the important production concepts
Apply the important cost concepts
Analyse and identify the economic dynamics of the various market structures
Recognise the limitations of markets
Explain how governments influence market allocations
Purpose
This module exposes students to an array of organisational structures and theories in relation to central and
strategic management. It also involves students in the study of functional areas of management, including
operations management, marketing management, human resource management and financial management. At
the end of the module students should be able to understand and discuss organisations and organisational
theory, and to propose solutions to a variety of more complex problems that might arise in the course of
managing a business.
Outcomes
At the end of the module the student will be able to:
Conceptualise the skills managers must acquire in their roles
Analyse the four primary management tasks
Differentiate between the functional areas of management
Outline the importance of each functional area of management
Identify the relationship between functional areas of management
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Outcomes
At the end of the module the student will be able to:
Explain the meaning of abstract data types
Explain the structure of internal data types such as stacks, linked lists and queues
Explain the structure of external data types such as sequential, direct and indexed files
Explain and compare the object orientated programming paradigm and the component approach to
program development
Develop object-oriented and component based programs in a computer language such as Visual Basic
Explain introductory concepts concerning social and professional issues in information technology
A minimum of two lectures will be spent on social and professional conduct in Information Technology. This
knowledge will be explicitly tested by a compulsory exam question.
Outcomes
At the end of the module the student will be able to:
Prepare journal entries (subsidiary journals); post the entries to the ledger
Prepare a trial balance and correct the trial balance where necessary
Prepare the financial statements of a sole trader
Identify, explain, calculate, record, present and disclose receivables, payables, inventories, cash, property,
plant and equipment
Prepare a reconciliation of debtors and creditors accounts
Prepare a statement of receipts and payments and financial statements of a non-trading enterprise.
Prepare a bank reconciliation statement
Classify and interpret financial data for a business.
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Outcomes
At the end of the module the student will be able to:
Explain the basic principles of macroeconomics
Demonstrate knowledge of competing macroeconomic theories.
Demonstrate knowledge of macroeconomic variables and the measurement of such variables
Explain the basic relationships between different macroeconomic variables.
Recognise the relationships between national income, unemployment, budget deficit, money supply,
interest rate, inflation rate, exchange rate and trade deficit.
Construct a simple macroeconomic model based on aggregate demand and aggregate supply
Outline the implications of international trade and capital movements for macroeconomic aggregates in a
small open economy.
YEAR 2
1. Information Technology Management 2A (15 Credits) Core
Purpose
The purpose of this course is to expose students to the basic and advanced principles of information and
communication technologies so that the development of a basic computer system and its integration with
business objectives can be lead. This includes the principles of enterprise wide technologies.
Outcomes
At the end of this course the student will be able to:
Describe the basic principles of information and communication technology such as hardware, software,
Internet, Intranet, Extranet
Integrate different information and communication technologies in support of the organisational goals
Explain enterprise wide information technology
Describe how workflow works and what technology is required for it
Outcomes
At the end of the module the student will be able to:
Do a critical analysis and comparison of different database models.
Develop a relational database for the solution of business problems.
Use entity-relationship modelling in the design of a 3NF relational database.
Develop an object-orientated computer program in Visual Basic to manipulate a relational database.
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Outcomes
At the end of the module the student will be able to:
Explain the need for pre-determined costs and management accounting systems
Distinguish between direct and indirect costs and fixed and variable costs
Calculate the value of stock using different valuation methods
Explain Absorption Costing/Marginal Costing and Breakeven Analysis
Determine the optimal costing methods (Absorption Costing vs Marginal Costing)
Explain the principles of effective budgeting
Implement Cost control using Standard Costing methods
Use techniques of Investment Appraisal.
Outcomes
At the end the student will be able to:
Practice the process of project management and its application in delivering successful IT projects
Evaluate a project to develop the scope of work, provide accurate cost estimates and to plan the various
activities
Use risk management analysis techniques that identify the factors that put a project at risk
Identify the resources required for a project and to produce a work plan and resource schedule
Monitor the progress of a project and to assess the risk of slippage, revising targets or counteract drift
Distinguish between the different types of project and follow the stages needed to negotiate an appropriate
contract
Outcomes:
At the end of this course the student will be able to:
Understand and apply the principles of data warehousing and data mining
Understand and apply the basic principles of information security analysis and evaluate the benefits and
drawbacks of information technology investments
Understand the impact of information technology on the organisation, individual and society.
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Outcomes
At the end of the module the student will be able to:
Evaluate the role of the Internet in applications such as the WWW, e-commerce and e-mail.
Give a critical evaluation of security measures in electronic commerce over the Internet.
To develop a web page in a convenient language such as HTML.
Design a simple three-tier client/server system with a web page as user interface, an object orientated
server and a relational database for executing electronic commerce transactions over a network.
Explain ethical and professional issues concerning Information Technology
Outcomes:
At the end the student will be able to:
Explain the importance of quantitative techniques in management
Perform statistical analyses to extract additional information from business data.
Manipulate gathered data through various statistical methods
Prepare and interpret reports expressed in statistical terms
Assess validity of statistical findings.
Outcomes
At the end of the module the student will be able to:
Describe the roles of information systems.
Identify and explain the function of various hardware and software components
Discuss the Input, Process and Output
Comprehend the relationship between computer hardware, software, database management and
telecommunications technologies.
Explain how information technology is used in modern information systems to support the end user
collaboration and managerial decision making
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YEAR 3
Outcomes:
At the end of this course the student will be able to:
Identify the components involved in the management of an IT facility
Appreciate the challenges in the management of an IT facility
Apply various management techniques to manage an IT facility economically and effectively
Outcomes
At the end of the module the student will be able to:
Explain the principles of software engineering.
Indicate the steps in the development of an IT business system.
Develop an object oriented client/server system for the Internet.
Analyse and develop a prototype of a business system in a team relationship.
Outcomes
At the end of the module the student will be able to:
Be familiar with the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) standards
Describe the concept of internal control
Identify weaknesses and suggest improvements; - understand the internal audit process
Utilise different tools and techniques in the audit process
Specify findings of the audit performed
Apply statistical sampling techniques and other quantitative methods in an auditing procedure
Be familiar with general and application controls in an information technology environment
Perform an audit of computer programmes and data files
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Outcomes:
At the end the student will be able to:
Explain the system development life cycle.
Explain the concepts, skills, methodology and techniques used in structured analysis and design
Utilise tools for analysis, design and development of the system.
Explain the basic characteristics of object-oriented system
Analyse and design the object-oriented system
Outcomes:
At the end of this course the student will be able to:
Develop a better understanding of the human aspects of IT, specifically the ethical aspects in software
Appreciate the ethical behaviour of a professional person in the IT industry
Develop a basic understanding of the legal issues involved in IT
Understand and apply the basic principles of information security.
Outcomes
At the end the student will be able to:
Indicate the importance of project management aspects such as risk management, personnel management,
task scheduling, measuring performance levels and quality management.
Evaluate and apply software-testing strategies.
Indicate the steps necessary to implement and operate an IT business system.
Design a web page to market and promote an IT business system.
Program, test and demonstrate a prototype IT business system developed in a team relationship.
Explain legal and professional issues concerning Information Technology. A minimum of two lectures will
be devoted to legal and professional Information Technology issues.
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Purpose
The Capstone Project is an opportunity for students to complete the degree by addressing a practical, real
world challenge using the skills and knowledge they have gained throughout their programme of study.
The Capstone Project culminates in a 30-40 page research report. The written report includes the outcomes of
the student’s experience in addressing the information management challenge identified in the proposal.
Outcomes:
At the end of this course the student will be able to:
Perform a sustained exercise in research in the field of Information Technology Management
Demonstrate competency in research methodology
Write a research report
Draw conclusions and make appropriate recommendations arising out of research
The proposal should be 5 to 8 pages (maximum of 10 pages)
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6. PROGRAMME ADMINISTRATION
For all Institutional rules and procedures, please refer to the Institutional Rule Book and Student Code of
Conduct.
6.2 FINANCE
All queries relating to student accounts must be forwarded to:
Student Services: studentservices@mancosa.co.za
6.2.1 Fee Payment
Where a student has sponsorship in respect of financial support from an employer or any other sponsoring
body in respect of fees, the student must supply proof of sponsorship at enrolment.
The student, however, is ultimately responsible for all and any payment owing to MANCOSA in the case of
default by the sponsor.
Students can pay fees in the following ways:
- Cash at MANCOSA offices in Durban and Johannesburg
- Pay on website with a credit card
- Electronic Funds Transfer
- Debit order (The Debit Order Authorisation form must be completed and sent to the Finance Department
in Durban)
Please contact the MANCOSA office if you require information on alternative payment methods.
CLICK HERE
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STEP 3
Enter all details
Screen 2
STEP 4
Once all details have been entered, click on Proceed to accept terms and conditions, as highlighted below:
CLICK HERE
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STEP 5
Ensure all card details are entered as they appear on your card on the screen below:
Screen 3
Click on Pay to finalise transaction.
Screen 4
The following screen will appear once the payment transaction has been processed successfully:
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A charge of R100.00 will be levied to cover administrative and bank charges in respect of:
returned cheques and/or
unpaid debit orders
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6.2.7 Deferrals
The terms and conditions for deferrals is as follows;
A student’s request for deferral will only be granted once during the course of the programme and provided
the financial obligations are met
The deferral application and the relevant fee must reach MANCOSA before the 2nd assignment due date for
the current semester in order for it to be effective in the next intake and provided that no coursework has
been attempted
The deferral fee is R 3 000.00
A deferral does not postpone the payment plan.
A deferral postpones an academic year or semester not individual modules. Re-registrations may not be
deferred
Assessments from uncompleted modules will not be carried forward into the new registration/intake.
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6.2.11 Payments
The following information must accompany all payments made to MANCOSA.
student number
full name, initials and surname
Proof of payment/transfer must be sent to the Finance Department via:
Email: finance@mancosa.co.za or
Fax: 086 602 6152
If all details are not accurately provided to MANCOSA, your account may not be credited.
OR
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6.3 ASSESSMENT
Assignments
All queries relating to the submission of assignments and the assessment thereof must be directed to:
Student Services: studentservices@mancosa.co.za
Examinations
All queries relating to examinations must be directed to:
Student Services: studentservices@mancosa.co.za
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MANCOSA
CITY/COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVE CONTACT DETAILS
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You are required to contact the relevant tutors at times as prescribed at their lecture. The details for these tutors
may be obtained at the scheduled workshops.
Note: Tutors may be changed at short notice due to unforeseen circumstances.
However, it must be noted that all study material provided must be read in conjunction with the textbooks that
are prescribed for each of the modules.
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Auditing Auditing notes for South African Students 8th/9th Lexis Nexis
Jackson, R.D and Stent, W.J Butterworths
Systems Analysis & Design Systems Analysis & Design in a changing world 5th/6th Cengage
Satzinger. J, Jackson. R, Burd.S (2009) Learning
Note: The above prescribed readings have been provided at the time of publication of this handbook.
Should an updated edition be available, students can use either version.
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In the event of the student experiencing difficulty accessing any of the MANCOSA electronic facilities, queries
must be forwarded to Student Services:
Email: studentservices@mancosa.co.za
Tel: +27 31 3007200
6.7 GENERAL
6.7.2 Graduation
On successful completion of all coursework required and on the settlement of all outstanding fees, a student
is eligible to attend a graduation ceremony where the qualification will be conferred upon the student. In
addition, the original certificate is issued to the student at the graduation ceremony.
All students graduating are liable for a fee of R 400.00. This amount does not include the cost of the academic
attire or photographs.
A separate charge will be levied per guest.
Students graduating in absentia will be liable for a fee of R 350.00. This includes the cost of postage/courier
of certificates to the student.
For detailed information on procedures related to each form, refer to the Institutional Rule Book.
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7. WORKSHOPS
Note:
(1) Changes in the workshop schedule will be communicated to registered students in writing prior to the
workshop.
(2) Additional workshop venues may be considered at the discretion of the Academic office.
(3) Students are encouraged to contact us to confirm any changes in their workshop venues.
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SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2
CITY COUNTRY WORKSHOP 1 WORKSHOP 2 WORKSHOP 1 WORKSHOP 2
Johannesburg South Africa 3 March 2018 19 May 2018 21 July 2018 13 October 2018
Durban South Africa 3 March 2018 19 May 2018 21 July 2018 13 October 2018
Pretoria South Africa 10 March 2018 19 May 2018 14 July 2018 6 October 2018
Cape Town South Africa 3 March 2018 19 May 2018 14 July 2018 6 October 2018
Polokwane South Africa 10 March 2018 19 May 2018 14 July 2018 6 October 2018
Windhoek Namibia 10 March 2018 19 May 2018 14 July 2018 6 October 2018
Lusaka Zambia 3 March 2018 19 May 2018 21 July 2018 13 October 2018
Gaborone Botswana 3 March 2018 19 May 2018 21 July 2018 13 October 2018
Mbabane Swaziland 3 March 2018 19 May 2018 21 July 2018 13 October 2018
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SEMESTER 1
SEMESTER 2
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SEMESTER 1
SEMESTER 2
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SEMESTER 1
SEMESTER 2
NOTE:
(1) Due to unforseen circumstances, workshop dates, venues, times and facilitators are subject to change
without prior notice.
(2) Please call our offices if you have not received a workshop email reminder 2 days prior to the workshop.
(3) Students are reminded to carry all study material on the 1st day of the workshop.
(4) Please read all relevant modules prior to attending workshops in order participate in the discussions.
(5) Students are reminded that work on assignments should commence prior to the workshops.
(6) Students are allowed to attend second semester workshops if their first semester results are pending.
(7) While attendance at workshops is not compulsory, it is advisable that you make use of the opportunity to
interact with academic faculty and fellow students.
(8) For all workshop related queries, please contact:
Student Services: studentservices@mancosa.co.za
Tel: +27313007200
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8. ASSIGNMENTS
8.1 SUBMISSION
STEP 1
Log in to www.mymancosa.com
STEP 2
Login using your student number as user name and password.
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STEP 3
Go to My Information
STEP 4
You will come to an Assignment Rules page. Read all the rules, go to the bottom of the page and click on the box
‘I acknowledge and accept the above rules’ then click on ‘Proceed to Assignment Upload’.
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STEP 5
You will come to the Assignment Declaration Page
Under Module Name, select the module of the assignment you are uploading.
STEP 6
Enter the number of attachments you are uploading, total number of pages in your attachments and number of
questions you have answered.
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STEP 7
Click on the box ‘I hereby declare that this assignment submitted is an original piece of work produced by
myself’ then click on ‘Continue’.
STEP 8
Click on ‘Browse’ for attachment 1 and look for your assignment and attach it. The entire assignment must be in
one attachment and must include the following:
Only one assignment submission is permitted per module in a PDF format. No other formats will be accepted.
There will be exceptions for the Information Technology and Quantitative modules where the different files need
to be zipped and uploaded as one folder. There is a detailed explanation of how to compress a folder at the end
of this guide.
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STEP 9
A box will appear asking to confirm that all of the above information is true, click on ‘OK’. Note that this is not an
error message.
The assignment will now take a minute or so to upload. Once your assignment is uploaded you will receive a
Thank You message.
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Step 1:
Go to www.mymancosa.com
Step 2:
Your username and password will be your student number
Step 3:
Click on My Information tab
Step 4:
Select Assignment Due Date Extension Request
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Please note: All correspondance and error messages must be retained by the student. Failure to produce
evidence of system error will lead to capping/declining of assignments.
ASSIGNMENT DUE DATE OF THE MODULE IS NOT FOUND FOR THIS INTAKE
This is a registration query, please contact our MANCOSA office to rectify this.
One of these three could be the result of the error message received:
- Your assignment file size is larger than 5MB,
- The assignment format is incorrect. The only formats we allow is Word (.doc, .docx), .pdf, .rtf, .txt and Zip
folders.
- Your Internet speed is too slow.
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MSSQL ERROR
You will receive this error if you have extra characters/symbols ( “ ‘ () [] & * # ? \ @ % = ) in your file name eg
Ben’s Project Management Assignment.pdf
Remove the ‘ from the name, resave and try to upload again, your assignment will go through.
ASSIGNMENT DECLINED AS YOU ARE NOT REGISTERED FOR EITHER SEMESTER 1 OR SEMSTER 2 OF
THE CURRENT ACADEMIC INTAKE.
This is a registration query, please contact our MANCOSA office to rectify this.
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You have exceeded the due date of submitting your assignment so the system will decline the upload.
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This error means that one/more of your assignment attached is in the incorrect format.
See below for an example (Attachment 2 is not in one of the recommended formats).
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Kindly note that this is not an error message from mymancosa. This message is just the settings for the Internet
(Internet Explorer) on your PC which needs to be adjusted. All you need to do is just follow the instructions given
and you will be able to upload your assignment. You could also use a different browser like Firefox or Google
Chrome.
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Step 1:
Create a new folder (right click on the desktop, select ‘New’ then click on the option ‘Folder’
Step 2:
Add all your documents in this folder (if you have more than one document to submit).
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Step 3:
Go to your desktop and right click on the folder. Select the option ‘Send to’ then click on ‘Compressed (zipped)
folder’.
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Step 4:
This will create another file on the desktop with the extension .zip. You can now attach this file when uploading
your assignments.
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SEMESTER 1
SEMESTER 2
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Read the case study below and answer the questions that follow.
Once upon a time teleworking was the future that would free us from the yoke of office life. Armed with phone,
computer and internet connection, human potential would blossom in the comfort of our own homes.
It makes sense. Why travel for hours a day to a central location when you can roll out of bed and start working
from your kitchen table with none of the hassle and environmental damage that commuting entails? Home
working is certainly on the rise. A survey of firms by the Confederation of British Industry showed that the
number offering at least some teleworking rose from 14% in 2006 to 46% in 2008. Figures later this month are
expected to show the trend continuing.
British Telecom was one of the pioneers. It began a telework scheme in 1986, and now has 15,000 homeworkers
out of 92,000 employees. The company argues that homeworkers save it an average of £6,000 a year each, are
20% more productive and take fewer sick days. At HSBC 15,000 out of the bank's 35,000 staff in the UK have the
ability to work from home. But that is still less than half the workforce and figures deal only with the means to
work from home, they do not indicate full-time home working.
But why isn't there even more working from home? Home working doesn't suit all jobs or sectors. There are
some sectors of the UK economy where teleworking is impossible - retailers, manufacturers and City traders are
among those where most people have to be at the workplace. In theory, call centres could allow staff to work
from home. In practice, the cost of linking secure databases to thousands of houses stands as a considerable
obstacle.
Adapted from: http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-11879241
QUESTION 1 (25)
Virtual working is gradually being adopted in organisations. Discuss the technological advancement factors that
are promoting virtual working.
QUESTION 2 (25)
Virtual working is a form of IT management that is different from onsite management. Identify and discuss the
IT resources that are required to implement virtual working/teleworking.
QUESTION 3 (25)
Although virtual working is profitable and promotes flexibility, there are a number of issues that may arise.
Discuss the technological considerations that have to be taken when implementing virtual working/teleworking.
QUESTION 4 (25)
Teleworking can produce positive and negative effects to the employee and the employer. Discuss the impact of
teleworking for an organisation.
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Assignment Guidelines
Word limit: Approximately 3500 - 4000 words
The length of your answers to each question should be in line with the mark allocation.
Your assignment should include a Table of Contents page.
Text: Font: Arial or Times New Roman (12), Spacing: 1.5 lines
All text must be justified at each margin.
Your answers must include any theories, charts, tables or exhibits necessary to support your analysis and
recommendations.
Ensure that the readings are not merely reproduced in the assignment without original critical comments and
views. Cohesive and logical arguments reflecting original thinking is encouraged.
You MUST use theory/literature to support your discussion/observation and opinions. Do not merely extract
information from the Case Study.
References - At least 10 academic sources of reference must be used. (These include textbooks, journal
articles and internet sources that are relevant to your field of study. Academic sources do not include
Wikipedia and blogs). The MANCOSA study guide must not be used as a source of reference. You must include
Reference list at the end of your assignment. Information quoted/paraphrased from sources listed in your
Reference list must be referenced in-text. The Harvard system of referencing must be used.
It is imperative that students proof read and edit their assignments prior to submitting them. Assignments
must be free from errors and of a professional standard.
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ASSIGNMENT 2: INFORMATICS 3A
SECTION A (40)
Read the information below and answer the questions that follow.
QUESTION 1 (20)
1.1 With reference to the article, most projects fail due to misunderstanding the requirements. Discuss the
differences between the requirements analysis of the waterfall model to that of agile. (10)
1.2 Provide possible reasons for the failure of projects adopting the waterfall model. (10)
QUESTION 2 (20)
2.1“In other words, by the time the customers actually know what works and what doesn’t work, or by the time
they start to understand what they actually need or want, it is too late.” It is important for companies to
implement the requirements elicitation and analysis process in order to work closely with customers to
determine the exact system requirements. Explain in detail the requirement elicitation and analysis process.
(10)
2.2 Discuss the reasons why requirements from stakeholders are difficult to understand. (10)
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SECTION B (60)
QUESTION 3 (20)
Software engineering is an engineering process discipline concerning all aspects of software production from
the early stages of system specification through to maintenance of the software.
3.1 Provide the reasons for the importance of software engineering. (5)
3.2 List and explain the FOUR (4) fundamental activities common to software processes. (8)
3.3 Elaborate on the fundamental issues affecting all software engineering methods. (7)
QUESTION 4 (20)
System modeling is the process of developing abstract models of a system, with each model presenting a
different view or perspective of that system. Briefly discuss the Interaction model and Structural model that may
be developed as part of the requirements engineering and system design processes.
QUESTION 5 (20)
Extreme programming (XP) is a software development methodology which is intended to improve software
quality and responsiveness to changing customer requirements. Briefly explain refactoring and pair programming
in Extreme Programming.
Assignment Guidelines
Word limit: Approximately 3500 - 4000 words
The length of your answers to each question should be in line with the mark allocation.
Your assignment should include a Table of Contents page.
Text: Font: Arial or Times New Roman (12), Spacing: 1.5 lines
All text must be justified at each margin.
Your answers must include any theories, charts, tables or exhibits necessary to support your analysis and
recommendations.
Ensure that the readings are not merely reproduced in the assignment without original critical comments and
views. Cohesive and logical arguments reflecting original thinking is encouraged.
You MUST use theory/literature to support your discussion/observation and opinions. Do not merely extract
information from the Case Study.
References - At least 10 academic sources of reference must be used. (These include textbooks, journal
articles and internet sources that are relevant to your field of study. Academic sources do not include
Wikipedia and blogs). The MANCOSA study guide must not be used as a source of reference. You must include
Reference list at the end of your assignment. Information quoted/paraphrased from sources listed in your
Reference list must be referenced in-text. The Harvard system of referencing must be used.
It is imperative that students proof read and edit their assignments prior to submitting them. Assignments
must be free from errors and of a professional standard.
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ASSIGNMENT 3: AUDITING
QUESTION 1 (25)
You have recently commenced your auditing studies at university. Your best friend who studied graphic art and
knows nothing about auditing and accounting has just started work for a listed clothing company in the fashion
design department, says to you over lunch one day:
“Some guys arrived today for the audit – they come from some firm or company that sells external audits or
something and apparently every business has to have one. I find it strange that we have to get an audit from
someone outside the company because a little while ago some guys from our company were doing something
with an internal audit. What on earth does this audit thing have to do with a clothing company?”
Required:
1.1. Respond to your friend’s question explaining in detail an external auditor and an internal auditor. (10)
1.2. Identify and discuss three (3) types of auditors except for those mentioned in 1.1 above. (15)
QUESTION 2 (25)
Despite the best intentions of the directors of a company to implement “fool proof” internal controls it is virtually
impossible to do. From the auditor’s perspective, internal control, no matter how effective, can provide an entity
with only reasonable assurance about achieving the entity’s financial reporting objectives. The reason is that
internal systems do have inherent limitations.
Required:
2.1. Discuss the term internal control. (4)
2.2. Identify, with brief explanations, the inherent limitations of internal controls. (6)
2.3. Give an example of each of the inherent limitations in the context of a sales/cash receipts system for a
supermarket. (15)
QUESTION 3 (30)
3.1. An auditor’s objective is to be in a position where he/she can form an opinion on whether reports or
statements from an audit presents in all respect the position of the organization at a particular point in
time. After accepting an audit offer, auditors need to obtain the necessary evidence to form and support
his/her evidence. In order to form and support evidence, the auditor goes through an audit process.
Discuss in detail the following stages in an audit process:
3.1.1. Preliminary Stage (10)
3.1.2. Planning Stage (10)
3.2. An important consideration in carrying out a sampling exercise is to determine whether it will be statistically
or non-statistically based. Such decision is usually a professional judgment, but will be based on the level
of assurance required by the auditor. Regardless of the decision made by the auditor, the steps to be taken
in auditing remain the same.
Discuss the main steps to consider when conducting an audit sampling. (10)
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QUESTION 4 (20)
It is very important for a company to protect the integrity of its hardware and software, in fact, its computer system
as a whole must be carefully controlled, physical protection, security policies, access controls, a sound control
environment and a host of other controls are put in place to achieve the necessary protection.
Consider the following;
The principle of least privilege
Disaster recovery procedures
Encryption
Logging
The principle of fail safe
Logical access control
Access tables
Authentication of users
Physical access controls
The principle of defense in depth
Required:
Briefly explain the terms/phrases above in the context of a company’s computer system.
Assignment Guidelines
Word limit: Approximately 3500 - 4000 words
The length of your answers to each question should be in line with the mark allocation.
Your assignment should include a Table of Contents page.
Text: Font: Arial or Times New Roman (12), Spacing: 1.5 lines
All text must be justified at each margin.
Your answers must include any theories, charts, tables or exhibits necessary to support your analysis and
recommendations.
Ensure that the readings are not merely reproduced in the assignment without original critical comments and
views. Cohesive and logical arguments reflecting original thinking is encouraged.
You MUST use theory/literature to support your discussion/observation and opinions. Do not merely extract
information from the Case Study.
References - At least 10 academic sources of reference must be used. (These include textbooks, journal
articles and internet sources that are relevant to your field of study. Academic sources do not include
Wikipedia and blogs). The MANCOSA study guide must not be used as a source of reference. You must include
Reference list at the end of your assignment. Information quoted/paraphrased from sources listed in your
Reference list must be referenced in-text. The Harvard system of referencing must be used.
It is imperative that students proof read and edit their assignments prior to submitting them. Assignments
must be free from errors and of a professional standard.
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QUESTION 1 (25)
Feature- Driven Development (FDD) is a development process that, as all agile methodologies, is iterative &
incremental with the objective of delivering working software. Discuss the FDD methodology and the practices
used in FDD.
QUESTION 2 (25)
Several errors can occur when drawing data flow diagrams are as follows. Describe the common types of errors
for DFD diagrams.
QUESTION 3 (15)
A functional dependency is a one-to-one relationship between the values of two fields. Discuss the following
types of functional dependencies.
a. Full Functional Dependency
b. Partial functional Dependency
c. Transitive functional Dependency
QUESTION 4 (35)
Suppose you have student data that is captured in a table as shown below. Normalise the data in this table to
3NF.
Student Age Subject
Asongile 15 Afrikaans, Life skills
Avela 14 Life skills
Sibusiso 17 Life skills
Assignment Guidelines
Word limit: Approximately 3500 - 4000 words
The length of your answers to each question should be in line with the mark allocation.
Your assignment should include a Table of Contents page.
Text: Font: Arial or Times New Roman (12), Spacing: 1.5 lines
All text must be justified at each margin.
Your answers must include any theories, charts, tables or exhibits necessary to support your analysis and
recommendations.
Ensure that the readings are not merely reproduced in the assignment without original critical comments and
views. Cohesive and logical arguments reflecting original thinking is encouraged.
You MUST use theory/literature to support your discussion/observation and opinions. Do not merely extract
information from the Case Study.
References - At least 10 academic sources of reference must be used. (These include textbooks, journal
articles and internet sources that are relevant to your field of study. Academic sources do not include
Wikipedia and blogs). The MANCOSA study guide must not be used as a source of reference. You must include
Reference list at the end of your assignment. Information quoted/paraphrased from sources listed in your
Reference list must be referenced in-text. The Harvard system of referencing must be used.
It is imperative that students proof read and edit their assignments prior to submitting them. Assignments
must be free from errors and of a professional standard.
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Read the information below and answer the questions that follow.
With every passing year, cybersecurity becomes more of a concern for business continuity planning initiatives.
Participants in the 2016 Business Continuity Institute Horizon Scan ranked cyberattack as their No. 1 threat, with
data breach a close second. Over the last few years, these two categories have climbed the ranks in terms of
most significant threats—an indication of how rapidly cybersecurity has become a key concern of business
continuity professionals across the globe.
There is no doubt that businesses of all kinds must include cybersecurity concerns in their business continuity
plans, right along with more traditional threats, such as severe weather or supply-chain disruptions. However,
cybersecurity requires a special degree of attention, because a cyberattack or data breach can have such wide-
reaching effects throughout an entire organization, as well as among its partners and customers.
QUESTION 1 (25)
Cyber threats are one of the main security threats that an organisation faces. Discuss how you would ensure
business continuity in the presence of cyberthreats.
QUESTION 2 (25)
Issues surrounding personal privacy have become critical in data handling for organisations. Discuss the EIGHT
(8) principles prescribed by the POPI Act.
QUESTION 3 (25)
Social media has largely assumed an integral role in people’s lives as well as business today. Discuss the rights
and obligations within the organisation when using social media.
QUESTION 4 (25)
The concept of data integrity from a security perspective deals with making sure that data is not subject to
unauthorized alteration. Discuss how public key cryptography is used with digital signatures.
Assignment Guidelines
Word limit: Approximately 3500 - 4000 words
The length of your answers to each question should be in line with the mark allocation.
Your assignment should include a Table of Contents page.
Text: Font: Arial or Times New Roman (12), Spacing: 1.5 lines
All text must be justified at each margin.
Your answers must include any theories, charts, tables or exhibits necessary to support your analysis and
recommendations.
Ensure that the readings are not merely reproduced in the assignment without original critical comments and
views. Cohesive and logical arguments reflecting original thinking is encouraged.
You MUST use theory/literature to support your discussion/observation and opinions. Do not merely extract
information from the Case Study.
References - At least 10 academic sources of reference must be used. (These include textbooks, journal
articles and internet sources that are relevant to your field of study. Academic sources do not include
Wikipedia and blogs). The MANCOSA study guide must not be used as a source of reference. You must include
Reference list at the end of your assignment. Information quoted/paraphrased from sources listed in your
Reference list must be referenced in-text. The Harvard system of referencing must be used.
It is imperative that students proof read and edit their assignments prior to submitting them. Assignments
must be free from errors and of a professional standard.
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ASSIGNMENT 6: INFORMATICS 3B
SECTION A (40)
Answer ALL the questions based on the case extract below:
Jaguar recalls 17,500 cars due to software glitch
Luxury car manufacturer Jaguar has recalled over 17,500 vehicles following the discovery of a fault in the
engine management control software on its diesel X-type range.
The fault meant that cruise control could only be turned off by switching off the engine. It affects cars made
between 2006 and 2010. Drivers who return their cars will get a software update to fix the problem, Jaguar
said.
The company wrote to its customers late last week, warning that the cruise control cannot be disengaged in
the “normal manner” in some circumstances. The software in question was developed in house, and the
problem was spotted by one of Jaguar's employees, the company said.
“This potential problem was spotted by one of our employees. No customer has been affected and there had
been no accidents or injuries,” a Jaguar spokesman told the Telegraph.
In February 2010, Japanese car manufacturer Toyota was forced to recall 400,000 of its Prius hydrid cars after a
software glitch that affected brake performance was discovered. Both episodes reveal how software quality
testing is paramount for embedded systems in equipment as potentially dangerous as cars.
Agile software development methodologies, which espouse constant and frequent testing, are based on the
Lean manufacturing processes developed by Toyota in the 1980s. However, according to a blog post written by
Swedish IT consultant Henrik Kniberg shortly after the Prius glitch emerged, Toyota has only recently began
adopting Agile development.
Source: http://www.information-age.com/jaguar-recalls-17500-cars-due-to-software-glitch-1663983/
QUESTION 1 (20)
The case extract mentions the software glitch to be in the engine management control software on its diesel X-
type range. Discuss how release testing could solve the problem in the engine management software.
QUESTION 2 (20)
2.1 Toyota had adopted Agile development methods shortly after a software glitch in their brake systems.
Elaborate on the steps involved in the Agile planning process adopted by Toyota. (10)
2.2 Explain in detail how Agile planning would be carried out by Toyota. (10)
SECTION B (60)
QUESTION 3 (20)
3.1 Software evolution refers to the process of repeatedly updating software for various reasons. Explain why
a software system that is used in a real-world environment must change or become progressively less useful.
(4)
3.2 Briefly describe the THREE (3) main types of software maintenance. Why is it sometimes difficult to
distinguish between them? (6)
3.3 What are the options for dealing with legacy system evolution? When would you normally replace all or
part of a system rather than continue maintenance of the software? (10)
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QUESTION 4 (20)
Software project management is the art and science of planning and leading software projects. It is a sub-
discipline of project management in which software projects are planned, implemented, monitored and
controlled.
4.1 State the reasons why software engineering projects are difficult to manage. (10)
4.2 What are some of the considerations which need to be taken into account when calculating the price of
a software system? (10)
QUESTION 5 (20)
5.1 Testing is expensive and time-consuming, therefore it is important to choose effective unit test cases.
Describe the process of choosing effective test cases. (12)
5.2 List and explain the levels in which each test case will fall in order to avoid duplication efforts. (8)
Assignment Guidelines
Word limit: Approximately 3500 - 4000 words
The length of your answers to each question should be in line with the mark allocation.
Your assignment should include a Table of Contents page.
Text: Font: Arial or Times New Roman (12), Spacing: 1.5 lines
All text must be justified at each margin.
Your answers must include any theories, charts, tables or exhibits necessary to support your analysis and
recommendations.
Ensure that the readings are not merely reproduced in the assignment without original critical comments and
views. Cohesive and logical arguments reflecting original thinking is encouraged.
You MUST use theory/literature to support your discussion/observation and opinions. Do not merely extract
information from the Case Study.
References - At least 10 academic sources of reference must be used. (These include textbooks, journal
articles and internet sources that are relevant to your field of study. Academic sources do not include
Wikipedia and blogs). The MANCOSA study guide must not be used as a source of reference. You must include
Reference list at the end of your assignment. Information quoted/paraphrased from sources listed in your
Reference list must be referenced in-text. The Harvard system of referencing must be used.
It is imperative that students proof read and edit their assignments prior to submitting them. Assignments
must be free from errors and of a professional standard.
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9. EXAMINATIONS
SEMESTER 1
SEMESTER 2
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