MNG1502/101/3/2024

Tutorial Letter 101/3/2024

Management 1A
MNG1502

Semester 1 and 2

Department of Business Management

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Please register on myUnisa, activate your myLife e-mail account and make
sure that you have regular access to the myUnisa module website,
MNG1502-2024-S1/S2.

Note: This is a fully online module. It is, therefore, only available on myUnisa.

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 CONTENTS
Page

1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 3
2. OVERVIEW OF MNG1502 .............................................................................................................................. 3
2.1 Purpose............................................................................................................................................................ 3
2.2 Outcomes......................................................................................................................................................... 4
3. CURRICULUM TRANSFORMATION ............................................................................................................. 4
4. LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS .................................................................................................... 4
4.1 Lecturer(s)........................................................................................................................................................ 4
4.2 Department ...................................................................................................................................................... 5
4.3 University ......................................................................................................................................................... 5
5. RESOURCES .................................................................................................................................................. 5
5.1 Joining myUnisa .............................................................................................................................................. 5
5.2 Prescribed book(s)........................................................................................................................................... 6
5.3 Recommended book(s) ................................................................................................................................... 6
5.4 Electronic reserves (e-reserves) ...................................................................................................................... 6
5.5 Library services and resources ........................................................................................................................ 6
6. STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES .................................................................................................................. 7
6.1 First-Year Experience Programme .................................................................................................................. 7
7. STUDY PLAN .................................................................................................................................................. 8
8. HOW TO STUDY ONLINE .............................................................................................................................. 8
8.1 What does it mean to study fully online? ......................................................................................................... 8
8.2 myUnisa tools .................................................................................................................................................. 9
9. ASSESSMENT ................................................................................................................................................ 9
9.1 Assessment criteria ....................................................................................................................................... 10
9.2 Assessment plan ........................................................................................................................................... 10
9.3 Assignment due dates ................................................................................................................................... 11
9.4 Submission of assignments ........................................................................................................................... 11
9.5 Types of assignments and descriptions ........................................................................................................ 12
9.6 The assignments ........................................................................................................................................... 12
9.7 Format of the assignments ............................................................................................................................ 15
9.8 Instructions for the submission of assignments ............................................................................................. 15
9.9 Final mark ...................................................................................................................................................... 17
10. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY ........................................................................................................................... 18
10.1 Plagiarism ...................................................................................................................................................... 18
10.2 Cheating......................................................................................................................................................... 18
11. STUDENTS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES .................................................................................................... 18
12. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS .......................................................................................................... 18
13. IN CLOSING .................................................................................................................................................. 19

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1. INTRODUCTION
Dear Student

Welcome to Unisa and especially to the module, Management 1A (MNG1502). I am Mrs Rachelle
Reeler, your primary lecturer, and I am assisted by Mrs Magdel van Heerden.

This tutorial letter provides you with general information and introduces you to this module. Read
it through carefully as it contains important information regarding assignments, year marks and
other important information regarding the module. Because this is a fully online module, you will
need to use myUnisa to study and complete the learning activities for this module. Visit the
website for MNG1502 on myUnisa frequently. The website for your module is MNG1502-24-
S1/S2.

Although you will receive extensive guidance from the assignments, tutorial letters and study
material, you are more than welcome to contact us if you have any other academic related
queries. We are fully aware that you sometimes study under very difficult circumstances and we,
therefore, invite you to contact us if you require information, encounter problems, or if you want
to discuss any aspect of the work. It is very important to us that you pass this module, and we
will do our best to assist you in this regard.

Owing to the nature of this module, you can read about the module and find your study material
online. Go to the website at https://my.unisa.ac.za and log in using your student number and
password. Click on "myModules" at the top of the web page. Now go to your navigation bar and
click on the module you want to open (MNG1502-24-S1 or MNG1502-24-S2).

We wish you success in your studies. We hope that you will not only pass the module with flying
colours, but also thoroughly enjoy the course.

2. OVERVIEW OF MNG1502
2.1 Purpose

The purpose of this module is for the students to develop their understanding of the foundational
concepts in the field of management. This module presents a general outline of management
and management functions, leadership and teamwork, interpersonal skills, and contemporary
issues in management.

This module will provide qualifying learners with knowledge and skills in the analysis,
interpretation, and application of basic management principles in the different functional units of
the business organisation. The learner should be able to make managerial decisions and reflect
on the decisions to ensure that the operational goals of the business are achieved in the most
efficient and effective way.

This module is designed to meet the industry need for managers in various lines of business. It
provides the learner with foundational management skills and principles which can be applied in
many different industries at an operational level.

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2.2 Outcomes

After completing this module, you should have the competence to apply your management skills
on an operational level in an organisation. The intended outcomes can be distinguished as
follows:

• Specific outcome 1: The learner should be able to recognise the importance of the
evolution of management and describe the management environment in which the
organisation must function.
• Specific outcome 2: The learner should be able to describe how the four main tasks of
management can be employed effectively and efficiently to achieve the goals and
objectives of the organisation.
• Specific outcome 3: The learner should be able to explain the concepts that managers
can use to lead and develop people to contribute constructively to the achievement of the
goals of the enterprise.
• Specific outcome 4: The learner should be able to discuss how managers manage and
develop people to contribute to the development of competence, capability, and
understanding of contemporary issues like organisational culture and politics, diversity,
ethics and the code of conduct, social responsibility, managing change as well as the
effects of industry 4.0, and the management of HIV/AIDS and other health issues.

3. CURRICULUM TRANSFORMATION
Unisa has implemented a transformation charter, in terms of which the university has placed
curriculum transformation high on the teaching and learning agenda. Curriculum transformation
includes student-centred scholarship, the pedagogical renewal of teaching and assessment
practices, the scholarship of teaching and learning, and the infusion of African epistemologies
and philosophies. All of these will be phased in at both programme and module levels, and as a
result of this you will notice a marked change in the teaching and learning strategy implemented
by Unisa, together with the way in which the content is conceptualised in your modules. We
encourage you to embrace these changes during your studies at Unisa in a responsive way within
the framework of transformation.

4. LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS

4.1 Lecturer(s)

The lecturers for this module are as follows:

Lecturer name Telephone number Email address

Mrs Rachelle Reeler 012 429 2057 deysert@unisa.ac.za

Mrs Magdel van Heerden 012 429 4370 legrams@unisa.ac.za

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The lecturers for this module will be available to take phone calls and e-mails on academic
matters. However, the days and times of lecturer’s availability are subject to change from time to
time in order to accommodate the lecturer’s work schedule and other commitments. Students
are, therefore, advised to send the lecturer an e-mail with their academic related requests or
contact them via the discussion forums on myUnisa, as these are the preferred methods of
communication. Whenever you contact a lecturer via e-mail, please include your student number
and module code in the subject line to enable the lecturer to help you more effectively.

Please note that in accordance with the POPI Act, only queries sent from a myLife email
address will be answered.

4.2 Department

You can contact the Department of Business Management as follows:

E-mail: busman@unisa.ac.za

4.3 University

Contact addresses of the various administrative departments appear on the Unisa website:
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Contact-us/Student-enquiries. Please include
your student number and module code in all correspondence.

5. RESOURCES
5.1 Joining myUnisa

The myUnisa learning management system is the University's online campus which will help you
communicate with your lecturers, other students and the administrative departments within Unisa,
as well as support the delivery of distance education. It is available to all registered Unisa
students.

If you have access to the Internet, you can quickly access resources and information from the
university. From this site, students have access to both administrative and academic details
regarding their studies at Unisa. Administrative information includes academic and assignment
records, examination results and financial records. Academic information comprises online
courseware where available, subject-related academic guidance, discussion groups,
recommended books, and particulars of students studying the same subject.

To claim your myUnisa account, please follow the steps below:

• Visit the myUnisa website at https://my.unisa.ac.za/portal

• Click on the "Claim Unisa login" link on the top of the screen under the Username box.
• A new screen will load, prompting you to enter your student number. Please enter your student number
and click "continue".
• Enter your surname, your full name, your date of birth and, finally, your South African ID number (for South
African citizens) OR your passport number (for foreign students). Then click "continue". Remember to
enter either an ID number or a passport number, NOT both.

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 • Please read through the guidelines and click all the check boxes to acknowledge that you have read all
the information provided. Once you are done, click the "Acknowledge" button to redirect you to the final
page in the process.
• The final page will display your myLife e-mail address, and your myLife AND myUnisa password. This
password will also be sent to the cellphone number displayed on the page for safekeeping.
• Please note that it can take up to 24 hours for your myLife e-mail account to be created.
• Remember, the password provided is your myUnisa AND myLife password.
5.2 Prescribed book(s)

There are no prescribed textbooks for this module. The Lessons are quite comprehensive and
must be studied in their totality.

5.3 Recommended book(s)

There are a wide range of books available on the topics discussed in this module that you can
refer to should you require additional information. At the end of each Lesson on myUnisa, you
will find a list of references, which deals with that particular topic. You can use these references
as a guide to assist you in finding appropriate material on the topic.

5.4 Electronic reserves (e-reserves)

There are no e-Reserves for this module.

5.5 Library services and resources

The Unisa library offers a range of information services and resources:

• For brief information, go to https://www.unisa.ac.za/library/libatglance

• For more detailed library information, go to
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library
• For research support and services (e.g. the services offered by personal librarians and
the request a literature search service offered by the information search librarians), go to
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/Library-services/Research-support
• For library training for undergraduate students, go to
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/Library-services/Training

The library has created numerous library guides, available at http://libguides.unisa.ac.za

Recommended guides:

• Request and find library material/download recommended material:

http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/request
• Postgraduate information services: http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/postgrad
• Finding and using library resources and tools:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/Research_skills
• Frequently asked questions about the library: http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/ask
• Services to students living with disabilities: http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/disability
• A–Z of library databases: https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/az.php

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Important contact information:

• Ask a librarian: https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/ask

• Technical problems encountered in accessing library online services: Lib-
help@unisa.ac.za
• General library-related queries: Library-enquiries@unisa.ac.za
• Queries related to library fines and payments: Library-fines@unisa.ac.za
• Social media channels: Facebook: UnisaLibrary and Twitter: @UnisaLibrary

6. STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

The Study@Unisa brochure is available on myUnisa: www.unisa.ac.za/brochures/studies. This
brochure contains important information and guidelines for successful studies through Unisa. If
you need assistance with regard to the myModules system, you are welcome to use the following
contact details:

• Toll-free landline: 0800 00 1870 (Select option 07 for myModules)

• E-mail: mymodule22@unisa.ac.za or myUnisaHelp@unisa.ac.za

You can access and view short videos on topics such as how to view your calendar, how to access
module content, how to view announcements for modules, how to submit assignments and how
to participate in forum activities via the following link: https://dtls-
qa.unisa.ac.za/course/view.php?id=32130

Registered Unisa students get a free myLife e-mail account. Important information, notices and updates are sent
exclusively to this account. Please note that it can take up to 24 hours for your account to be activated after you
have claimed it. Please do this immediately after registering at Unisa, by following this link:
myLifeHelp@unisa.ac.za

Your myLife account is the only e-mail account recognised by Unisa for official correspondence with the university
and will remain the official primary e-mail address on record at Unisa. You remain responsible for the management
of this e-mail account.

6.1 First-Year Experience Programme

Many students find the transition from school education to tertiary education stressful. This is also
true in the case of students enrolling at Unisa for the first time. Unisa is a dedicated open distance
and e-learning institution, and it is very different from face-to-face/contact institutions. It is a mega
university, and all our programmes are offered through either blended learning or fully online
learning. It is for this reason that we thought it necessary to offer first-time students
additional/extended support to help them seamlessly navigate the Unisa teaching and learning
journey with little difficulty and few barriers. We therefore offer a specialised student support
programme to students enrolling at Unisa for the first time – this is Unisa’s First-Year Experience
(FYE) Programme, designed to provide you with prompt and helpful information about services
that the institution offers and how you can access information. The following FYE services are
currently offered:

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7. STUDY PLAN
You should plan your personal study programme in such a way that you are able to go through
the study material and have time to complete the assignments. You should work at your own
pace and draw up your own time management schedule, which is better suited to your particular
situation. If you intend on drawing up your own schedule, please remember that the assignment
dates cannot change. Thus, you need to plan your schedule around these dates. You can also
use the electronic schedule on myUnisa or the study plan document in the Study@Unisa brochure
to compile a comprehensive plan for all your modules, if you prefer. Please refer to this brochure
for guidelines on general time management and planning.

8. HOW TO STUDY ONLINE

8.1 What does it mean to study fully online?

Studying for this module will differ completely from studying some of your other modules at Unisa.

• All your study material and learning activities for online and continuous assessment
modules are designed to be delivered online on myUnisa.
• All your assignments must be submitted online. This means that you do all your activities
and submit all your assignments on myUnisa. In other words, you may NOT post your
assignments to Unisa using the South African Post Office or email your assignments to your
lecturers.
• All communication between you and the University happens online. Lecturers will
communicate with you via e-mail and use the Announcements and the Discussion Forums
tools on myUnisa. You can also use all of these platforms to ask questions and contact your
lecturers.

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8.2 myUnisa tools

The main tool that we will use is the Lessons tool. This tool will provide the content of and the
assignments for your module. At times you will be directed to join discussions with fellow students
and complete activities and assignments before you can continue with the module.

It is very important that you log in to myUnisa regularly. We recommend that you log in at least
once a week to do the following:

• Check for new announcements. All announcements should also be sent to your myLife
e- mail account once it has been posted on myUnisa. You can also set your myLife e-mail
account so that you receive the announcement e-mails on your personal email address or on
your cellphone.
• Do the Discussion Forum activities. When you do the activities for each learning unit,
we want you to share your answers with the other students in your group. You can read the
instructions and even prepare your answers offline, but you will need to go online to post your
messages.
• Do other online activities. For some of the learning unit activities you might need to read
an article or watch a video clip to complete the activity. Do not skip these activities because
they will help you complete the assignments and the activities for the module.

• Complete your assignments. All assignments must be completed online. Please do not
wait until the last minute to complete your assignments due to any unforeseen circumstances.
The due dates of the assignments will be available from the beginning of the semester, and
any changes to the due dates will be communicated via announcements on the myUnisa
platform.

We hope that by giving you extra ways to study the material and practise all of the activities, you
will succeed in the online module. To get the most out of the online module you MUST go online
regularly to complete the activities and assignments on time.

9. ASSESSMENT
MNG1502 is a “continuous assessment module” and, therefore, does not make use of a final
summative examination. Instead, for this module, all of your assignments will contribute towards
your final result. Each of the assignments contributes a certain percentage (indicated as a weight
below) towards the final result, so you are able to manage your own learning throughout the
semester. The benefits of continuous assessment include:

• You will not have to complete a final exam for this module.
• You will not be in a stressful examination setting with hundreds of other students.
• During the semester you will have a good idea of what your final result will be.
• Each of the assignments during the semester will ensure that you work through all of the
study material.

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9.1 Assessment criteria

The assessment criteria linked to the specific outcomes of this module are indicated in Table 1.1
below:

Table 1.1: Specific outcomes and assessment criteria

Specific outcomes Assessment criteria
1. Differentiate between the different contributions to the
Recognise the importance of the evolution of evolution of management.
management and describe the management 2. Critically discuss and evaluate the different variables
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environment in which the organisation must of each management environment and their influence
function. on the manager’s decisions and the functioning of the
organisation.
1. Discuss the importance of planning in order to attain
the operational objectives of an organisation.
Describe how the four main tasks of
2. Discuss how tasks can be allocated and organised
management can be employed effectively and
effectively through the implementation of organising
2 efficiently to achieve the goals and objectives
principles, and apply it to an organisation.
of the organisation.
3. Identify and explain how control measures can be
implemented to ensure that the organisation can
achieve its goals.
1. Analyse and describe the interpersonal skills of
communication, motivation, and conflict
management.
2. Identify how managers develop and contribute to the
leadership of staff within an organisation.
Explain the concepts that managers can use
3. Discuss how managers develop and contribute to the
to lead and develop people to contribute
development of competences and capabilities of
3 constructively to the achievement of the goals
individuals and teams.
of the enterprise.
4. Discuss how managers can develop the concept of
one’s self to improve performance in the organisation.
5. Discuss how managers can create, maintain, and
enhance effective working relationships with staff.
6. Differentiate between the leading of individuals and
the leading of teams within the organisation.
1. Critically evaluate organisational culture and politics.
2. Describe diversity in the workplace and evaluate how
Discuss how managers manage and develop this concept can be addressed.
people to contribute to the development of 3. Explain the importance of ethics and a code of
competence, capability, and understanding of conduct.
contemporary issues like organisational 4. Explain social responsibility and how this concept can
4 culture and politics, diversity, ethics and the be promoted in business.
code of conduct, social responsibility, 5. Identify how to manage change in an organisation and
managing change as well as the effects of how to ensure that change is implemented effectively.
industry 4.0, and the management of 6. Explain how the effects of industry 4.0 can be
HIV/AIDS and other health issues. managed.
7. Address HIV/AIDS and other health-related issues in
the workplace.
9.2 Assessment plan
• To complete this module, you will be required to submit at least SEVEN (7) assignments.
• All information about when and where to submit your assignments will be made available
to you via the myModules site for your module.
• Due dates for assignments, as well as the actual assignments are available on the
myModules site for this module.
• There will be no examination for this module. You will only be required to submit seven
assignments.
• Your assignments will consist of multiple-choice questions which you must answer online.
• The assignment weighting for the module is 100%.

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9.3 Assignment due dates

• There are no assignment due dates included in this tutorial letter.

• Assignment due dates will be made available to you on the myUnisa landing page for this
module. We envisage that the due dates will be available to you upon registration.
• Log on to the myUnisa site for this module to obtain more information on the due dates for
the submission of the assignments.
• Life can throw you many curve balls such as illness, death of a family member or being
overburdened at work. Therefore, we encourage you to NOT wait until the last day to
submit your assignments. Try and work according to a study programme you compiled
yourself, keeping in mind your work and family obligations, to ensure you do not miss any
assignment due dates. No extension can be given once the due dates have passed.

9.4 Submission of assignments

• Unisa, as a comprehensive open distance e-learning institution (CODeL), is moving

towards becoming an online institution. You will therefore see that all your study material,
assignments and engagements with your lecturer and fellow students will take place online.
We use myUnisa as our virtual campus.
• The myUnisa virtual campus will offer students access to the myModules site, where
learning material will be available online, from the moment you are registered, and where
assignments should be completed. This is an online system that is used to administer,
document, and deliver educational material to students and support engagement between
academics and students.
• The myUnisa platform can be accessed via https://my.unisa.ac.za. Click on the myModules
button to access the online sites for the modules that you are registered for.
• The university undertakes to communicate clearly and as frequently as is necessary to
ensure that you obtain the greatest benefit from the use of the myModules learning
management system. Please access the announcements on your myModules site
regularly, as this is where your lecturer will post important information to be shared with
you.
• When you access your myModules site for the module/s you are registered for, you will
see a welcome message posted by your lecturer. Below the welcome message you will
see the assessment shells for the assignments that you need to complete. All of the
assignments for MNG1502 are fully randomised multiple choice (quiz) assignments. All
assignments must be completed on the assessment shells available on the respective
module platforms.
• To complete quiz assignments, please log on to the module site where you need to
complete the assessment. Click on the relevant assessment shell (Assignment 1,
Assignment 2, etc.). There will be a date on which the assessment will open for you. When
the assessment is open, access the quiz online and complete it within the time available
to you. Quiz assessment questions are not included in this tutorial letter (Tutorial Letter
101) and are only made available online. You must therefore access the quiz online and
complete it online where the quiz has been created.
• It is not advisable to use a cell phone to complete the quiz. Please use a desktop computer,
tablet or laptop when completing the quiz. Students who use a cell phone find it difficult to

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 navigate the Online Assessment tool on the small screen and often struggle to navigate
between questions and successfully complete the quizzes. In addition, cell phones are
more vulnerable to dropped internet connections than other devices. If at all possible,
please do not use a cell phone for this assessment type.
• You can only complete your assignments for this module electronically via myUnisa. You
cannot submit or post a paper copy of your assignment, nor can you email your
assignments to the lecturers or use the drop-boxes on campus. You may only submit your
assignment through myUnisa.

9.5 Types of assignments and descriptions

All assignments for MNG1502 are defined as either elective or mandatory.

a. Elective assignments

Elective assignment groups have more than one assessment opportunity within the group.
Students are therefore given a choice of which assignments within an identified group they want
to submit, only the best result(s), the number of which is specified in advance, will contribute
towards the final mark. This means that it will be possible for you to miss one assessment due
date (depending on the number of assignments to be submitted) without negatively impacting
your final mark. Be wary though, because ‘life’ happens, which may cause you to miss later
assessment submissions. We therefore encourage you to rather submit your earlier assignments
and get the required submissions ‘out of the way’ so that you know you have contributed to your
final mark. You are welcome to submit all three assignments in the elective assessment groups,
in which case the two highest marks will be taken into consideration when calculating your final
mark. If you have missed a due date of an elective assessment and there are still sufficient
assignments in the assessment group to comply with the required submitted assignments, do not
email your lecturer for an extension or opportunity to submit. Please continue and submit the
remaining elective assignments in that group.

b. Mandatory assignments

These assignments must be completed and contribute towards your year mark. If you fail to
submit a mandatory assignment, no mark is awarded (0%) and the year mark is calculated
accordingly. You will, therefore, forfeit the marks attached to the assignment(s) when the final
mark for the module is calculated. There are three mandatory assignments for this module, so if
you do not submit these assignments by the due date, you will receive 0% for the assignment.
Please note that no extensions can be granted for the mandatory assignments, so please ensure
that you submit these assignments as soon as possible.

9.6 The assignments

There are no assignments included in this tutorial letter. Assignments and due dates will be made
available to you on myModules for this module. We envisage that the due dates will be available
to you upon registration. There are nine assignment opportunities for this module of which you
are required to complete seven assignments (four electives and three mandatory). These
assignments fall within three groups, some of which are mandatory, and some are elective (please
see descriptions in section 9.5 above). Each assessment group is discussed below and
summarised in table 1.2 that follows.

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Group 1: Assignments 1 to 4
Assignments 1 to 3 are elective assignments, which means you are required to submit two (any
two) of the first three assignments (Assignments 1-3) in Group 1. Therefore, should you miss the
due date for one assignment in this group (or run into any other issue), you are still able to
complete the necessary two assignments that contribute to your final mark. You may complete all
three assignments, should you wish to do so, but please note that the two highest marks achieved
will be taken into consideration for your final mark. Please see the individual assignment cover
page on myUnisa for the content that you need to study for each assignment. The final
assignment in this group (assignment 4) is a mandatory assignment which you will need to
complete as well as this will also contribute towards your final marks. Failure to complete
assignment 4 will result in you forfeiting your mark for this assignment (you will receive 0%). This
assessment group contributes 30% towards your final mark (5% for each of the contributing two
elective assignments and 20% for the mandatory assignment in this group).

Group 2: Assignment 5 to 8
Assignments 5 to 7 are elective assignments, and you are only required to submit two (any two)
of the first three assignments (Assignments 5-7) in Group 2. Therefore, should you miss the due
date for one assignment in this group (or run into any other issue), you are still able to complete
the necessary two assignments that contribute to your final mark. You may complete all three
assignments, should you wish to do so, but please note that the two highest marks achieved will
be taken into consideration for your final mark. Please see the individual assignment cover page
on myUnisa for the content that you need to study for each assignment. The final assignment in
this group (assignment 8) is a mandatory assignment which you will need to complete as well as
this will also contribute towards your final marks. Failure to complete assignment 8 will result in
you forfeiting your mark for this assignment (you will receive 0%). This assessment group
contributes 30% towards your final mark (5% for each of the contributing two elective assignments
and 20% for the mandatory assignment in this group).

Group 3: Assignment 9 (Mandatory)

Assignment 9 is a mandatory assignment. Therefore, you must submit this assignment. If you fail
to submit this assignment, you will receive a mark of 0%. Assignment 9 contributes 40% towards
your final mark and will cover ALL six lessons, and at this point, you are expected to have
mastered the content of the module and should be able to answer both theoretical questions from
the knowledge you have without referring to the study material and apply this knowledge to a
practical situation/scenario. This assessment contributes 40% towards your final marks, so it is
extremely important that you complete the assignment before the due date, as no extension will
be granted. There are also no alternative opportunities if you fail to submit this assignment.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you submit all the necessary assignments for assignment
groups 1, 2 and 3. Please ensure that you know which of the assignments are electives and which
are mandatory. The information above is summarised in table 1.2 below. We encourage you to
print this table, complete the due dates as available on the assignment cover pages on myUnisa,
and keep it pinned to your workspace so that you do not forget to submit your assignments.

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All assignments can be found online on myUnisa. Please note that the assignments are not
available upfront, they will only be released a number of weeks before the due date of the
assignment on myUnisa. I advise you NOT to wait until the last date provided before you complete
your assignments on myUnisa, as the system might be very busy or down for routine
maintenance.
Table 1.1: Summary of elective and mandatory assignments for MNG1502
Assignment Assignment Content Type of Number of Weight
Notes
group number covered assignment questions contribution
10 fully
Assignment 1 Lesson 1 Elective randomised 5%
MCQs Any two of
10 fully these
Assignment 2 Lesson 2 Elective randomised 5% assignments
MCQs – 10% total
10 fully contribution
Group 1
Assignment 3 Lesson 3 Elective randomised 5%
MCQs
Failure to
20 fully submit this
Assignment 4 Lessons 1 - 3 Mandatory randomised 20% assignment
MCQs will result in a
mark of 0%
10 fully
Assignment 5 Lesson 4 Elective randomised 10%
MCQs Any two of
10 fully these
Assignment 6 Lesson 5 Elective randomised 10% assignments
MCQs – 20% total
10 fully contribution
Group 2
Assignment 7 Lesson 6 Elective randomised 10%
MCQs
Failure to
20 fully submit this
Assignment 8 Lessons 4 - 6 Mandatory randomised 20% assignment
MCQs will result in a
mark of 0%
Failure to
60 fully submit this
Group 3 Assignment 9 Lessons 1 - 6 Mandatory randomised 30% assignment
MCQs will result in a
mark of 0%

There are at least seven assignments which must be completed for this module. There are non-
negotiable submission deadlines for each of these assignments. I advise you NOT to wait until
the last date provided before you complete your assignments on myUnisa. The due dates are
fixed, and we cannot extend any assignment due date, unless it is communicated as such by
University management. Although they are open book assignments, you will need to study the
work before attempting to complete the assignments. The assignments will be completed online.
Instructions on how and where on myUnisa to complete the assignments will be communicated
to you via your myLife e-mail. Please check your myLife e-mail frequently.

These assignments will be made available during the course of the semester, and an
announcement will be sent out each time an assignment is available. Please note that the
assignments are only available for a number of weeks on myUnisa. In other words, you will have
a certain amount of time to learn the material and submit each assignment, thus allowing you to
focus on small portions of the study material at a time throughout the semester.
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9.7 Format of the assignments

All of the assignments will be presented as online multiple-choice question assignments.

However, all the questions and assignments will be fully randomised for each and every student
and each submission, which means that each time you resubmit the assignment you will receive
a new set of questions. Kindly note that you have two attempts to complete each assignment. It
is not compulsory to complete both attempts as the second attempt is only there in case you
experience any major technical difficulties with your original attempt. Therefore, do not use the
resubmit function, unless it is absolutely necessary.

You are required to select the most appropriate option from options 1 to 4. Choose the option you
think is the correct or most appropriate answer. In other words, if you think that option 4 in question
1 is correct, then select option 4 next to the appropriate question number (in this case it is question
1). If you need assistance with answering multiple-choice questions, please refer to the
Study@Unisa brochure.

Use the Online-Assessment tool available on the MNG1502 module site to submit all your
compulsory assignments. ALL your assignments will be completed online.

9.8 Instructions for the submission of assignments

• It is your responsibility, as a student of an online module, to ensure that you have continuous
access to reliable internet when completing assignments. This might also be electricity
dependent and is a factor you should consider and plan for.
• All assignments are individual assignments. The answers given must be YOUR answers.
• Assignments must be submitted on/before the due date and due time.

Please take note of the following:

a. Assignment due dates and the UNISA server

As a Unisa student, you may have experienced problems with technology in the past. There are
system downtimes and there are times the system gets overloaded with students submitting their
assignments and you will not be able to access the site to submit your assignment. This is one of
the main reasons we encourage our students not to wait until the due date to submit your
assignment, but rather to submit as soon as you are comfortable with the applicable content
tested in that assignment. Should you wait until the due date to submit, you stand the chance of
finding an overloaded system (as all other students are trying to submit).

b. Issues experienced while completing MNG1502 assignments

If you experience any problems accessing the assignment or while submitting the assignment
(i.e. server disconnects; ‘error writing to database’; assignments are submitted without your
permission), take a screenshot of the issue. DO NOT take a photo of the error message as we
need the screenshot to include the date and time, and you as the logged-in user to verify the
system error. If you are unable to take a screenshot, you must ensure the photo includes
the whole screen (date, time and user info) and it is clear and legible. If not, the photo will not be
accepted.

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Each student receives two attempts per assignment. The second attempt should only be
completed if you experience any technical difficulties during your first attempt.

Should you experience any difficulties while submitting your assignments, please follow the
guidelines proposed by Unisa ICT:

1. Clear all time cache and cookies on your internet browser.

2. Once cleared, close browser and log-in again.

The error message received by students is saved in the browser memory and until the cache is
cleared, the error will be repeated. If, however, you experience continued problems with
myModules, you may call the Toll-Free Landline: 0800 00 1870 (Select option 7 for myModules)
or Email: mymodule22@unisa.ac.za. Please note that the lecturer cannot assist with any
technical issues related to myUnisa.

c. Issues outside of UNISA’s control

There are numerous issues that are beyond Unisa’s control. Preventing these issues from
disrupting the submission of your assignments, remains your responsibility. It is for these reasons
you need to ensure that you submit your assignments before the due date. Should any of these
issues occur, you still have time to make alternative arrangements to complete the assessment.
• Personal network or service provider issues: it remains your responsibility to ensure you
have consistent and reliable access to the internet while completing assignments. Please
also note that it is your responsibility to ensure that you have sufficient data to complete the
assignments.
• Loadshedding/power outages: loadshedding is a facet of life that everyone, including all
other students, needs to navigate and manage. You are responsible for not only regularly
checking the loadshedding schedules, but also to have contingency plans in place should the
loadshedding stages change without prior notice. You are encouraged to submit your
assignments before the due date to allow time to ‘work around’ the inconvenience of
loadshedding.
• Limited space on personal computer
• Crashed computer/stolen computer
• Using work computers that block access to the myUnisa site (work firewall challenges)
• Unlicensed software (e.g. license expires during assessment)

Please do not contact your lecturers to request an extension or additional attempts should you be
affected by any of these issues, as we cannot assist. No extension will be granted should you
encounter any of these issues.

d. Can I get extension on my assignment due date?

No extension can be given once an assignment due date has passed. The only exceptions to this,
in accordance with UNISA policies, are as follows:
• If you were ill for some time before and on the assessment due date. In such an instance
a doctor’s note or hospital letter indicating the dates you were not able to work/study
should be submitted with your email requesting extension. This does not apply to regular

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check-up appointments/sessions with for example a physiotherapist or biokeneticist or follow

up doctor’s appointment as these visits are booked in advance, do not take a full day to
complete and do not necessarily mean you were incapable of doing work or completing
assignments. You will only be excused for the dates indicated on the doctor’s note or hospital
letter. Requests for extension should be submitted within 10 days of the due date OR 10
days after release from the hospital.
• The death of a close family member (parents, grandparents, children, siblings). In such an
instance, a death certificate should accompany your request for extension. This should also
be submitted within 10 days of the assignment due date.
• If it is a decision taken and communicated by Unisa management.

Failure to present the supporting documents, or not submitting the documents within the specified
time frame, means you forfeit the opportunity for extension.

9.9 Final mark

Each assessment group will contribute towards your final mark, as indicated in Table 1.2 in
section 9.6. Please note, there is no formal examination for MNG1502. The combined
weighted averages of your assignment marks must be 50% or higher for you to pass the module.
To calculate your final mark, use the below formula:
Best mark obtained for submitted elective assignment (%) X 5% = total
Group 1 Second best mark obtained for submitted elective assignment (%) X 5% = total
Mark obtained for mandatory assignment in this group (%) X 20% = total
Best mark obtained for submitted elective assignment (%) X 10% = total
Group 2 Second best mark obtained for submitted elective assignment (%) X 10% = total
Mark obtained for mandatory assignment in this group (%) X 20% = total
Group 3 Mark obtained for mandatory assignment in this group (%) X 30% = total
Add totals to receive % obtained for your final mark

Table 1.3: Calculation of your year mark:

Mark (percentage)
Assignment Assignment obtained for assignment Comments for calculations
group number

1 60% Best mark obtained

2 60% Second best mark obtained
1 Not used, better mark received in other
3 55%
2 assignments
4 50% Mandatory will always count
5 40% Second best mark obtained
6 Did not submit Not used as you did not submit
2
7 50% Best mark obtained
8 60% Mandatory will always count
3 9 68% Mandatory will always count

The final mark is, therefore, calculated as follows:

Final mark = (60x5%) + (60x5%) + (50x20%) + (40x10%) + (50x10%) + (60x20%) + (68x30%)
= 3 + 3 + 10 + 4 + 5 + 12 + 20.4
= 57,4%
= 57%

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Please note: There is no supplementary opportunity for continuous assessment modules. If you
do not receive a final mark of 50% or more, you will need to re-register for the module.

10. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

10.1 Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the act of taking the words, ideas and thoughts of others and presenting them as
your own. It is a form of theft. Plagiarism includes the following forms of academic dishonesty:

• Copying and pasting from any source without acknowledging the source.
• Not including references or deliberately inserting incorrect bibliographic information.
• Paraphrasing without acknowledging the original source of the information.
For more information about plagiarism, follow the link below:
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/myunisa/default/Study-@-Unisa/Student-values-and-rules

10.2 Cheating
Cheating includes, but is not limited to, the following:
• Completing assignments on behalf of another student, copying the work of another
student during an assessment, or allowing another student to copy your work.
• Using social media (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram) or other platforms to disseminate
assessment information.
• Submitting corrupt or irrelevant files, this forms part of examination guidelines
• Buying completed answers from so-called “tutors” or internet sites (contract cheating).

11. STUDENTS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES

The Advocacy and Resource Centre for Students with Disabilities (ARCSWiD) provides an
opportunity for staff to interact with first-time and returning students with disabilities. If you are a
student with a disability and would like additional support or need additional time for assignments,
you are invited to contact ARCSWiD to discuss the assistance that you need.

12. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

On the MNG1502 myUnisa module site, you will find a number of questions frequently asked by
students. To access these questions, go to the MNG1502 module site and click on the FAQ tool
(it appears on the left-hand side on the screen). Before contacting Unisa, read these FAQs as
you may find the answer to your question there. Remember to look at the FAQs regularly as
more questions are added as the semester progresses – there may even be ones that you have
asked. Also consult the Study@Unisa brochure before you contact the university, as most of your
questions will be answered in this brochure.

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13. IN CLOSING
Do not hesitate to contact us by e-mail if you are experiencing problems with the content of this
tutorial letter or with any academic aspect of the module. We wish you a fascinating and satisfying
journey through the learning material, and trust that you will complete the module successfully.

Enjoy the journey!

Mrs Rachelle Reeler and Mrs Magdel van Heerden

Lecturers for MNG1502

UNISA 2024

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