National Certificate in Business (Small Business Management)

This programme aims to provide students with the competence, knowledge and skills required to assess small business opportunities and establish small business ventures.

The course consists of 3 modules, which must be studied in the order listed below:

SBM101 Small Business Operations 1

30 credits (Approximately 18-20 hours weekly study time)

Covers Unit Standards 1989, 1990, 1991, 6404, 1992, 6408

This module will increase your knowledge of researching small business opportunities, assessing small business ownership, developing marketing options, and identifying cost factors and assessing cost, volume and profit relationships.

(Note: unit standard 6408 must be assessed in a workplace or simulated conditions)

SBM102 Small Business Operations 2

15 credits (Approximately 9-10 hours weekly study time)

Covers Unit Standards 6407, 6406, 26367

In this module you will learn about determining advertising options, establishing human resource needs, and establishing costs and prices for products all in small business ventures.

SBM103 Small Business Operations 3

15 credits (Approximately 9-10 hours weekly study time)

Covers Unit Standards 2926, 19025

At the completion of this module you will have learnt about developing taxation, and insurance responsibilities, applying marketing principles and recruiting and selecting staff for small businesses.

Details of Unit Standards:

US 1989 - Research Small Business Operations (Level 4, 5 credits)

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

At the end of this subject, the student will be able to:

• Analyse options for self employment
• Identify characteristics of small business enterprises
• Identify and assess new business opportunities
• Evaluate assistance programs, and
• Identify specialist services available for small business development

US 1990 - Assess Small Business Ownership Options and Business Structures (Level 4, 5 credits)

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

At the end of this study, the student will be able to:

• Analyse ownership options and business structures
• Assess options for acquiring a business
• Evaluate small business financing options, and
• Interpret legal requirements for small business operations

US 1991 - Produce Establishment Plans for Small Business Ventures (Level 4, 5 credits)

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

At the end of this paper, the student will be able to:

• Understand the concept of  business vision
• Prepare and communicate an ethical framework for the business
• Appreciate the need for entrepreneurship and innovation
• Establish business goals and objectives; and
• Prepare a business plan for a small business

US 6404 - Develop Marketing Options for Small Business (Level 4, 5 credits)

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

At the end of this paper, the student will be able to:

• Analyse the potential market and confirm the demand
• Determine the mix of products/services to be provided
• Develop options for effective marketing
• Determine how best to promote the business

US 1992 - Control and Evaluate Small Business Operations (Level 4, 5 credits)

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

At the end of this subject, the student will be able to:

• Understand the purpose and nature of control
• Monitor key business activities
• Recognise the functions of  basic accounting systems
• Interpret financial and accounting information
• Contrast operating results with business operation
• Identify and manage business risks

US 6408 - Identify Cost Factors and Assess Cost, Volume, and Profit relationships for Small Business Operations (Level 4, 5 credits)

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

At the end of this subject, the student will be able to:

• Understand the difference between fixed and variable costs
• Related costs to projected  revenue
• Determine the break even point
• Appreciate the importance of cash flow
• Identify assumptions and limitations of cost and price behaviour analysis models

US 6407 - Establish Human Resource Needs of the Small Business Operation (Level 5, 5 credits)

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

At the end of this subject, the student will be able to:

• Assess human resource requirements for a business
• Identify potential sources of personnel
• Evaluate human resource management options
• Identify employment obligations and responsibilities
• Plan how work will be allocated and evaluated
• Identify staff development needs and establish staff development policies

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

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

At the end of this subject, the student will be able to:

• Research customer needs and preferences
• Customise products and/or services to meet customer requirements
• Monitor customer satisfaction with products and/or services provided
• Develop customer service strategies for maintaining quality customer relations

US 6409 - Establish costs, prices, and conditions for provision of products and services for a small business enterprise (Level 5, 5 credits)

This unit standard is about identifying and interpreting cost factors, reviewing and determining costing methods, identifying and assessing factors that impact on pricing decisions, determining and developing conditions for the provision of products and/or services, and communicating the outcomes to customers and suppliers.

At the end of this subject, the student will be able to:

• Identify and interpret cost factors
• Review and determine costing methods
• Identify and assess internal and external factors that impact on pricing decisions
• Determine and develop conditions for the provision of products and/or services
• Formulate and communicate prices for the provision of products and/or services

US 2926 - Apply marketing principles to enterprise activities (Level 4, 10 credits)

This unit standard further broadens the understanding of marketing principles and their application to achieve the marketing objectives of an enterprise. It first focuses on monitoring the marketing environment, and distinguishing the roles of marketing research and marketing information systems to investigate and understand the operations of the marketplace and the characteristics of major markets. Then it looks at the concepts of segmentation and targeting, the influences on consumer behaviour and the relationship between the marketing mix and the achievement of marketing objectives. 

At the end of this subject, the student will be able to:

• Monitor the marketing environment and determine variables for marketing activities.
• Distinguish the role of marketing research and marketing information systems in investigating and understanding the operations of the marketplace.
• Distinguish characteristics of major markets.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the concepts of segmentation and targeting.
• Identify influences on consumer behaviour in relation to marketing activities.
• Analyse the relationship between marketing mix development and the achievement of marketing objectives.

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

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

At the end of this subject, the student will be able to:

• Explain concepts, systems and principles of quality.
• Identify the quality assurance requirements for a business operation.
• Access the quality assurance system of a business operation. 

Enrolment: Application forms are filled out on a year by year basis and students are welcome to apply for multiple intakes on the one application form.  Further enrolment is the responsibility of individual students.  There is no automatic enrolment rollover.

Transfers:  All study selected for a particular intake must be completed within that intake period and cannot be carried over to another intake, unless a transfer is requested within the first two weeks after the start date.  Each transfer requested into an alternative intake will incur an admin fee of $50.  Transfers are not permitted two weeks after the intake start date or between academic years.

Withdrawals:  In order to get a refund of fees, students must advise SIT2LRN of their application withdrawal, in writing, 14 days prior to programme start date.  Students can withdraw up to 75% of the way through the course, but will still be liable for the fees. Students must advise SIT2LRN in writing of their programme withdrawal.

This programme requires a computer and internet access. All students are required to use their SIT webmail only. All course materials and information, including assessments and due dates, are located on the online Blackboard system, for which access will be given during the period of study.  All assignments are to be submitted as an attachment to an email.

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

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

Assessments for this course are generally reports, question / answers and fill in tables.  There are no external exams for this course.

The Zero Fees Scheme applies to this course, so there are no tuition fees as long as you are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident (residing in NZ), BUT there is a student direct material cost of $5.50 per credit of study undertaken, plus the required textbook/s listed below.  You must maintain satisfactory academic progress to retain your Zero Fees Scheme entitlement.

Payment is due on the start date of each intake enrolled in - for just the paper/s or unit/s that you have enrolled in for that intake.

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

For papers SBM101, 102 & 103, the required textbook is:

The Small Business Book: A New Zealand Guide for the 21st Century (6th ed)

Author: Oliver & English (2012)

Publisher: Allen & Unwin, Sydney

For a quote from the SIT Bookshop please call: 0800 888 220 or email: bookshop@sit.ac.nz. Limited numbers are also available to borrow (short term) from SIT’s library by emailing library@sit.ac.nz or phoning 0800 478 839 ext 8836.

At the successful completion of this programme, students will have the required competencies to function successfully and effectively as a small business owner or potential small business owner, or continue on to further study in our National Diploma in Business (Level 5), or National Diploma in Business (Level 6) (upon meeting eligibility criteria).

All applicants should demonstrate a keen interest in small business management and have academic attributes which demonstrate that applicants have a reasonable likelihood of successful completion of the programme.  A minimum of 18 years of age, with a minimum of four years secondary education is required. 

School leavers should have attained a minimum of 12 credits at NCEA level 2 in each of four subjects.   Mature students (20 years of age or over at commencement of the programme) are welcome to apply.

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