SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of e-business as a competitive tool 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
230076  Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of e-business as a competitive tool 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Insurance and Investment 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies Finance, Economics and Accounting 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  8 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-06-30   2029-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard replaces: 
US ID Unit Standard Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Credits Replacement Status
14504  Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of e-business as a competitive tool  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  7   

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This Unit Standard is intended for learners who require expert knowledge and a holistic view of a business environment including the use and importance of e-business. The Unit Standard should enable senior people in a business environment to understand issues relating to e-business so that they are able to make or contribute to informed business decisions based on the recommendation of experts. The qualifying learner is capable of:
  • Explaining different types of e-business.
  • Investigating key aspects of a good e-business strategy.
  • Explaining the interrelationships between e-business and globalisation.
  • Investigating issues relating to the regulatory environment in the South African context.
  • Explaining risks associated with e-business. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is assumed that learners are competent in Communication at NQF Level 4. 

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    The typical scope of this Unit Standard is:
  • Forms of e-business include electronic and mobile commerce, including, but not limited to, shared data bases, downloading, marketing and support information, online-business to business links, on line transactions, email, websites, video cafes, video conferencing, sending pictures and information and multimedia, government to nation links, informatory sites, account payments, internet banking, on line store, m commerce, e learning and marketing sites.
  • Tools include, but are not limited to electronic tracking, merging information, single identification numbers, credit reporting, transactional data, personal profiling, caller identification and smart cards.
  • Issues of intellectual property include, but are not limited to, copyright, trademarks, contractual issues, legal issues, tax on tariffs, trade facilitation and customs modernisation.
  • Software includes, but is not limited to, operating systems, internet browsers, search engines, service software, enterprise software, antivirus software, Digital Certificate solutions, secure transaction, e mails, spam filters, fire walls, secure sites, secure webservers, anti virus applications and spyware and software applications.
  • Hardware includes, but is not limited to, servers, computer stations, monitors, input devices, local area networks (LANS) wireless area networks (WANS), virtual private networks (VPNS) and hand held electronic devices. 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Explain different types of e-business. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Different forms of e-business are analysed in terms of their application. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The hardware and software needed to run different applications are identified with reference to the different forms of e-business. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Reasons why organisations use e-business as a competitive tool are explained with reference to the value proposition to the client, decision making, cost control and the impact of e-business on a business environment. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Investigate key aspects of a good e-business strategy. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The key aspects of an e-business strategy are analysed in terms of market segment, focus, cost, research and development, balance between volume of information and accessibility, security, access and speed. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The work processes of an organisation are analysed and compared to a potential e-business solution to determine suitability for a selected organisation or business unit. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The consequences of a poor e-business strategy are explained with reference to issues relating to business security, reputation risk, cost, efficient use of resources, implications for work processes and lost opportunities. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Different websites are accessed and evaluated to determine the characteristics of a good website as a competitive tool for a specific form of e-business. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Different ways of advertising e-business applications are explored examples. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Explain the interrelationships between e-business and globalisation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The interrelationship between e-business and globalisation is analysed in terms of opportunities and threats to local business. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The role of e-business in accelerating the rate of globalisation is explained with examples. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Investigate issues relating to the regulatory environment in the South African context. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The concepts of protection of users and privacy are explained with reference to the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2 of 2002 and the Electronic Transactions and Communications Act, 25 of 2002. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The requirements for an on-line contract to be legally binding are explained with reference to South African legislation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Encryption as a means of ensuring security, privacy and authenticity of information is investigated and an indication is given of how encryption may be used in an organisation to ensure the rights of the individual or organisation to privacy. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Issues of intellectual property are investigated in terms of consequence for the user and the owner of the intellectual property. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The need for regulation is explained with reference to the consequences of abuse if e-commerce is not regulated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Electronic Transactions and Communications Act, 25 of 2002 is analysed in terms of how it builds trust, establishes ground rules, and maximises benefits relating to e-business. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    International applications relating to access to and use of electronic information are investigated with references to current international issues and trends. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Explain the risks associated with e-business. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Risk factors associated with e-business are explained with reference to compromised security, financial impact, acceptance by customers, reputation risk and the negative implications for a selected business. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The costs of an e-business application are analysed and compared to the expected return on Investment (ROI) to determine the financial feasibility for a specific organisation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The upside and downside risk of remaining at the cutting edge of technology is explored for e-business options. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Anyone assessing a candidate against this Unit Standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA or ETQA where a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) exists with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this Unit Standard must be accredited as a provider through the relevant ETQA or ETQA where a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) exists with the relevant ETQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines and the agreed ETQA procedures. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    The learner is able to identify and solve problems in which responses show that responsible decisions using critical thinking have been made in analysing a business proposal and assessing suitability and in suggesting uses of e-business to achieve a competitive advantage. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    The learner is able to collect, organise and critically evaluate information in investigating applications of e-business. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    The learner is able to communicate effectively in analysing key aspects of a business strategy and explaining the use of e-business in a specific organization. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    The learner is able to use technology effectively and critically in accessing websites and illustrating the relationship between hardware, and software. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    The learner is able to demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems in explaining the interrelationship between e-business and globalisation. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    This unit standard replaces unit standard 14504, "Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of e-business as a competitive tool", Level 6, 7 credits. 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  57918   National Certificate: Short Term Insurance  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  INSETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.