The purpose of this qualification is to provide New Zealand business entities with people who have general and specialised business knowledge and skills that can be applied in a range of operational roles.
Graduates will benefit New Zealand business entities by contributing to the achievement of entities' operational objectives, through the application of knowledge and skills, in an ethical manner, in a bi- and multi-cultural environment.
In addition, graduates will have specialised knowledge and skills for application in operational roles in New Zealand business entities, depending on which strand is achieved.

Graduates of this qualification will be able to:

- Core technical knowledge and skills: Apply knowledge of the principles and practices of operations, accounting, sales/marketing, HR, and risk management, to support the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the entity.
- Core technical knowledge and skills: Contribute in operational contexts to innovation and organisational change within a business entity.
- Core people skills: Develop and maintain operational business relationships with stakeholders for efficient and effective performance of the entity.
- Core people skills: Research and communicate information for efficient and effective performance of the entity.
- Core cognitive skills: Apply problem-solving and decision-making in operational contexts for efficient and effective performance of the entity.
- Core affective skills: Manage own and others' learning and performance within an operational context for efficient and effective performance of the entity.
- Core affective skills: Apply professional and ethical behaviour, in a socially and culturally appropriate manner.
- Core business environment: Analyse the impact of internal and external environments on entities.
- Core business environment: Analyse how the origin and nature of the bi-cultural partnership (as embedded in the Treaty of Waitangi) can be applied to business activities and relationships.

Graduates of the Accounting strand will also be able to:
- Technical knowledge and skills: Record and process a wide range of financial transactions.
- Technical knowledge and skills: Apply accounting concepts and standards to prepare financial statements and reports.
- Technical knowledge and skills: Prepare budgets and monitor business performance against budgets.
- Technical knowledge and skills: Analyse and interpret financial information to inform decision-making.
- Technical knowledge and skills: Apply tax rules for individuals and small businesses.
- Technical knowledge and skills: Determine internal controls to minimise financial risk.
- Technical knowledge and skills: Evaluate debtor risk and apply relevant actions to mitigate.
- Technical knowledge and skills: Act in accordance with the accounting profession's Code of Ethics.
- People skills: Research and communicate technical financial information for a business entity's performance.

Graduates of the Administration and Technology strand will also be able to:
- Technical knowledge and skills: Plan, organise and manage business administration functions, operations, and/or projects, to support management.
- Technical knowledge and skills:Select, apply and support a broad range of current and emerging business technologies to meet business entity needs.
- Technical knowledge and skills: Manage, analyse and evaluate administrative systems and processes; identify and recommend any improvements.

Graduates of the Human Resource Management strand will also be able to:
- Technical knowledge and skills: Apply knowledge of the principles and practices of HR functions for recruitment, development, performance management, and health and safety within an entity.
- Technical knowledge and skills: Adapt to changes in given organisational context/s with effective HR strategies.
- People skills: Communicate effectively with stakeholders to provide HR-specific information and advice within a recognised industry ethical framework.

Graduates of the Leadership and Management strand will also be able to:
- Technical knowledge and skills: Identify operational issues and challenges and apply techniques for continuous improvement for efficient and effective performance of the entity.
- Technical knowledge and skills: Contribute to the business planning for efficient and effective performance of the entity.
- Technical knowledge and skills: Lead others to implement activities within the entity's plans, including change, for efficient and effective performance of the entity.
- Technical knowledge and skills: Manage projects within scope, resources, and time.
- People skills: Negotiate and positively influence others to achieve the entity's outcomes.
- People skills: Develop a positive workplace culture and team engagement, for efficient and effective performance of the entity.
- Business environment: Promote compliance with internal and external requirements.

Graduates of the Marketing and Sales strand will also be able to:
- Technical knowledge and skills: Apply marketing and sales principles and processes, including consideration of the role of the entity's brand.
- Technical knowledge and skills: Advise management on existing and emerging marketing and sales issues, based on secondary research.
- Technical knowledge and skills: Use existing technology, and show awareness of emerging technology, in a range of marketing contexts and/or delivery platforms.
- People skills: Communicate persuasively and purposefully, using buyer decision-making process and negotiation, with customers and prospects to achieve marketing and sales outcomes.
- People skills: Apply self-management and interpersonal skills for effective relationship management.

Graduates of the Project Management strand will also be able to:
- Technical knowledge and skills: Select and use project management tools and techniques appropriate to the project(s).
- Technical knowledge and skills: Apply project management knowledge to manage the initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and control, and closing of projects.
- People skills: Negotiate and positively influence others to achieve the project's outcomes.

This qualification may build on from:
- New Zealand Certificate in Business (Administration and Technology) (Level 4) [Ref: 2461]
- New Zealand Certificate in Business (Accounting Support Services) (Level 4) [Ref: 2455]
- New Zealand Certificate in Business (Small Business) (Level 4) [Ref: 2457]
- New Zealand Certificate in Business (First Line Management) (Level 4) [Ref: 2456]
- New Zealand Certificate in Project Management (Level 4) [Ref: 2462]

Graduates may progress to:
- New Zealand Diploma in Business (with strands in Accounting, Administration and Technology, Leadership and Management, and Māori Business and Management) (Level 6) [Ref: 2460]
- business qualifications at degree level
- relevant industry or professional qualifications at Level 6 or above.

Award of this qualification with the Accounting strand may equip graduates towards achievement of the academic requirements for NZICA's Accounting Technicians College.

Award of this qualification with the Administration and Technology strand may equip graduates towards achievement of Association of Administrative Professionals New Zealand's (AAPNZ) Certification.

Award of this qualification with the Project Management strand may equip graduates towards achievement of Project Management Institute and other professional credentials in Project Management.

To gain entry onto programmes leading to this qualification, international students must meet the English Proficiency Outcomes for International Students for whom English is not their First Language as set out in Appendix 2 of the NZQF Programme Approval and Accreditation Rules 2013 (Version 2). These can be accessed at: www.nzqa.govt.nz.
There are no other mandatory prerequisites to meet regulatory body or legislative requirements for this qualification.