University of Cape Town
Business Development Management
Equip yourself with the business-development tools you need to generate long-term value for your company.
Start date
03 February 2025
Course duration
6 weeks
Excluding orientation
Language
English
Access resources from start date
Effort
7–10 hours per week
Self-paced learning online
Course overview
“Growth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working together.”
– James Cash Penney, Founder, JCPenney
HelpSquad (Aug, 2018).
"You will either step forward into growth or you will step back into safety.”
– Abraham Maslow, Creator, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
The Balance Small Business (Apr, 2019).
Duration: 6 weeks (excluding orientation)
The concept of business development differs among organisations, and the discipline can involve a broad range of skills and focus areas. Regardless of the industry or product, the ability to drive growth through business development is critical to any organisation’s success.
The University of Cape Town’s (UCT) online short course in Business Development Management focuses on creating long-term value for organisations through the three stages of business development: pre-sales, pitch, and post-sales. By analysing case studies and focusing on practical outcomes, students acquire hard and soft skills and strategies to stimulate growth in their organisations.
By understanding the significance of business development in your organisation, you'll be able to pursue long-term value creation for products and current and prospective clients.
Is this course for you?
This course is ideal for professionals in business development, account management, or relationship management roles. It's also well-suited for individuals who wish to enhance their negotiation and pitching abilities, particularly those responsible for meeting sales targets. Aspiring business development professionals can also use the course to boost their resumes and gain university recognition.
Since business development is a broad discipline that spans various aspects of business, this course is relevant to professionals across all industries and markets, irrespective of the nature of their organisations.
Course overview
Introduction
Duration: 6 weeks (excluding orientation)
The concept of business development differs among organisations, and the discipline can involve a broad range of skills and focus areas. Regardless of the industry or product, the ability to drive growth through business development is critical to any organisation’s success.
The University of Cape Town’s (UCT) online short course in Business Development Management focuses on creating long-term value for organisations through the three stages of business development: pre-sales, pitch, and post-sales. By analysing case studies and focusing on practical outcomes, students acquire hard and soft skills and strategies to stimulate growth in their organisations.
By understanding the significance of business development in your organisation, you'll be able to pursue long-term value creation for products and current and prospective clients.
Is this course for you?
This course is ideal for professionals in business development, account management, or relationship management roles. It's also well-suited for individuals who wish to enhance their negotiation and pitching abilities, particularly those responsible for meeting sales targets. Aspiring business development professionals can also use the course to boost their resumes and gain university recognition.
Since business development is a broad discipline that spans various aspects of business, this course is relevant to professionals across all industries and markets, irrespective of the nature of their organisations.
What will set you apart
The knowledge to anticipate opportunities for new and existing products and services that will facilitate further business growth.
The confidence to develop a pitch and negotiate effectively to influence prospects and close deals.
Relationship management and persuasion skills to establish and grow business relationships for long-term value creation.
The ability to create a business development plan and devise a strategy for pursuing new opportunities. 
A digital certificate from the UCT validating your knowledge in business development management, and unlimited access to edX’s Career Engagement Network, offering you exclusive resources and events to support your professional journey and drive your career forward.Course curriculum
Orientation module
Welcome to your Online Campus
Module 1
Understanding my business model and context
Module 2
Sources of business revenue: The customer and product
Module 3
The pitch and negotiation
Module 4
Relationship management and influence
Module 5
Programme management for business development professionals
Module 6
Strategic innovation for the 21st century
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Course Convenor
Dr David Priilaid
Associate Professor, School of Management Studies, UCT
About the certificate
Build your business development expertise and earn an official certificate of completion from the University of Cape Town.
Assessment is continuous and based on a series of practical assignments completed online. In order to be issued with a digital certificate, you’ll need to meet the requirements outlined in the course handbook. The handbook will be made available to you as soon as you begin the course.
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Why choose GetSmarter?
GetSmarter operates as edX's partner for premium online short course products from the world's leading universities and institutions. With edX, we leverage our people, technology, and resources to power your education and your potential.
We deliver market-led courses that equip working professionals with the expertise required to upskill, reskill or kickstart a completely new career. Through a data-driven approach, we analyze future skills requirements and ensure all courses address this need. We ensure that leading universities and institutions are your expert guides and our people, technology, and resources are your engine – together we power more than just education, we power your potential.
Read more about GetSmarter here and edX here.
Find out more about GetSmarter’s approach to digital learning, course design, and online delivery here.
Payment options
You can pay your course fees before the course starts, or you may opt for a split payment plan on courses that are nine weeks and shorter. For courses 10 weeks and longer, there is a three-part payment plan available. To find out more about payment options please visit our Payment and Financing page, or contact an Enrollment Adviser, to find out which option you qualify for.
Manage your time
GetSmarter's learning model is designed to help you, as a working professional, improve your skills without compromising on work and family responsibilities. The course work is broken up into weekly, manageable bite-sized modules, with incremental deadlines, designed to help you pace yourself over the duration of the course and allow you the legroom to work when it suits you best.
At the beginning of each module you'll be presented with the course content and assignments necessary for completion. You also have access to your Success Adviser who will help you manage your time, and support you with any administrative or technical queries you might have.
Seek employer assistance
By improving your skills and industry knowledge, you'll have an influence on the success of your organization. Why wouldn't you ask your boss to help you fund your studies if it's going to have an impact on the way you do business?
Of our past students, 37 percent have received financial assistance from their employers. You can ask for help, too. Here is a guide to show you how to request financial assistance from your employer.
If you are a Learning & Development (L&D) manager, or involved in training and upskilling for an organization, you can request information regarding our corporate offering on our GetSmarter for business page.
How to change your start date
As part of our commitment to your professional development, GetSmarter offers you a two-week period to change your course start date or request your money back if you’re not fully satisfied.
To qualify for a deferral of your course start date, or to cancel your enrollment and receive a refund of your course fee, your request would need to reach our Success Advisers before the release of Module 2. For more information, please read our Terms and Conditions.
Discover the Online Campus
The Online Campus will be your virtual classroom for the duration of your course. Through its easy-to-use interface you'll have access to a diverse variety of course content formats including: interactive videos, module notes, practice quizzes, presentations, assignment briefs, and additional web resources.
On the Online Campus, you'll also be able to ask questions and interact with your fellow students and teaching team through the discussion forums. If you are looking for your Online Campus login, please visit your Account page here.
Financing options
We've recently partnered with financial services firm, FeverTree, to offer you another convenient way to finance your short course education. Find out how you can apply for a short-term loan below.
How do I apply?
- You have the option of applying for a full course-cost loan agreement with FeverTree (South African citizens and short courses only)
- FeverTree works with GetSmarter to ensure your studies are financed right away, giving you the chance to join the soonest presentation
- You can find out if you pre-qualify in seconds. Send an SMS with your “Name*Surname*ID Number*Gross Salary” to 30082
- FeverTree’s application process is simple and quick – expect a 15-minute turnaround to find out if you’ve been successful with your loan application
- Even if you aren’t successful in your FeverTree application, you’ll still be eligible for the payment plan options with GetSmarter
