The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the following is essential:

Assessment must confirm the ability to evaluate a range of vendor products and equipment against a client's functional requirements.

To demonstrate competency in this unit the following resources will be needed:

Client functional requirements

Hardware and software specifications from vendors

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Evaluation of vendor products is critical for reducing costs, improving quality and ensuring better internal processes.

Planning and evaluation of vendor products uses skills and knowledge applications across a broad range of technical and management requirements, evaluation and coordination.

Vendor product evaluation may include participation in teams, including those concerned with planning and evaluation functions.

The breadth, depth and complexity covering planning and initiation of alternative approaches to skills or knowledge applications across a broad range of technical and/or management requirements, evaluation and coordination would be characteristic.

The demonstration of competency may also require self-directed application of knowledge and skills, with substantial depth in some areas where judgement is required in planning and selecting appropriate equipment, services and techniques for self and others.

Assessment must ensure:

Applications involve participation in development of strategic initiatives as well as personal responsibility and autonomy in performing complex technical operations or organising others. It may include participation in teams including teams concerned with planning and evaluation functions. Group or team coordination may also be involved.

Method of assessment

The purpose of this unit is to define the standard of performance to be achieved in the workplace. In undertaking training and assessment activities related to this unit, consideration should be given to the implementation of appropriate diversity and accessibility practices in order to accommodate people who may have special needs. Additional guidance on these and related matters is provided in ICA05 Section 1.

Competency in this unit should to be assessed using summative assessment to ensure consistency of performance in a range of contexts. This unit can be assessed either in the workplace or in a simulated environment. However, simulated activities must closely reflect the workplace to enable full demonstration of competency.

Assessment will usually include observation of real or simulated work processes and procedures and/or performance in a project context as well as questioning on underpinning knowledge and skills. The questioning of team members, supervisors, subordinates, peers and clients where appropriate may provide valuable input to the assessment process.

Guidance information for assessment

The interdependence of units for assessment purposes may vary with the particular project or scenario. Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended.

An individual demonstrating this competency would be able to:

Demonstrate understanding of a broad knowledge base incorporating theoretical concepts, with substantial depth in some areas

Analyse and plan approaches to technical problems or management requirements

Transfer and apply theoretical concepts and/or technical or creative skills to a range of situations

Evaluate information, using it to forecast for planning or research purposes

Take responsibility for own outputs in relation to broad quantity and quality parameters

Take some responsibility for the achievement of group outcomes

Maintain knowledge of industry products and services

Required skills

Identification of key sources of information

Understanding specification sheets

Accurately summarising and documenting information

Understanding conflicts and integration capabilities between diverse equipment

Understanding importance and relevance of product information

Communicating with vendors effectively

Organising performance deviations

Required knowledge

Relevant knowledge of current and future technical systems

Features and function of relevant hardware components

Features and function of relevant software products

Interaction between relevant hardware and software products

Broad knowledge of the client business domain (e.g. when confirming system components to acquire and agreeing on methods for acquiring components)

Current industry-accepted hardware and software products with knowledge of general features and capabilities and detailed knowledge in some areas

Broad knowledge of vendor product and international standards

Copyright and intellectual property

Australian Computer Society Code of Ethics

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Business requirements may be in reference to:

business

system

network

people in the organisation

Client may include but is not limited to:

internal departments

external organisations

individual people

employees

Rate - this process may include:

evaluation of customer testimonies and support documents

Solution may include but is not limited to:

new hardware

hardware upgrades

new software

software upgrades

user training

implementing a new system

Standards may include:

ISO/IEC/IEEE/IETF/ITU/AS standards

organisational standards

project standards