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 identify technical considerations affecting the physical design of a database and the ability to build a database that meets the client's database performance requirements.

The final database will meet specified business rules, agreed budget and timeframe. The database will perform efficiently in the runtime environment (the environment required to operate the designed solution, not the development environment).

Reports must meet the specific output requirements and be presented in a logical and accessible manner.

To demonstrate competency in this unit the person will require access to:

Client requirements

Project deliverables

Acceptance criteria

Current IT blueprint

Security system plan

Technical specifications

Business analysis process outcomes

Assessment of this unit of competency will include a review of developed documents detailing:

Database directories

Calculation of space requirements for tables

Additional space requirements

Design of node groups

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Technical documentation defining architecture, platform and operating system specifications; database supplier technical specifications and manuals; data samples; database package.

The breadth, depth and complexity of knowledge and skills in this competency would cover a broad range of varied activities or application in a wider variety of contexts most of which are complex and non-routine. Leadership and guidance would be involved when organising activities of self and others as well as contributing to technical solutions of a non-routine or contingency nature.

Assessment must ensure:

Performance of a broad range of skilled applications including the requirement to evaluate and analyse current practices, develop new criteria and procedures for performing current practices and provision of some leadership and guidance to others in the application and planning of the skills would be characteristic.

Applications may involve responsibility for, and limited organisation of, others.

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 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. The interdependence of units for assessment purposes may vary with the particular project or scenario.

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

ICAA4041C Determine and confirm client business expectations and needs

ICAB4059B Develop detailed technical design

ICAB4061B Monitor physical database implementation

ICAD4043B Develop and present a feasibility report

ICAS4125B Monitor and administer a database

An individual demonstrating this competency would be able to:

Demonstrate understanding of a broad knowledge base incorporating some theoretical concepts

Apply solutions to a defined range of unpredictable problems

Identify and apply skill and knowledge areas to a wide variety of contexts, with depth in some areas

Identify, analyse and evaluate information from a variety of sources

Take responsibility for own outputs in relation to specified quality standards

Take limited responsibility for the quantity and quality of the output of others

Maintain knowledge of industry products and services

Required skills

Design and analysis skills for identifying, analysing and evaluating a range of solutions (e.g. when DBMS options are evaluated through iteration against technical specifications and client requirements

DBMS administration skills for identifying, analysing and evaluating a range of solutions

Data modelling skills for identifying, analysing and evaluating a range of solutions

Problem solving skills for a defined range of unpredictable problems involving participation in the development of technical solutions (e.g. when DBMS options are evaluated through iteration against technical specifications and client requirements)

Required knowledge

Three or more current principles of databases

Current industry-accepted hardware and software products, with knowledge of general features and capabilities

Database design

Broad knowledge of quality assurance practices (e.g. when identifying database scope and database requirements)

Broad general knowledge of the client business domain (e.g. when identifying database scope)

Detailed technical knowledge of database requirements

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.

Requirements may be in reference to:

business

system

network

people in the organisation

User may include:

a person within a department

a department within the organisation

a third party

System architecture may include but is not limited to:

Operating system: Novell NetWare 5 or above or operating system that has multi-user ability; Linux, Mac OS, Windows 2000 or above

Database software: Oracle, Sybase, Microsoft SQL Server, Ingres, DB2, Informix, mSQL, MySQL, SQL server

Configuration: small memory model, large memory model, requests per second

Databasemanagementsystem may include:

distributed or centralised

on-line

partitioned geographically

thematically distributed

Database may include but is not limited to:

relational databases

object-relational databases

proprietary databases

commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) database packages

Acceptancecriteria may include:

timeframe

cost implications

technical

logistical considerations

System may include but is not limited to:

network

software

business

computers

financial system

management system

information system