Assessor Resource

ICAB4076B
Implement configuration management

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


This unit defines the competency required to implement administrative and technical procedures throughout the software development and documentation life cycle.

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

Prerequisites

ICAD4217B

Create Technical Documentation

Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.



Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

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 will confirm knowledge of quality processes, audit trails and version control.

Assessment will confirm the ability to implement and maintain reliable and valid configuration management procedures for technical and administrative procedures for use during the software life cycle.

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

Configuration tools

Evaluation criteria

Process for approval of change requests

Templates for status reports

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Implementation of configuration management will usually include observation of real or simulated work processes and procedures, the results of previous configuration projects may be used to assist in understanding configuration management in a global context.

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.

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

To demonstrate this unit of competency the following should be addressed:

Track changes to all software components

Support parallel development of different components

Control the entire project and its evolution over time (e.g. releases and variants)

Manage the approval of changes (e.g. promotion process)

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills

Configuration management involves problem solving skills involving participation in the development of configuration management (e.g. when the point when items are subjected to configuration control is identified with developers and team members)

Plain English literacy and communication skills in relation to developing technical and business reports

Group facilitation and presentation skills in relation to transferring and collecting information and gaining consensus on concepts (e.g. when responsibilities for configuration management within the project and for ongoing support, including approval of changes are identified and responsible parties are aware of their roles)

Project planning skills in relation to scope, time, cost, quality, communications and risk management (e.g. when the physical and functional completeness of items for the purpose of release is determined with developers and team members)

Research skills for identifying, analysing and evaluating broad features of a particular business domain and best practice in software development methodologies (e.g. when the requirements for formal control of software products and documentation are identified and implemented)

Estimating skills for use across a range of predictable project contexts in relation to either varied or highly specific functions (e.g. when the development and maintenance of records and status reports required to show the history of baselines, and their links to back-ups are documented)

Function point analysis skills for use across a range of predictable project contexts in relation to either varied or highly specific functions (e.g. when configuration management is integrated into general project management processes for monitoring and control purposes)

Required knowledge

Detailed knowledge of software development methodologies (e.g. when identifying and clarifying configuration management requirements

Detailed knowledge of quality assurance and quality processes (e.g. when implementing monitoring mechanisms

Broad knowledge of project planning methodologies and tools

Detailed knowledge of benchmarking methodologies (e.g. when implementing monitoring mechanisms

Detailed knowledge of how to formulate software size models and size estimates (e.g. when employing control mechanisms)

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.

Documentation may follow:

ISO/IEC/AS standards

audit trails

naming standards

version control

project management templates

report writing principles

Stakeholders may include:

sponsor

user

development team

management

testers

project team

Requirements may be in reference to:

business

system

network

people in the organisation

Organisational requirements may include but is not limited to:

how and what the organisation wants in regard to work environment

problem solution processes

preventative maintenance and diagnostic policy, roles and technical responsibilities in the IT department

vendor and product service-level support agreements

Software may include but is not limited to:

commercial software applications

organisation-specific software

packaged software

in-house or customised software

Softwareconfigurationtools may include:

PVCS Version Manager

PVCS Version Manager PLUS

PVCS Configuration Builder

Version Stamper

Baseline +Plus

Version +Plus

ClearCase

Continuus/CM

SCCS

RCS

Source Integrity

TeamWare

CVS

Organisationalguidelines may include but is not limited to:

personal use of emails and internet access

content of emails

downloading information and accessing particular websites

opening mail with attachments

virus risk

dispute resolution

document procedures and templates

communication methods

financial control mechanisms

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Develop and/or assemble identification standards for the naming and version control of software and documentation, and provide to stakeholders 
Identify the softwareconfigurationtools and procedures for the required level of integration into the programming environment 
Identify responsibilities for configuration management within the project and for ongoing support, including approval of changes 
Take action to ensure that stakeholders are aware of their roles 
Identify the point at which items are subjected to configuration control with stakeholders 
Identify and document the method for identification and recording of change requests in line with organisationalrequirements and ensure this is maintained during development process 
Take action to ensure that the evaluation criteria and process for approval of change requests are employed according to organisationalrequirements 
Take action to ensure that other management, security and access control criteria are employed according to organisationalrequirements 
Implement controls to ensure that necessary audit trials and alerts for variations or non-conformance are continuously maintained during development 
Implement controls to ensure that mechanisms to identify the status of software throughout the software development life cycle are continuously maintained 
Document the development and maintenance of records and status reports required to show the history of baselines and their links to back-ups 
Take action to ensure that the level of detail required in the status reports, and identification of target audiences, meets the configuration management procedures, ISO/IEC/AS standards and organisationalrequirements 
Integrate configuration management into general project management processes for monitoring and control purposes and document 
Take action to ensure the physical and functional completeness of items for the purpose of release to all stakeholders 
Identify and implement the requirements for formal control of software products 
Determine and document policies for retention of baseline/master copies, taking into account safety and security, legislative requirements and organisationalguidelines 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

ICAB4076B - Implement configuration management
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

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Assessor name:

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Assessment Record Sheet

ICAB4076B - Implement configuration management

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

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Date:

Student signature:

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