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 install a range of hardware, by planning, managing and supporting the installation of new components in a network according to organisational policy and procedures.

The support person must demonstrate the ability to offer support to the user in adapting to the new equipment.

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

Application software and operating system

Vendor hardware and software components

Technical documentation and installation manuals

Networked computers

Organisational guidelines

Live network

Context of and specific resources for assessment

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 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 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

Customer service skills in a range of contexts at various levels (e.g. timely response to requests, providing client instruction when installing new hardware or software)

Solving unknown problems in a range of contexts (e.g. when installing new hardware or software)

Interpretation of technical and hardware installation manuals

Negotiation skills in relation to other team members and applied to a defined range of predictable problems (e.g. planning schedules for installation of network equipment)

Report writing skills for business, requiring depth in some areas.

Analysis and evaluation of information in a defined range of areas (e.g. research into the most suitable type of equipment for requirements)

Ability to manage change, in order to maintain the continuity of network operations and business functions during network installation tasks

Questioning and active listening skills to convey and clarify complex information

Using diagnostic software

Required knowledge

Basic working knowledge of current industry-accepted network protocols

Basic knowledge of current industry-accepted network hardware and software products, with broad knowledge of general features and capabilities and detailed knowledge in some areas

Broad knowledge of current industry, data and voice networking, security products, devices and procedures, with broad knowledge of general features and capabilities and detailed knowledge in some areas

Detailed knowledge of the operating system (e.g. Mac OS, Linux, Novell, Windows), sufficient to enable basic installation

LAN capabilities and characteristics, such as network type (e.g. Ethernet, Appletalk) IP addressing, switch/hub operation

Organisational contracting procedures and responsibilities

Detailed knowledge of network connections (e.g. types of cables, such as category 5 e, 6 and 7 unshielded twisted pair (UTP), coaxial and terminators, RJ-45, cabling distance limitations (e.g. 100 metres for Ethernet category 5 UTP) and including wireless

Detailed knowledge of set-up and configuration procedures

Detailed knowledge of software packages supported by the organisation

Detailed knowledge of hardware and software installation procedures

General knowledge of system diagnostic software

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.

Hardware may include but are not limited to:

personal computers

peer-to-peer and client-server networks (including LANs but excluding WANs)

wireless networks, mobile equipment, printers, print servers, monitors

Input/Output devices (e.g. extended or non-standard keyboard and mouse), network cards, cables, some simple switches (e.g. not programmable) and CD drives/burners

Application software may include:

database programs to handle data and voice functionality

word processors

email programs

internet browsers

system browsers

spreadsheets

Operating system may include but is not limited to:

Linux 6.0 or above

Windows 98 or above

Apple OS 8 or above

Note: The use of operating system in this unit is in the context of the pre-existing system and may therefore not be current industry version. Preference is for Linux 7.0 or above, Windows 2000 or above, Apple OS X or above

Organisationalguidelines may include but are 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

Appropriate person may include:

supervisor

teacher

authorised business representative

client

Client may include but is not limited to:

internal departments

external organisations

clubs

individual people

internal employees