Assessor Resource

ICASAD601A
Perform IT-focused enterprise analysis

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


This unit applies to senior business analysts in medium to large organisations who determine an IT business need, problem, or opportunity, to define the nature of a solution that meets that need, and to justify the investment necessary to deliver that solution.

The work roles combine high-level management, business and technical skills necessary to manage complex analysis efforts within the information and communications technology (ICT) industry, often as part of business critical IT projects.

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to provide an enterprise analysis and determine the possible IT solutions available for a given initiative or for long-term planning.

Enterprise analysis is often the starting point for initiating a new project and is continued as changes occur and more information becomes available.

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

Prerequisites

Not applicable.


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 ability to:

analyse a business situation

develop a comprehensive business case for a proposed solution that addresses:

business need

required capabilities

solution scope

most feasible approach.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure access to:

documentation, including appropriate policies, current business analysis practices, tools and legislation

appropriate learning and assessment support when required

modified equipment for people with special needs.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

evaluation of a simulated or workplace project in a medium to large enterprise

direct observation of the candidate carrying out business analysis work

verbal or written questioning to assess required knowledge and skills

review of reports and plans prepared for the projects

evaluation of a portfolio of the project work undertaken.

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, where appropriate.

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and suitable to the communication skill level, language, literacy and numeracy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.

Indigenous people and other people from a non-English speaking background may need additional support.

In cases where a practical assessment is used it should be combined with targeted questioning to assess required knowledge.


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

analytical skills to review organisational and technical business solutions

communication skills to:

conduct research, interviews and liaise with stakeholders

conduct focus groups and requirements workshops

numeracy skills to develop cost-benefit analyses

problem-solving and analytical skills to undertake root cause analysis and feasibility studies

technical writing skills to develop business case

technical skills to develop models of systems, processes and solutions.

Required knowledge

business-analysis processes, procedures and techniques

market trends and best practices to assist in identifying business opportunities

technology and technology solution patterns.

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.

Investigating issues may include:

adverse impacts the problem is causing

expected benefits from any potential solution

how quickly the problem could potentially be resolved

underlying sources of the problem.

Desired outcomes may include:

creating a new capability, such as a new product or service, addressing a competitive disadvantage, or creating a new competitive advantage

complying with new regulations

improving revenue, by increasing sales or reducing cost

increasing customer satisfaction

increasing employee satisfaction

improving safety

reducing time to deliver a product or service.

Capabilities may include:

business processes

events that a solution must be able to respond to

features of a software application

goals that a solution will allow stakeholders to accomplish

products that an organisation creates

services that an organisation delivers

tasks that an end user may perform.

Solution approaches may include:

adding resources to the business or making organisational changes

changing the business procedures or processes

designing and developing custom software

purchasing or leasing software and hardware from a supplier

partnering with other organisations, or outsourcing work to suppliers

using additional capabilities of existing software or hardware within the organisation.

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
Analyse business goals and objectives and link to measures to allow objective assessment of achievement 
Investigate issues to determine the business problem or opportunity 
Identify possible IT solutions to the business problem 
Determine desired outcomes to enable evaluation of proposed solutions 
Determine current capabilities of the enterprise and relate to the desired objectives 
Identify new capabilities required to achieve the desired future state and assess gaps 
Test assumptions to facilitate appropriate decision making 
Generate potential IT options to meet the business objectives 
Generate valid assumptions and recognise constraints that may affect the choice of solutions 
Assess and rank solution approaches to facilitate selection 
Define solution scope in terms of the major features or functions to be included 
Explain the implementation approach in terms of how the chosen solution will deliver the solution scope 
Delineate major business and technical dependencies 
Identify benefits of the recommended solution in terms of both qualitative and quantitative gains to the enterprise 
Estimate the total net cost of the solution 
Perform initial risk assessment 
Agree how identified costs and benefits will be assessed and evaluated 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

ICASAD601A - Perform IT-focused enterprise analysis
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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Assessment Record Sheet

ICASAD601A - Perform IT-focused enterprise analysis

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

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

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