This unit applies to experienced technical support personnel, such as planners, IT support technicians, and user support specialists responsible for monitoring computing capacity to ensure continuity of service. They generally work under little supervision.
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to monitor and assess the current and future capacity requirements of an IT system, plan future enhancements and install the identified enhancements.
This unit also establishes the general concepts and methodology involved in performing capacity planning, so that one can adapt the testing to a business.
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:
monitor and accurately assess current and future capacity requirements of a system
predict capacity requirements resulting from business growth, with forecasts being realistic and achievable
plan and install capacity enhancements
create and maintain required documentation.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure access to:
live system
service level agreements
fault logs
users
hardware components for installation
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:
review of:
report detailing recommendations for capacity enhancements based on a financial analysis and resources and equipment required
implementation plan for recommended enhancements, with prioritised tasks and minimum disruption to users
direct observation of:
installing the capacity enhancements following installation procedures, organisational guidelines and implementation plan
measuring the improved capacity and performance resulting from capacity enhancements
evaluation of performance database implemented and maintained
verbal or written questioning to assess knowledge of:
industry products, services and practices
techniques of capacity planning.
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 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:
evaluate current practices
evaluate documentation to create a report, detailing recommendations for capacity enhancements
examine and analyse the fault logs for those caused by capacity problems
investigate the current workload of the system and its effect on the capacity to perform
review the existing system configuration information to determine capacity issues
communication skills to deal with other team members, clients and vendors
literacy skills to:
interpret technical manuals and forecasting data
process and present written and verbal information
planning and organisational skills to:
allow for scheduled maintenance, budgeting and costing, and communications
develop new criteria and procedures for performing current practices
develop plans with prioritised tasks
make contingency arrangements
minimise disruption to client
prepare time lines
ensure quality assurance and risk management
problem-solving skills to resolve problems through developing capacity planning initiatives
technical skills to:
modify current system to incorporate the planned changes
oversee installation of hardware and software elements.
Required knowledge
detailed knowledge of system's current functionality
overview knowledge of:
component performance management
current industry-accepted hardware and software products, including their general features and capabilities
key features of financial analysis
client business domain
performance monitoring tools
quality assurance practices with regard to proposed IT capability enhancements
service level agreements relating to proposed IT capability enhancements
role of stakeholders and the degree of stakeholder involvement.
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.
System may include:
hardware components that run a computer
software components that run a computer.
Hardware may include:
modems or other connectivity devices
networks
personal computers
remote sites
servers
workstations.
Software may include:
application software:
database
internet browser
spreadsheet
word-processing
commercial
customised software
in-house
programming software:
assembler
compiler
development tools
system software:
computer security software
device drivers
operating system.
Service level agreementmay include:
application service providers (ASPs)
business processes and requirements
charge back to business units
communications carriers
expectations regarding:
audit of service levels
service levels
penalties
infrastructure services
internet service providers (ISPs)
vendor products
workload and performance considerations.
Problems may relate to:
business
business need or opportunity that must be addressed
network
people in the organisation
system.
Users may include:
departments within the organisation
persons within a department
third parties.
Organisational guidelines may include:
communication methods
content of emails
dispute resolution
document procedures and templates
downloading information and accessing particular websites
financial control mechanisms
opening mail with attachments
personal use of emails and internet access
virus risk.
Requirements may relate to:
business
network
people in the organisation
system.
Forecast workload may be determined from:
application development personnel
competitive pressures
corporate business plans
economic trends
outside influences, such as legal requirements
trends in existing workload
user interviews
user questionnaires.
Equipment may include:
hard drives
hubs
modems or other connectivity devices
monitors
other peripheral devices
personal computers
personal digital assistant (PDA)
printers
switches
workstations.
Documentation may follow:
audit trails
International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and Australian Standards (AS) standards
naming standards
project management templates
report writing principles
version control.
Appropriate person may include:
authorised business representative
client
project manager
supervisor.
Database may include:
DB2
Informix
Ingres
Microsoft Structured Query Language (MS SQL) server
Mini SQL (mSQL)
MySQL
Oracle
Sybase.
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
Review the existing system configuration information, both hardware and software, to determine capacity issues
Investigate the current workload of the system and analyse its effect on the capacity to perform
Examine the current service level agreement to determine agreed-upon capacity standards
Examine and analyse the fault logs for those caused by capacity problems
Discuss and review capacity issues with users
Document the information gathered about the existing system workload and capacity according to organisational guidelines
Interview the user in order to gather data about future capacity requirements of the system
Organise and analyse the future requirements data and then evaluate to obtain a forecast workload for the system
Using the data and information gathered, compare the existing workload with the forecast workload and evaluate, to determine capacity problem areas
Estimate the resources and equipment required to resolve predicted capacity problems
Undertake a financial analysis of the estimated capacity requirements
Organise and document information according to organisational guidelines
Evaluate documentation in order to create a report, detailing recommendations for capacity enhancements, for presentation to appropriate person
Develop a plan for implementing the recommended enhancements, with prioritised tasks and minimum disruption to users
Factor into the implementation plan the availability of finances, staff and other requirements
Submit the implementation plan to appropriate person for approval and revision
Install the capacity enhancements according to installation procedures, organisational guidelines and implementation plan
Measure the increase in capacity and performance resulting from installed equipment in order to assess that capacity requirements have been met
Update documentation according to organisational guidelines to reflect the capacity enhancements
Monitor and assess the impact of new technology and application development on capacity and performance
Implement and maintain a performance database
Review and assess benchmarks and performance regularly with work team to enable timely capacity enhancements and updates of benchmarks
Forms
Assessment Cover Sheet
ICASAS417A - Undertake IT system capacity planning
Assessment task 1: [title]
Student name:
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I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.
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Result: Competent Not yet competent
Feedback to student
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Assessment Record Sheet
ICASAS417A - Undertake IT system capacity planning
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