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:

Competency must confirm the ability to transfer the application of existing skills and knowledge to new technology.

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

Workplace or simulated workplace

Documented organisational requirements

Context of and specific resources for assessment

The rationale behind this unit emphasises the importance of constantly reviewing work processes, skills and techniques in order to ensure that the quality of the entire business process is maintained at the highest level possible through the appropriate application of new technology. To this end, the person is typically engaged in on-going review and research in order to discover and apply new technology or techniques to improve aspects of the organisation's activities.

The breadth, depth and complexity of knowledge and skills in this competency would cover selecting, adapting and transferring skills and knowledge to new environments and providing technical advice and some leadership in resolution of specified problems. This would be applied across a range of roles in a variety of contexts with some complexity in the extent and choice of options available.

Assessment must ensure:

Performance of a defined range of skilled operations, usually within a range of broader related activities involving known routines, methods and procedures, where some discretion and judgement is required in the section of equipment, services or contingency measures and within known time constraints would be characteristic.

Applications may involve some responsibility for others. Participation in teams including group or team coordination may be involved.

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 some relevant theoretical knowledge

Apply a range of well-developed skills

Apply known solutions to a variety of predictable problems

Perform processes that require a range of well-developed skills where some discretion and judgement is required

Interpret available information, using discretion and judgement

Take responsibility for own outputs in work and learning

Take limited responsibility for the output of others

Maintain knowledge of industry products and services

Required skills

Research skills for identifying broad features of new technologies

Ability to assist in the decision making process

Literacy skills in regard to interpretation of technical manuals

Ability to solve known problems in a variety of situations and locations

General analytical skills in relation to known problems

Required knowledge

Broad awareness of current technology trends and directions in IT (e.g. software, hardware, services, new developments, new protocols)

Broad knowledge of vendor product directions

Ability to locate appropriate sources of information regarding IT and new technologies

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

Information gathering techniques

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.

Equipment may include but is not limited to:

workstations

personal computers

modems and other connectivity devices

printers

hard drives

DSL modems

monitors

switches

hubs

personal digital assistant (PDA)

other peripheral devices

Applications

May include but are not limited to commercial software applications; organisation-specific software; word processing, spreadsheet, database, graphic, communication packages and presentation functionalities.

May include presentation applications contained in: Microsoft Office, Lotus Suite, Claris Works, Star Office or other similar applications.

Technology skills - new skills can include but are not limited to:

Hardware

PCs

networks

storage

communications equipment

Feedback may include:

surveys

questionnaires

interviews

meetings

Software may include but are not limited to:

user-based software for new business processes

customer relationship management

integrated services (e.g. banking and financial services)

Sources ofinformation may include but is not limited to:

documents

test pages

web pages

appliances software and technical connections guidance and other outputs supplied by vendors and manufacturers

OH&S standards

May include correct posture, lighting, type of desk, type of monitor, style of chair, typing position, repetitive strain injury prevention, ventilation, light position, correct lifting method, and length of time in front of computer.

May also include physical safety considerations such as general electrical safety and cabling, power supply and leads as they apply to computer and peripheral installations.

Environmental Considerations may include but is not limited to:

recycling

safe disposal of packaging (e.g. cardboard, polystyrene, paper, plastic)

correct disposal of redundant hardware (e.g. motherboards, hard drives, circuit boards) by an authorised body