Assessor Resource

ICTICT508
Evaluate vendor products and equipment

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to evaluate and test a range of vendor products and equipment against a client's business requirements.

It applies to individuals in a range of information and communications technology (ICT) areas who are required to assess hardware and software products.

No licensing, legislative 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)



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.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Establish business requirements

1.1 Identify and prioritise business requirements

1.2 Identify conflicting or overlapping business requirements

1.3 Specify budget and available resources

1.4 Validate business requirements, budget and resource needs with client

2. Identify vendor products and equipment

2.1 Investigate a representative range of vendor products and equipment

2.2 Identify and document interdependencies

2.3 Specify and document technical alternatives available to the business

2.4 Determine and document availability of products and equipment

2.5 Ensure vendor products and equipment meet Australian or other standards

3. Test vendor products and services

3.1 Develop valid and reliable test regime with appropriate measurements

3.2 Establish test environment, including calibrated measuring equipment

3.3 Undertake testing of products or equipment and document results

3.4 Undertake revised testing where initial tests are inconclusive or where alternative product configuration may meet business requirements

4. Evaluate vendor products, services and equipment

4.1 Rate vendor products for quality, performance and support

4.2 Rate vendor products for fit with client needs

4.3 Establish product limitations, performance, integration capabilities and costs, and compare with established business requirements

4.4 Prepare cost-benefit analysis

5. Prepare evaluation report

5.1 Document product information in order of preference

5.2 Recommend preferred product, including the reasoning behind recommendations

5.3 Prepare a report containing solution details

5.4 Submit report to client for approval

Evidence of the ability to:

establish business requirements

evaluate a range of vendor products and equipment against requirements

test and select the most appropriate products

document the selected items and selection rationale.

Note: If a specific volume or frequency is not stated, then evidence must be provided at least once.

To complete the unit requirements safely and effectively, the individual must:

outline the relevance and application of the following for evaluating and selecting products:

code of ethics

international standards

vendor products

client business domain

copyright and intellectual property

general features and capabilities of current industry accepted hardware and software products

discuss current and future technical systems considerations required by business

discuss the features and function of relevant hardware components and software products, and the interaction between them.

Gather evidence to demonstrate consistent performance in conditions that are safe and replicate the workplace. Noise levels, production flow, interruptions and time variances must be typical of those experienced in the general information and communications technology (ICT) industry, and include access to:

client functional requirements

hardware and software specifications from vendors

test procedures and activities.

Assessors must satisfy NVR/AQTF assessor requirements.


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.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Establish business requirements

1.1 Identify and prioritise business requirements

1.2 Identify conflicting or overlapping business requirements

1.3 Specify budget and available resources

1.4 Validate business requirements, budget and resource needs with client

2. Identify vendor products and equipment

2.1 Investigate a representative range of vendor products and equipment

2.2 Identify and document interdependencies

2.3 Specify and document technical alternatives available to the business

2.4 Determine and document availability of products and equipment

2.5 Ensure vendor products and equipment meet Australian or other standards

3. Test vendor products and services

3.1 Develop valid and reliable test regime with appropriate measurements

3.2 Establish test environment, including calibrated measuring equipment

3.3 Undertake testing of products or equipment and document results

3.4 Undertake revised testing where initial tests are inconclusive or where alternative product configuration may meet business requirements

4. Evaluate vendor products, services and equipment

4.1 Rate vendor products for quality, performance and support

4.2 Rate vendor products for fit with client needs

4.3 Establish product limitations, performance, integration capabilities and costs, and compare with established business requirements

4.4 Prepare cost-benefit analysis

5. Prepare evaluation report

5.1 Document product information in order of preference

5.2 Recommend preferred product, including the reasoning behind recommendations

5.3 Prepare a report containing solution details

5.4 Submit report to client for approval

Evidence of the ability to:

establish business requirements

evaluate a range of vendor products and equipment against requirements

test and select the most appropriate products

document the selected items and selection rationale.

Note: If a specific volume or frequency is not stated, then evidence must be provided at least once.

To complete the unit requirements safely and effectively, the individual must:

outline the relevance and application of the following for evaluating and selecting products:

code of ethics

international standards

vendor products

client business domain

copyright and intellectual property

general features and capabilities of current industry accepted hardware and software products

discuss current and future technical systems considerations required by business

discuss the features and function of relevant hardware components and software products, and the interaction between them.

Gather evidence to demonstrate consistent performance in conditions that are safe and replicate the workplace. Noise levels, production flow, interruptions and time variances must be typical of those experienced in the general information and communications technology (ICT) industry, and include access to:

client functional requirements

hardware and software specifications from vendors

test procedures and activities.

Assessors must satisfy NVR/AQTF assessor requirements.

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
Identify and prioritise business requirements 
Identify conflicting or overlapping business requirements 
Specify budget and available resources 
Validate business requirements, budget and resource needs with client 
Investigate a representative range of vendor products and equipment 
Identify and document interdependencies 
Specify and document technical alternatives available to the business 
Determine and document availability of products and equipment 
Ensure vendor products and equipment meet Australian or other standards 
Develop valid and reliable test regime with appropriate measurements 
Establish test environment, including calibrated measuring equipment 
Undertake testing of products or equipment and document results 
Undertake revised testing where initial tests are inconclusive or where alternative product configuration may meet business requirements 
Rate vendor products for quality, performance and support 
Rate vendor products for fit with client needs 
Establish product limitations, performance, integration capabilities and costs, and compare with established business requirements 
Prepare cost-benefit analysis 
Document product information in order of preference 
Recommend preferred product, including the reasoning behind recommendations 
Prepare a report containing solution details 
Submit report to client for approval 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

ICTICT508 - Evaluate vendor products and equipment
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

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:


Assessment Record Sheet

ICTICT508 - Evaluate vendor products and equipment

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:

Date: