Assessor Resource

ICTSMB4160A
Set up and operate a contractor business

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: May 2024


This unit applies to telecommunications installers who operate their own contracting business delivering installation services to major service providers.

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to operate a small scale contractor operation involving an owner operator and employees installing telecommunications services.

Specific legal requirements apply to small business. Requirements should be confirmed with the relevant federal, state or territory authority.

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

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:

produce a business plan and set up a business

define and meet customer needs

perform simple financial management tasks including completing BAS, FBT and insurance documentation

quote for installation jobs that cover all aspects of costing.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

resources:

Australian Taxation Office (ATO) guides

financial management record keeping software

access to industry standard labour rates and material suppliers

general office bookkeeping procedures

customer service guides.

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:

direct observation of the candidate performing business tasks

review of business plans, records and quotes prepared by the candidate

oral or written questioning on required knowledge and skills.

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

ICTSMB4161A Operate a contractor business with employees.

Aboriginal people and other people from a non-English speaking background may have second language issues.

Access must be provided to appropriate learning and assessment support when required.

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

In all cases where practical assessment is used it will be combined with targeted questioning to assess required knowledge. Questioning techniques should not require language, literacy and numeracy skills beyond those required in this unit of competency.

Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with special needs.

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

communication skills to relate to customers, employees and government officers

literacy skills to:

develop plans using a set format

interpret relevant regulatory, taxation and insurance information

planning and organisational skills to schedule own work

problem-solving skills to develop solutions unique to a customer

numeracy skills to:

interpret financial information

prepare quotes

technical skills to:

estimate telecommunications work

operate simple computer software packages

Required knowledge

business banking principles

business registration and licensing requirements

cash or accrual accounting principles

Commonwealth, state, territory and local government legislative requirements relating to business operation:

anti-discrimination

environmental issues

equal employment opportunity

industrial relations

OHS

taxation requirements

costs associated with running a business

current tax rates

industry codes of practice

industry standard:

materials and labour costs

rates of pay

nature of legal responsibility

OHS responsibilities and procedures

sources of advice and specialist services

sources of information about regulatory, taxation and insurance requirements and issues

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.

Business plan may include:

capital investment

cash flow projection

costing for labour

margins for materials

objectives

personnel

products

profit margins

statement of vision or mission

values.

Business may include:

company

partnership

sole trader.

Business insurance may include:

equipment

income protection

professional indemnity

public liability

vehicle

workers compensation.

Business planning guidelines may include:

customer enterprise guidelines

guidelines provided by the Australian Government Initiatives project titled 'business.gov.au'

Provide and maintain a vehicle may include:

fitting out for business operations

garaging

organising payments

registration

servicing and maintenance.

Customer may include:

companies

external

individuals

internal

small businesses.

Quote may include:

detailed costing

job description of work to be undertaken

single price

statement of costs for work.

Margin for profit and ongoing costs may be:

ongoing costs:

accounting

insurances

registration

tools

vehicle

set in the business plan

set on a job-by-job basis.

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
Develop a business plan for a small business operation according to business planning guidelines 
Follow the statutory and legal requirements to register a business 
Ensure adequate business insurance policies are held according to business plan and to mitigate risks 
Provide and maintain a vehicle through purchase, lease or hiring purchase, including managing fringe benefits tax (FBT) liabilities according to business plan 
Determine and maintain a customer base to support the business plan 
Analyse and determine customer expectations in relation to industry standards 
Provide customer service that meets customer expectations according to enterprise standards 
Monitor and evaluate performance on installations completed against industry standards 
Record income and expenditure using bookkeeping tools and software according to normal accounting standards 
Construct a simple financial balance sheet using banking records or supply information to accountant according to normal accounting standards 
Calculate simple taxation and superannuation requirements or supply information to accountant according to normal accounting standards 
Complete a Business Activity Statement (BAS) or supply data to accountant according to normal accounting standards 
Establish the extent of work to be completed through professional and personable discussions with customer 
Complete a job specification for the quote with cost estimates of time required to complete work 
Estimate and include cost of materials to be used using supplier quoted prices 
Determine and include a margin for profit and ongoing costs for installation according to business plan 
Check finalised quote for accuracy according to established policies and procedures 
Submit quote to customer within agreed timeframe 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

ICTSMB4160A - Set up and operate a contractor business
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

ICTSMB4160A - Set up and operate a contractor business

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: