This unit applies to individuals in a range of information and communications technology (ICT) areas who are required to assess hardware and software products.
Not applicable.
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 |
Required skills
analytical skills to compare and contrast similar products from different vendors
communication skills to effectively communicate with vendors
literacy skills to identify key sources of product information, summarise and document technical information
numeracy skills to compare prices on different products.
Required knowledge
broad knowledge of:
Australian Computer Society Code of Ethics
client business domain
copyright and intellectual property
current industry-accepted hardware and software products, including their general features and capabilities
detailed knowledge of current and future technical systems
features and function of relevant hardware components and software products and the interaction between these
vendor product and international standards.
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: evaluate a range of vendor products and equipment against a client's functional requirements choose the most appropriate products document the selected items and selection rationale. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment must ensure access to: client functional requirements hardware and software specifications from vendors test procedures and activities. Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified 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: verbal or written questioning to assess candidate’s knowledge of client business domain and appropriate selection criteria review of reports prepared by candidate showing selected items and selection rationale. |
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. |
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 requirements may relate to: | business network people in the organisation system. |
Client may include: | employees external organisations individuals internal departments. |
Standards may include: | Australian Standards (AS) Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) International Organization for Standardization (ISO) International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) organisational project. |
Rate process may include: | evaluation of: customer testimonies support documents. |
Solution may include: | hardware upgrades implementing a new system new hardware new software software upgrades user training. |
General ICT
This unit contains employability skills.
No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement but users should confirm requirements with the relevant federal, state or territory authority.