ICASAD505A
Develop technical requirements for business solutions

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to develop technical and related requirements that will enable business solutions to be implemented in an organisation.

Application

This unit applies to system analysts in a range of information and communications technology (ICT) areas who are required to produce technical specifications.


Prerequisites

Not applicable.


Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Research business requirements

1.1 Define hardware and software requirements of the business solution

1.2 Determine model of business

1.3 Determine technical specifications for business

1.4 Establish interface requirements for end users and external parties

1.5 Document business solution requirements for approval from stakeholders

1.6 Determine IT security requirements

2. Analyse the impact of technical solutions

2.1 Identify hardware, software and network requirements

2.2 Identify software solutions to build business platform

2.3 Identify processes to be changed by the business solution

2.4 Determine the effect changes will have on the value or supply chain

2.5 Research a range of security protocols suitable for business solutions

2.6 Document impact of changes and submit to relevant stakeholders

3. Develop and test business solutions

3.1 Implement hardware and software solutions for testing purposes

3.2 Identify training needs to update personnel skills

3.3 Plan timelines and allocation of resources for business solution

3.4 Develop performance standards and benchmark results

3.5 Determine costs involved to implement business solution

3.6 Document the business solution

4. Secure sign-off of validated solution

4.1 Test, validate and document results of the business solution

4.2 Provide results to appropriate person for verification

4.3 Obtain sign-off on business solution

Required Skills

Required skills

analytical skills to analyse business requirements

communication skills to communicate with clients, stakeholders and technical staff

literacy skills to:

produce technical requirements document

understand business requirements

planning and organisational skills to plan timelines and resource allocation

research skills to research appropriate hardware and software

technical skills to:

implement hardware and software

produce technical architecture of business solutions.

Required knowledge

business-process design

copyright and intellectual property relating to IT systems development

customer and business liaison

implications of technology connectivity

potential business solutions

prevailing corporate strategies that may influence business solutions.

Evidence Required

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:

identify the internal and external technical environments required to provide a business solution

develop a corresponding list of technical requirements

analyse the impact of the technical solution

ensure that the nominated hardware and software are functional.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure access to:

business model

business requirements documentation

customer relationship model

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:

written or verbal questioning to identify candidate’s knowledge of:

process of producing technical requirements

business processes

review of candidate’s documentation, specifically:

hardware, software and network requirements

software solutions to build business platform

processes to be changed by the business solution

effect that changes will have on the value or supply chain

security protocols suitable for business solutions

training requirements

timelines

required resources.

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.


Range Statement

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.

Hardware may include:

variety of hardware, such as:

systems units

monitors

keyboards

mice

personal digital assistants (PDA)

printers

smart phones

laptops

identifying key hardware characteristics of internally used hardware and external hardware that must be interfaced with.

Software may include:

commercial

customised software

in-house

packaged.

Technical specifications may include:

brochures

help references

online help

project specifications

reports

technical manuals

training materials and self-paced tutorials

user guides.

Interface requirements may include:

command line

graphical user interface (GUI):

application-based

web-based

variety of communication options.

Requirements may relate to:

business

network

people in the organisation

system.

Stakeholders may include:

community groups

corporate body

end users

government body

internal or external clients.

Network may include:

data

large and small local area networks (LANs)

private lines

the internet

use of the public switched telephone network (PSTN) for dial-up modems only

voice

virtual private network (VPN)

wide area networks (WANs).

Security protocols may include:

data over cable-service interface specification

domain name system security extensions

IEEE 802.11 Protocol standard for secure wireless local area network products

IP security protocol

point-to-point network tunnelling protocol

secure electronic transactions

secure multi-purpose internet mail extensions

secure shell

secure socket layer (SSL) and transport layer security.

Standards may include:

International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and Australian Standards (AS) standards

organisational standards

project standards.


Sectors

Systems analysis and design


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

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.