ICASAD607A
Manage assessment and validation of IT solutions

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to determine the best IT solution and facilitate its implementation.

Application

This unit applies to senior business analysts in medium to large organisations who assess and validate business processes, organisational structures, outsourcing agreements, software applications, and any other component of the solution to ensure that the overall solution delivers maximum value to stakeholders.


Prerequisites

Not applicable.


Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Assess proposed solution

1.1 Rank solution options on business value and advantages and disadvantages of alternatives

1.2 Generate and consider solution options and additional capabilities

2. Allocate requirements

2.1 Allocate requirements to solution components to maximise business value

2.2 Facilitate allocation of requirements to a specific project release, phase or iteration

3. Assess organisational readiness

3.1 Conduct cultural assessment

3.2 Conduct operational or technical assessment

3.3 Perform stakeholder impact analysis

4. Define transition requirements

4.1 Evaluate old system actual data and metadata

4.2 Develop options for managing ongoing work during transition to the new solution

4.3 Participate in organisational change-management recommendations or processes as required

5. Validate solution

5.1 Investigate defective solution outputs

5.2 Assess defects and issues

6. Evaluate solution performance

6.1 Realise value delivered by the solution

6.2 Validate solution metrics

6.3 Decide solution replacement or elimination

Required Skills

Required skills

analytical and technical skills to conduct stakeholder impact analyses

planning and organisational skills to plan and conduct solution assessment and validation activities

analytical skills to rank solutions

communication and facilitation skills to:

conduct interviews and workshops

participate in organisational change-management activities.

Required knowledge

business environment with regard to proposed IT solutions

techniques for assessing options and validating solutions

organisational change management

solution-performance metrics.

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:

categorise benefits and disadvantages of various solution options

assess cultural impact of different solutions

compare transition requirements between solutions

analyse output variances between solutions

remove inappropriate solutions from list

recommend remaining solutions in priority order.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure access to:

documentation, including appropriate policies, current business analysis practices, tools and legislation

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:

evaluation of a simulated or workplace project in a medium to large enterprise

direct observation of the candidate carrying out business analysis work

verbal or written questioning to assess required knowledge and skills

review of reports and plans prepared for the projects

evaluation of a portfolio of the project work undertaken.

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.

Solution components may include:

business policies and business rules

business processes to be performed and managed

people who operate and maintain the solution, including their job functions and responsibilities

software applications and application components used in the solution

structure of the organisation, including interactions between the organisation and its customers and suppliers.

Stakeholder impact analysis may include:

changed costs

different interface

new workflow.

Defective solution outputs may include:

inappropriate output

incorrect output

irrelevant output.

Solution replacement or elimination may include:

adjustment of solution

necessity

ongoing cost versus initial investment

opportunity cost of pursuing alternative courses of action

removal of solution from option list

replacement of solution

sunk cost - the money and effort already committed to an initiative.


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.