ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Design a site user test

1.1. Establish usability test methods

1.2. Identify critical business functions

1.3. Identify full range of users

1.4. Confirm user expectations through market analysis, business intelligence and customer feedback

1.5. Establish performance potential of the business from business requirements or other approved sources

1.6. Establish performance measurement and success criteria to measure actual performance against user expectations

1.7. Test site when ready and record outcomes

2. Conduct user test

2.1. Document process performance indicators and benchmarks and disseminate to sample group of users

2.2. Assemble a full representative range of users and preferred technologies to test site features and functions based on the business specification

2.3. Ensure maximum user satisfaction through ease of navigation controls and design

2.4. Ensure user and legal, accessibility, privacy and equity requirements and expectations are met

3. Evaluate user test

3.1. Collate site performance results and measure against performance indicators and benchmarks based on user expectations

3.2. Identify performance shortfalls and ensure acceptable performance solutions are developed according to business requirements

3.3. Establish an evaluation feedback mechanism and provide to users

4. Document results

4.1. Identify solutions to problems during the testing phase

4.2. Discuss problems with developers and ensure solutions are continuously refined

4.3. Ensure proposed solutions meet business requirements and user expectations

4.4. Document final solutions in line with organisational guidelines, and distribute to appropriate person

Required skills

Website development

Website analysis

Technical test design

Test implementation

Test evaluation

Evaluation feedback

Evaluation analysis

Required knowledge

Website architecture

Website security

Work load metrics

Technical performance measurement

Business process design

Customer and business liaison

Website privacy

Principles of accessibility and equity in the context of website development

Electronic commerce modelling language

User testing principles and techniques

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 following is essential:

Assessment must confirm the ability to design a valid usability test, facilitate the test process and document the results. The proposed solutions must meet user needs and the current and future needs of the business.

To demonstrate competency in this unit the person will require access to:

Web servers

E-business website

Site server

Site server software

Analysis software

Requirements documentation

Customer relationship model

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This competency is about testing a website to see how easy it is for humans to interact with. Ensuring site usability is important as more companies, individuals and community groups need websites to reach clients and other stakeholders. Sometimes usability issues can make websites unworkable or ineffective.

Usability testing is sometimes seen as that stage of overall systems testing in which the developed system is compared to users' expectations and needs.

The breadth, depth and complexity of knowledge and skills in this competency would cover a broad range of varied activities or application in a wider variety of contexts most of which are complex and non-routine. Leadership and guidance would be involved when organising activities of self and others as well as contributing to technical solutions of a non-routine or contingency nature.

Assessment must ensure:

Performance of a broad range of skilled applications including the requirement to evaluate and analyse current practices, develop new criteria and procedures for performing current practices and provision of some leadership and guidance to others in the application and planning of the skills would be characteristic.

Applications may involve responsibility for, and limited organisation of, others.

The scope and complexity of knowledge and skills is dependent on the tasks undertaken as part of a specified activity.

Method of assessment

The purpose of this unit is to define the standard of performance to be achieved in the workplace. In undertaking training and assessment activities related to this unit, consideration should be given to the implementation of appropriate diversity and accessibility practices in order to accommodate people who may have special needs. Additional guidance on these and related matters is provided in ICA05 Section 1.

This unit can be assessed either in the workplace or in a simulated environment. However, simulated activities must closely reflect the workplace to enable full demonstration of competency.

Assessment will usually include observation of real or simulated work processes and procedures and/or performance in a project context as well as questioning on underpinning knowledge and skills. The questioning of team members, supervisors, subordinates, peers and clients where appropriate may provide valuable input to the assessment process. The interdependence of units for assessment purposes may vary with the particular project or scenario.

Guidance information for assessment

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

ICAA4142C Design a website to meet technical requirements

ICAB4135B Create a simple mark-up language document to specification

ICAB4171B Develop cascading style sheets

ICAD4209B Write content for web pages

ICAI4189B Ensure website content meets technical protocols and standards

ICAT4183B Confirm accessibility of website for people with special needs

ICAT4185B Create a website testing procedure

ICAT4186B Conduct operational acceptance tests of websites

An individual demonstrating this competency would be able to:

Demonstrate understanding of a broad knowledge base incorporating some theoretical concepts

Apply solutions to a defined range of unpredictable problems

Identify and apply skill and knowledge areas to a wide variety of contexts, with depth in some areas

Identify, analyse and evaluate information from a variety of sources

Take responsibility for own outputs in relation to specified quality standards

Take limited responsibility for the quantity and quality of the output of others

Additionally, an individual demonstrating this competency would be able to:

Provide benchmarks of websites for examination

Interpret available information and request clarification where needed

Take responsibility for output

Maintain knowledge of industry products and services

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.

User may include:

a person within a department

a department within the organisation

a third party

Businessrequirements may be in reference to:

business

system

network

people in the organisation

Successcriteria may include:

timeframe

cost implications

technical and logistical considerations

Business specification may include but is not limited to:

technical requirements

user problem statement

current system functionality

Solutions may include but is not limited to:

new hardware

hardware upgrades

new software

software upgrades

user training

implementing a new system

Requirements may be in reference to:

business

system

network

people in the organisation

Feedback mechanisms may include:

surveys

questionnaires

interviews

meetings

Problems may be in reference to:

problems with the business

system

network

people in the organisation

Organisationalguidelines may include but are not limited to:

personal use of emails and internet access

content of emails

downloading information and accessing particular websites

opening mail with attachments

virus risk

dispute resolution

document procedures and templates

communication methods

financial control mechanisms

Appropriateperson may include:

supervisor

teacher

authorised business representative

client

Unit sector

Test

This unit contains employability skills.