Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to evaluate and test a range of vendor products and equipment against a client's business requirements.
It applies to individuals in a range of information and communications technology (ICT) areas who are required to assess hardware and software products.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
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 |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence of the ability to:
establish business requirements
evaluate a range of vendor products and equipment against requirements
test and select the most appropriate products
document the selected items and selection rationale.
Note: If a specific volume or frequency is not stated, then evidence must be provided at least once.
Evidence of Knowledge
To complete the unit requirements safely and effectively, the individual must:
outline the relevance and application of the following for evaluating and selecting products:
code of ethics
international standards
vendor products
client business domain
copyright and intellectual property
general features and capabilities of current industry accepted hardware and software products
discuss current and future technical systems considerations required by business
discuss the features and function of relevant hardware components and software products, and the interaction between them.
Assessment Conditions
Gather evidence to demonstrate consistent performance in conditions that are safe and replicate the workplace. Noise levels, production flow, interruptions and time variances must be typical of those experienced in the general information and communications technology (ICT) industry, and include access to:
client functional requirements
hardware and software specifications from vendors
test procedures and activities.
Assessors must satisfy NVR/AQTF assessor requirements.
Foundation Skills
This section describes language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills incorporated in the performance criteria that are required for competent performance.
Skill | Performance Criteria | Description |
Reading | 1.1-1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 2.5, 4.1, 4.2 | Identifies, analyses and evaluates highly technical documents, diagrams, business strategies and statistical and financial information |
Writing | 1.3, 1.4, 2.2-2.4, 5.1, 5.3 | Integrates information and ideas from a number of sources using specialised and cohesive language and formal document structures |
Oral Communication | 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 2.1-2.4, 5.4 | Elicits and evaluates information using effective listening and open questioning techniques Uses simple and relevant language to obtain information, confirm understanding, liaise with the client and obtain feedback |
Numeracy | 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 4.3, 4.4, 5.2, 5.3 | Interprets and analyses a range of statistical and financial data relating to products, equipment and integration costs Uses a range of software tools to apply statistical and financial functions, and prepare a cost-benefit analysis |
Navigate the world of work | 2.5 | Appreciates the legal and regulatory responsibilities related to own work and recognises some legal principles across work contexts |
Interact with others | 5.4 | Actively identifies the requirements of important communication exchanges, selecting appropriate channels, format, tone and content to suit purpose and audience |
Get the work done | 1.1-1.3, 2.1- 2.4, 3.1-3.4, 4.1-4.3 | Develops plans to manage relatively complex non-routine tasks with an awareness of how they may contribute to longer term operational and strategic goals Uses systematic, analytical processes in complex non-routine situations, setting goals, gathering relevant information and identifying and evaluating options against agreed criteria Actively identifies systems, devices and applications with potential to meet current and/or future needs |
Sectors
General ICT