Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to carry out rapid application development (RAD), in the context of preparing for software development. The selection and use of suitable RAD tools can have an impact on the cost and quality of a software project.
It applies to individuals who are programmers in a variety of information technology areas, who develop software using RAD.
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. Determine RAD requirements | 1.1 Select and use, the most suitable industry-standard tool set 1.2 Implement a prioritised plan using a series of recursive stages of build, and review for delivery of the system 1.3 Implement and incorporate a physical database 1.4 Identify, document, and schedule the modules to be implemented by incremental development techniques 1.5 Identify and formally allocate responsibilities to the authorised user, and to suitably skilled builders, for each module 1.6 Plan for, and document, the endorsement of reviews, administration schedules and development milestones |
2. Determine the work metrics | 2.1 Set development goals 2.2 Seek and secure agreement on, and adherence to, a single common notation 2.3 Determine the tools, features and techniques most appropriate to the development environment 2.4 Facilitate, plan, develop, and document version and change-control methods 2.5 Facilitate training and exposure for the user participants via RAD |
3. Implement the administration method | 3.1 Determine and reach agreement of stakeholders on the specifications 3.2 Confirm the dates for milestones with stakeholders, and secure with written agreement 3.3 Inform the production system’s parties, and secure with written acknowledgment 3.4 Administer and maintain, time-recording and management methodologies |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence of the ability to:
select, and use, a rapid application development (RAD) tool set
implement a prioritised plan
implement and incorporate a physical database
identify, document and schedule the modules to be implemented
identify and allocate responsibilities
plan for and document the endorsement of reviews, administration schedules and milestones
determine work metrics
set the development goals
seek and secure an agreement on, and adherence to, a single common notation
determine the most appropriate tools, features and techniques
facilitate, plan, develop and document version and change-control methods
facilitate training and exposure for the user participants via RAD
implement administration
determine and secure the agreement of stakeholders
confirm dates, and secure written agreement for the milestones
inform the production-system parties and secure written acknowledgment
administer and maintain, time-recording and management.
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:
describe commonly used and industry-accepted prototyping tools
describe the client business and the impact on the software application
identify, and describe, the programming languages commonly used for application development
outline the quality assurance practices required for software development
outline the industry development methodologies used for software development.
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 programming and software development industry, and include access to:
the computer-aided software engineering tools (CASE) repository, to facilitate the re-use of templates and components
CASE tools
detailed user requirements
prototyping software
the requirements document, including the model and scope.
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 | Interprets, and critically analyses, complex texts and applies the appropriate strategies to construct meaning from complex technical documents |
Writing | 1.4, 1.6, 2.4, 3.2, 3.3 | Displays a knowledge of structure and layout, employing a broad vocabulary, grammatical structure and the conventions appropriate to text, when developing documentation |
Oral communication | 2.5, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 | Demonstrates flexibility in spoken texts by choosing the appropriate structures and strategies, and applies appropriate strategies to extract the main ideas from oral texts when liaising with stakeholders, facilitating training and informing parties on the administration method |
Interact with others | 2.2, 2.5, 3.1, 3.3 | Recognises and applies, the protocols governing what to communicate, with whom, and how, when liaising with stakeholders, facilitating training and informing parties on administration methods Recognises the importance of joint ownership of the process, and outcomes, and tries to identify common ground, shared goals, and agreement on the best course of action |
Get the work done | All | Sequences and schedules complex activities, monitors implementation, and manages relevant communication, when implementing a prioritised plan and database, scheduling timelines, allocating responsibilities, and establishing goals and methods Makes a range of critical and non-critical decisions in relatively complex situations, taking a range of constraints into account Uses analytical processes to decide on a course of action, establishing the criteria for deciding between options Demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of principles, concepts, language and practices associated with the digital world, and uses these to troubleshoot and understand, the uses and potential of new technology |
Sectors
Programming and software development