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 sufficient knowledge of the build or coding phase in a number of key areas. Coding, testing, administration, GUI design, etc. are all components of this phase.

Assessment must confirm the ability to meet technical requirements by successfully preparing the development environment.

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

Technical specifications

Version control standards

Software requirements specifications

System requirements

Design specification

Context of and specific resources for assessment

The breadth, depth and complexity covering planning and initiation of alternative approaches to skills or knowledge applications across a broad range of technical and/or management requirements, evaluation and coordination would be characteristic.

Assessment must ensure:

The demonstration of competency may also require self-directed application of knowledge and skills, with substantial depth in some areas where judgement is required in planning and selecting appropriate equipment, services and techniques for self and others.

Applications involve participation in development of strategic initiatives as well as personal responsibility and autonomy in performing complex technical operations or organising others. It may include participation in teams including teams concerned with planning and evaluation functions. Group or team coordination may also be involved.

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.

Competency in this unit should be assessed using summative assessment to ensure consistency of performance in a range of contexts. 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:

ICAB5066B Coordinate the build phase

An individual demonstrating this competency would be able to:

Demonstrate understanding of a broad knowledge base incorporating theoretical concepts, with substantial depth in some areas

Analyse and plan approaches to technical problems or management requirements

Transfer and apply theoretical concepts and/or technical or creative skills to a range of situations

Evaluate information, using it to forecast for planning or research purposes

Take responsibility for own outputs in relation to broad quantity and quality parameters

Take some responsibility for the achievement of group outcomes

Maintain knowledge of industry products and services

Required skills

Ability to read and correctly interpret technical design documentation

Analytical skills for identifying, analysing and evaluating a range of solutions

Ability to install, configure and test a variety of development tools and platforms

Documentation skills for quality-related software documentation

Problem solving skills for a defined range of predictable problems (e.g. when identifying best development tools for project)

Required knowledge

Current industry-accepted coding methods and standards in a recognised language

Current industry-accepted DBMS modelling techniques

Software and database design principles and techniques

Software and database architectures and their technical requirements

Broad knowledge of quality assurance practices (e.g. when identifying best development platform for project)

Broad general knowledge of the client business domain (e.g. when identifying best development platform for project)

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.

Requirements may be in reference to:

business

system

platform

database

network

people in the organisation

Development platform may include but is not limited to:

operating systems

target environments

development tools

computer language used

version control systems

development methodology

Technical specification may include but is not limited to:

technical requirements

user problem statement

system functionality

Quality standards relevant quality standards include:

AS 4043-1992 Software configuration management

AS 4042-1992 Software configuration management plans

AS 3925.1-1994 Software quality assurance - plans

AS/NZS 4258:1994 Software user documentation process

AS/NZS ISO/IEC 12207:1997 Information technology - software life cycle processes

AS/NZS 14102:1998 Information technology - guideline for evaluation and selection of CASE tools.

International and Australian Standards are updated and changed on a regular basis. It is therefore important to check the Standards Australia website on a regular basis for new standards: http://www.standards.com.au

Programdocumentation may include but is not limited to:

user manuals

design documents

requirement documents

test documents

release documents

in-code documentation

code comments

internal module documentation

architecture documentation

design document

Developmenttools may include:

CASE tools

program generator

screen generator

fourth-generation language

Components may include:

motherboards

CMOS battery

central processing unit (CPU)

CD and DVD drives

interface cards

drives

fax/modem cards

RAM upgrades

CPU upgrades

Hardware may include but is not limited to:

workstations

personal computers

modems and other connectivity devices

networks

remote sites

servers

DSL modems