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 should confirm knowledge of all aspects of site preparation and relationship to and impact on the installation schedule. Assessment must confirm the ability to identify environmental prerequisites prior to installation commencing. Assessment can cover a number of scenarios, such as LANs incorporating hubs, routers and peripherals.

Assessment must confirm ability to logically sequence the preparatory steps, taking into account time and budget constraints.

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

A mock or real customer computer site

Several different device types to be installed

Access to staff resources and technical equipment

Context of and specific resources for assessment

The area of activity covered by this unit involves assessing a physical site, to determine its suitability for system installation. Site assessment includes considering limitations imposed by issues such as legislation, site history, environmental matters and OH&S guidelines.

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.

When dealing with unexpected problems on the site, an individual would be expected to show leadership and guidance when organising activities of self and others, as well as being able to contribute to technical solutions of a non-routine or contingency nature.

The individual would also be expected to demonstrate performance over a broad range of skilled applications, including running specialised testing tools in evaluating and analysis of the site.

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.

In the case of this unit, it could be assessed in a holistic manner with:

ICAI5086B Scope implementation requirements

ICAI5090B Conduct pre installation audit for software installation

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

Problem solving skills for a defined range of unpredictable problems involving participation in the development of strategic initiatives (e.g. when preliminary recommendations for site are formulated and impact on installation schedule assessed)

Plain English literacy and communication skills in relation to analysis, evaluation and presentation of information (e.g. when a report documenting findings and issues relating to site requirements and preparation is prepared)

Teamwork skills involving the contribution to solutions and goals of a non-routine or contingency nature (e.g. when support staff are organised to facilitate a successful installation)

Group facilitation and presentation skills in relation to transferring and collecting information and gaining consensus on concepts (e.g. when changes to site to meet requirements are recommended and submitted for approval, and when final recommendations are submitted for approval)

Project planning skills in relation to scope, time, cost, quality, communications and risk management (e.g. when technical and environmental system requirements for equipment to be installed are obtained and site requirements are documented, including OH&S site-specific requirements, and when hardware and software is reviewed and tested to ensure that the system meets client business requirements and system objectives)

Required knowledge

Physical prerequisites needed for system installation

Vendor equipment specifications and installation requirements

Possible legislative requirements relating to cabling and building preservation (e.g. when evaluating the environment)

Current industry-accepted hardware and software products, with broad and detailed knowledge of general features and capabilities of network devices

Broad knowledge of the role of stakeholders and the degree of stakeholder involvement

Detailed knowledge of the any current system's functionality

Broad knowledge of quality assurance practices (e.g. when evaluating the environment)

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.

Equipment may include but is not limited to:

workstations

personal computers

modems and other connectivity devices

printers

hard drives

monitors

switches

hubs

DSL modems

personal digital assistant (PDA)

other peripheral devices

Appropriateperson may include:

supervisor

teacher

authorised business representative

client

Client may include but is not limited to:

internal departments

external organisations

individual people

internal employees

Hardware may include but is not limited to:

workstations

personal computers

modems and other connectivity devices

networks

remote sites

servers

Software may include but is not limited to:

commercial software applications; organisation-specific software, packaged software, in-house or customised software