Elements and Performance Criteria

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.

May include but is not limited to network, application, software, business, computers, financial system, management system and information system

Documentation for version control may follow ISO/IEC/AS standards, audit trails, naming standards, version control, project management templates and report writing, maintaining equipment inventory; client training and satisfaction reports

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 and financial control mechanisms.

May include but is not limited to internal departments, external organisations, individual people and internal employees

May include a person within a department, a department within the organisation or a third party

May include implementing the entire system, and formulating methods for standby operations or contingency plans

May include but is not limited to commercial software applications; organisation-specific software, packaged software, in-house or customised software.

May include formal procedures that must be adhered to, such as check points and sign-offs with documented procedures and templates; implementation of financial control mechanisms; communication with stakeholders; dispute resolution and modification procedures; and processes for determining size and cost.

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.
Critical aspects of evidence
Assessment must confirm the ability to implement changes to the system with minimum disruption to the system and client users. All changes are to be documented.
Whilst this competency is primarily about software implementation, a competent individual needs to demonstrate effective planning and communication skills to ensure client agreement to changes and minimisation of disruption to the business.

Knowledge and skills
Broad knowledge of vendor software services
Current industry-accepted hardware and software products, with basic knowledge of general features and capabilities and detailed knowledge in some areas
Broad general knowledge of the client business domain
Detailed knowledge of the system's current functionality
Basic knowledge incorporating some change control procedures
Detailed knowledge of the system under modification, including policies and procedures of the organisation
Business scheduling requirements
System software installation and configuration
Problem solving skills for a defined range of unpredictable problems
Plain English literacy and communication skills in relation to analysis, evaluation and presentation of information
Report writing skills for business requiring depth in some areas, analysis and evaluation of information in a defined range of areas
Change management skills in relation to maintaining the continuity of IT operations and business functions
Risk analysis skills in relation to reviewing change procedures
Basic training needs analysis skills
Basic programming skills

Assessment guidance
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.
Evidence for assessment from industry or vendor certified training may be presented for the whole or part of this unit, depending on the range of variables and performance criteria. There are a variety of vendor packages suitable for this unit. Selection will be determined by the software selected and the organisational needs.
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.

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

Assessment of this unit of competency will usually include observation of real or simulated work processes and procedures, quality projects, questioning on underpinning knowledge and skills.
ICAI4029B Install network hardware to a network
ICAS3034B Determine and action network problems
ICAS3121B Administer network peripherals

Resources

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

Technical specifications and documentation
Organisational requirements
Live system

Role context
The breadth, depth and complexity of knowledge and skills in this competency would cover selecting, adapting and transferring skills and knowledge to new environments and providing technical advice and some leadership in resolution of specified problems. This would be applied across a range of roles in a variety of contexts with some complexity in the extent and choice of options available.
Performance of a defined range of skilled operations, usually within a range of broader related activities involving known routines, methods and procedures, where some discretion and judgement is required in the section of equipment, services or contingency measures and within known time constraints would be characteristic.
Applications may involve some responsibility for others. Participation in teams including group or team coordination may be involved.

An individual demonstrating this competency would be able to:

Demonstrate some relevant theoretical knowledge
Apply a range of well-developed skills
Apply known solutions to a variety of predictable problems
Perform processes that require a range of well-developed skills where some discretion and judgement is required
Interpret available information, using discretion and judgement
Take responsibility for own outputs in work and learning
Take limited responsibility for the output of others
Maintain knowledge of industry products and services
It may include participation in teams, including those concerned with software changes and planning. Group or team coordination may be involved.

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

Demonstrate broad knowledge of theoretical concepts, with substantial depth in some areas
Analyse and plan approaches to technical problems and management requirements
Transfer and apply theoretical concepts and technical or creative skills to a range of situations
Evaluate information in relation to implementing software changes
Take responsibility for outputs in relation to broad quantity and quality parameters