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 the ability to install and improve system performance with minimum disruption to clients.

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

Personal computer/workstation

Operating System software and technical documentation

Context of and specific resources for assessment

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.

Assessment must ensure:

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.

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:

ICAS3024B Provide basic system administration

ICAT3025B Run standard diagnostic tests

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

Required skills

Problem solving skills for a defined range of predictable 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

Strong interpersonal skills for team work and responsible workplace interactions

Software installation and configuration

Questioning and active listening for conveying and clarifying information

Literacy skills in regard to interpretation of technical computer installation manuals

Use of diagnostic tools

Required knowledge

Organisational and technical systems

Detailed knowledge of the system's current functionality

Functions and features of operating systems used by the organisation

Set-up and configuration procedures

Current industry-accepted hardware and software products, with broad knowledge of general features and capabilities and detailed knowledge in some areas

Software packages supported by the organisation

Prerequisites for system software installation

Vendor specifications and requirements for installation

Broad knowledge of incorporating systems software

Broad general knowledge of systems diagnostic software

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.

Operating System may include but is not limited to:

Linux 7.0 or above

Windows 2000 or above

Apple OS X or above

Appropriateperson may include:

supervisor

teacher

authorised business representative

client

Software may include but is not limited to:

operating systems, including standalone personal computer systems and network operating systems; commercial software applications; organisation-specific software; word processing, spreadsheet, database, graphic, mail, communication packages and presentation functionalities

Feedback mechanism may include:

surveys

questionnaires

interviews

meetings

Organisationalrequirements may include but are not limited to:

Availability of system to be optimised

Level of complexity of technical manuals

In-house or vendor; contracting arrangements relating to IT purchasing

Client support documentation

IT policy and procedures relating to service levels and installation

Client may include:

a person within a department

a department within the organisation

a third party