Unit of Competency Mapping – Information for Teachers/Assessors – Information for Learners

ICTTEN6206A Mapping and Delivery Guide
Produce an ICT network architecture design

Version 1.0
Issue Date: May 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency ICTTEN6206A - Produce an ICT network architecture design
Description This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to compile, and evaluate the business specifications from a client and produce a set of architecture design solutions that will cater for present and future forecast demands.No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement but users should confirm requirements with the relevant federal, state or territory authority.
Employability Skills This unit contains employability skills.
Learning Outcomes and Application Officers in field work who to carry out design and implementation of technical solutions of ICT networks apply the skills and knowledge in this unit for a practical solution in network design. They would be employed by telecommunications and IT networking provisioning companies specialising in integrating the converging and emerging technologies of ICT networks.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.
Prerequisites/co-requisites
Competency Field Telecommunications networks engineering
Development and validation strategy and guide for assessors and learners Student Learning Resources Handouts
Activities
Slides
PPT
Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4
Elements of Competency Performance Criteria              
Element: Prepare to produce ICT architecture design
  • Obtain business specifications and business requirements for the client from appropriate person
  • Review specifications and requirements to identify the type of ICT network and network specifications required
  • Consult with key stakeholders to identify their requirements
  • Assess business problems, opportunities and objectives and confirm details with appropriate person
       
Element: Produce the preliminary ICT network architecture design
  • Ascertain technical requirements, including hardware, software and network elements according to specifications
  • Select software solutions to suit business platform
  • Develop preliminary physical network diagrams as a preface to architecture blueprint
  • Produce a document on the possible impact of the network design on the business requirements
       
Element: Evaluate preliminary design and likely performance using forecast demands
  • Predict forecast traffic demands and the impact on network design from current and future demand requirements
  • Benchmark the design using expected performance parameters
  • Review the design based on identification of the likely performance profile (best/worst)
  • Determine costs involved with a range of supplier products
  • Produce an evaluation report on predicted performance and costs of the network architecture design addressing the business specifications and recommendations
       
Element: Finalise network design and obtain approval
  • Review the benchmarks and requirements and final design proposed
  • Determine the support and training requirements needed
  • Obtain the latest technical specifications and pricing by contacting possible vendors
  • Document the network design and present documentation to appropriate person for approval
  • Obtain sign off on final business solution
       


Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

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 ability to:

adapt technologies to specified technical solutions

use site design software and hardware

evaluate client specifications against accepted industry practices

produce technical designs from business specifications

analyse feedback from client and make adjustment to the proposal

produce information that can be shared between businesses

apply design concepts to business solutions

produce technical reports

make recommendations and offer optimum design solutions.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

sites providing:

client functional requirements

business specifications

database software

simulation software

organisational guidelines

network or computer layout

site design software and hardware

information on a range of ICT business solutions.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

review of evaluation report prepared by the candidate on predicted performance and costs of the network architecture design outlining the business specifications and recommendations

oral or written questioning on required knowledge and skills

evaluation of research methodologies and the final proposal prepared by the candidate outlining solutions and recommendations.

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

ICTOPN6128A Design a dense wavelength division multiplexing systems

ICTRFN6171A Produce and evaluate architecture designs for WiMAX networks

ICTTEN6169A Produce and evaluate architecture designs for convergent cellular mobile networks.

Aboriginal people and other people from a non-English speaking background may have second language issues.

Access must be provided to appropriate learning and assessment support when required.

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and appropriate to the oral communication skill level, and language and literacy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.

In all cases where practical assessment is used it will be combined with targeted questioning to assess required knowledge. Questioning techniques should not require language, literacy and numeracy skills beyond those required in this unit of competency.

Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with special needs.


Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assignment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)


Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills

communication skills to liaise with internal and external personnel on technical, operational and business related matters

literacy skills to read and interpret technical documentation and write reports, design solutions and recommendations

numeracy skills to interpret business requirements and specifications and evaluate possible technical design scenarios for optimum solution

planning and organisational skills to plan, prioritise and monitor own work

problem solving and contingency management skills to adapt varied business procedures to requirements

research skills to interrogate vendor databases and websites to implement different solutions to meet client business specifications

technical skills to:

evaluate and make further recommendations for optimum solution

produce technical designs

Required knowledge

broad technical knowledge of technologies:

Access Networks

Core Networks

ICT network topologies

mobile cellular networks

network protocols and operating systems

optical networks and principles

radio frequency (RF) technologies and principles

radio frequency identification (RFID) hardware and software

business processes

client business domain, business function and organisation

compatibility issues and resolution procedures

configuration of internet protocol (IP) networks

customer and business liaison

desktop applications and operating systems

documenting technical specifications

linkage between processes

security protocols, standards and data encryption

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.

Business specifications may include:

budget allocation

budget costs estimate

current system functionality

future plan

growth forecast

technical requirements

timeline

user problem statement.

Business requirements may include:

business application

business plan

existing system

mission statement

nature of the business

network or people in the organisation.

Client may include:

external organisations

ICT company

individuals

internal departments

internal employees

service industry.

Appropriate person may include:

authorised business representative

client

ICT network administrator

ICT network manager

ICT support manager

small or medium enterprise (SME) customer

small office home office (SOHO) customer

supervisor.

ICT network may include:

Access Network

broadband network

Core network

customer network

internet

intranet

multimedia

radio

RFID

security

switching

telecommunications

transmission

voice, video and data.

Stakeholders may include:

development team

project team

sponsor

user.

Technical requirements may refer to:

bandwidth

hardware problems

network growth

network security

network traffic congestions

new technologies

power usage

software problems

transmission dropouts

upgrades.

Hardware may include:

cabling network

cellular phone network

internet protocol TV (IPTV)

IT network elements:

gateway

local area network (LAN) switch

router

server

wireless network

multimedia

optical network

radio network

RFID equipment

switching equipment

transmission equipment

voice and data equipment.

Software may include:

commercial

customised software

in-house

network management

operating system

packaged

patches

vendor propriety.

Network elements may include:

add-drop multiplexer

antenna

base station

dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) unit

encoder

IT network elements:

gateway

LAN switch

router

server

wireless network

laser module

optical unit

protocol analyser

receiver

RF unit

RFID unit

splitter

transmitter.

Architecture may include but is not limited to:

carrier network architecture:

Access

billing

broadband

broadcasting

Core

data

optical

wireless

configuration:

large memory model

requests per second

small memory model

database software:

Informix

Ingres, DB2

Microsoft SQL server

mSQL

MySQL

Oracle

SQL server

Sybase

operating system:

Linux

Mac OS

Novell NetWare

Windows.

Impact may refer to:

fewer downtimes

improved efficiency

improved response times

increased return on investment

lower operational costs

more 'user friendly' network.

Performance parameters may include:

attenuation

bandwidth

bit error rate (BER)

congestion

data security

distortion

dropouts

interference

latency

packet loss

phase jitter

polarisation

quality of service - QoS

transmission data rate.

Documentation may include:

audit trails

client training and satisfaction reports

costing details

design report

evaluation report and recommendations

implementation plan

international standards

International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standards

Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standards

International Telecommunications Union (ITU) standards

Australian standards

naming standards

version control.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Obtain business specifications and business requirements for the client from appropriate person 
Review specifications and requirements to identify the type of ICT network and network specifications required 
Consult with key stakeholders to identify their requirements 
Assess business problems, opportunities and objectives and confirm details with appropriate person 
Ascertain technical requirements, including hardware, software and network elements according to specifications 
Select software solutions to suit business platform 
Develop preliminary physical network diagrams as a preface to architecture blueprint 
Produce a document on the possible impact of the network design on the business requirements 
Predict forecast traffic demands and the impact on network design from current and future demand requirements 
Benchmark the design using expected performance parameters 
Review the design based on identification of the likely performance profile (best/worst) 
Determine costs involved with a range of supplier products 
Produce an evaluation report on predicted performance and costs of the network architecture design addressing the business specifications and recommendations 
Review the benchmarks and requirements and final design proposed 
Determine the support and training requirements needed 
Obtain the latest technical specifications and pricing by contacting possible vendors 
Document the network design and present documentation to appropriate person for approval 
Obtain sign off on final business solution 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

ICTTEN6206A - Produce an ICT network architecture design
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:


Assessment Record Sheet

ICTTEN6206A - Produce an ICT network architecture design

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: