• ICAI5212B - Implement quality assurance process for websites

ICAI5212B
Implement quality assurance process for websites

This unit defines the competency required to develop and conduct a planned and systematic pattern of actions required to provide adequate confidence that websites conform to relevant standards and fulfil the client expectations.

Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Establish standards

1.1. Identify appropriate regulatory, accessibility, industry and organisational compliance standards

1.2. Develop, quantify, document and disseminate measurable performance standards, from the standards identified above, for all documents

1.3. Establish a centralised, distributed or combined quality assurance methodology

1.4. Determine the specification from which the website was developed

1.5. Establish guidelines for controlling, updating and loading new content onto the website

2. Apply standards and track performance

2.1. Apply all processes as an integral part of the website development process

2.2. Validate site, all updates and new content against performance standards, using a wide variety of browsers and tools

2.3. Document and disseminate results

2.4. Provide feedback to web authors, users and administrators on a routine and regular basis

3. Develop and apply continuous improvement process

3.1. Provide performance standards feedback to developers, maintainers and/ or administrators

3.2. Identify below-average or unacceptable performancestandards and apply appropriate measures in order to improve performance

3.3. Provide channels for interaction, feedback and suggestions from site users, administrators, developers and maintainers

3.4. Conduct responses to interaction, feedback and suggestion providers

3.5. Develop procedures to identify whether feedback and suggestions are applied and acted upon

3.6. Conduct regular benchmark reviews based on improved performance and disseminate revised benchmarks

4. Document quality assurance practices

4.1. Document quality assurance procedures and processes

4.2. Document quality assurance results

4.3. Document and control changes to procedures, processes and results

Required Skills

Required skills

Website development

Website analysis for compliance to legislation and best practice

Technical test design to improve the design and maintenance processes and to ensure that all the client's elements are incorporated into the design

Test implementation of the website

Test evaluation

Evaluation feedback

Evaluation analysis

Required knowledge

Website architecture and website security

Workload metrics and technical performance measurement

Business process design and customer and business liaison

Website accessibility and equity legislation

Copyright and intellectual property

Provisions of relevant privacy legislation

Evidence Required

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 competency to identify, establish and implement appropriate quality assurance standards to the website. A continuous improvement process must also be developed and implemented. Standards should be quantitative and applied universally wherever possible. Quality assurance standards should be well documented and disseminated.

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

Web servers

E-business website

Analysis software

Automatic testing software

Documentation for appropriate regulatory, industry compliance and accessibility standards

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit looks at the overarching quality assurances processes that impact the design, development and maintenance of a website. Procedures are examined and if necessary, modified in order to quality assure the subject website to appropriate industry standards having regard to client business requirements. In the workplace continuous improvement is a vital part of adjusting processes to evolving standards and industry best practice in quality assurance.

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.

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

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

Demonstrate understanding of specialised knowledge of website design,, with depth in areas, such as features that enhance site response times

Analyse and diagnose website design in order to establish quality control procedures and so identify areas requiring improvement

Demonstrate a command of wide-ranging, highly specialised technical, creative or conceptual skills

Generate website design ideas through the analysis of information and concepts

Demonstrate accountability for group outcomes within broad parameters of reviewing website design and effectiveness and quality assurance processes


Range Statement

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.

Performance standards - common performance measures include:

timeliness

structural quality

content accuracy and consistency

response time and latency

server response time

Content may include:

information and interactive features, such as product information, company information, copyright and disclaimer notices, site map, frequently asked questions, what's new, customer-specific information, customer only information, error messages, instructions, feedback mechanisms, reference pages, forms, background articles, ratings/rankings/testimonials/quotes from reviews, hyperlink titles

Browsers may include but is not limited to:

Netscape Navigator

Internet Explorer

Mozilla

Opera

Galleon

Phoenix

Konqueror

Lynx

Tools may include but are not limited to:

spell check

CSS check

HTML validating

link checking software

Users may include:

a person within a department

a department within the organisation

a third party


Sectors

Unit sector

Implement


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Not Applicable