Application
Technical planners, designers and supporting administration staff apply the skills and knowledge in this unit. It may also apply to technical staff moving into planning and management positions. Planners may be responsible for small projects, parts of larger projects and for the delivery of telecommunications products and services to customers. |
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1. Analyse customer base | 1.1. Establish the reasons for forecasting in network planning and factors that influence forecasting 1.2. Collate data from appropriate organisations involved in planning initiatives for planning delivery of products and services 1.3. Establish market segmentation to improve marketing effectiveness on new technology adoption 1.4. Analyse the market segments of customers based on geography and demographics for a new service or product and predict the adoption of a new product |
2. Evaluate current utilisation | 2.1. Evaluate current service usage of the network and determine current traffic load 2.2. Evaluate current network occupancy and determine any spare capacity |
3. Predict future customer base | 3.1. Evaluate the expected customer growth and segment mix in a defined geographical area and assess impact on network planning 3.2. Use a forecasting model and predict the customer demand for new technology products and services |
4. Use property market and development data to produce plans | 4.1. Develop strategic plans on infrastructure planning using planning authority data for development and redevelopments 4.2. Produce a plan for future development projects using property market data |
5. Predict future service requirements | 5.1. Create a customer service plan to maintain valuable customer relationships and strengthen business 5.2. Measure customer service results using key factors that provide an indicator for customer service quality 5.3. Use forecasting tools to predict future service demand and requirements for emerging technology services of Next Generation Networks (NGN) |
6. Produce network forecast and documentation | 6.1. Produce geographically-based network growth forecasts utilising the change in customer base, changes to property market and future service predications 6.2. Produce and present documentation |
Required Skills
Required skills |
analytical skills to examine market segments of customers based on geography and demographics communication skills to liaise with internal and external personnel on technical and operational matters maintaining customer focus and consideration of customer needs literacy skills to interpret technical documentation and write analytical reports in required formats numeracy skills to be able to compare technical data on various network topologies planning and organisational skills to plan, prioritise and monitor own work research skills to interrogate databases and investigate different customer requirements technical skills to: evaluate current service usage of the network select and use forecasting tools and forecasting models to make planning predictions |
Required knowledge |
different levels of reliability performance standards applicable to the specific equipment deployment needs emerging technologies factors affecting forecasting forecasting models forecasting tools market segmentations network designs new products and services NGN services planning authorities planning initiatives prepare and review customer bases service measures |
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 ability to: interpret growth patterns and develop options which satisfy customer and enterprise financial goals predict future customer base and service requirements produce network growth forecasts utilising changes to customer base, property market and future service predictions. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment must ensure: data from organisations involved in planning initiatives range of software currently used in industry relevant regulations, specifications that impact on service measures and forecasting activities. |
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: direct observation of the candidate undertaking a practical forecasting exercise review of network growth forecast completed by the candidate for forecasting growth of the telecommunications network oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of planning the development of the telecommunications network. |
Guidance information for assessment | Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example: ICTNPL5071A Develop planning strategies for core network design ICTNPL5096A Develop planning strategies for access network design ICTNPL5154A Develop planning strategies for building environment design. 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. |
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. | |
Reasons for forecasting may include: | evaluation of management decisions planning and budgeting for equipment purchase verification to confirm prediction. |
Factors that influence forecasting may include: | demographics economics: global macroeconomics: exchange rates imports inflation stimulus package sectoral: emerging technologies growth rate industry technology: application: internet internet protocol TV (IPTV) local area networks (LAN) voice over internet protocol (VoIP) wide area networks (WAN) subscriber access: cellular optical fibre wireless technology: broadband fibre to the premises (FTTP) IP services multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) national broadband network (NBN) world interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX). |
Data may be: | changing customer use patterns collected by: directories examining plans interviews maps network management tools reports collected from: customers: actual prospective economic planners internal organisational groups local marketing organisations real estate agents sales organisations state and federal governments statutory bodies traffic management systems customer access planning demographic changes economic forecasts historical usage data industry trends influence of technology on traffic demand land developments local industry market conditions marketing programs marketing requirements population trends possible environmental impacts power re-zoning sales forecasts shire planning telecommunications history in the area traffic patterns. |
Planning initiatives may include: | capacity upgrade equipment upgrade new product line: media centres new services: IP services IPTV new technology: FTTP NBN. |
Market segmentation may depend on: | behaviour: brand loyalty product usage rate readiness to buy stage demographics geography psychographics: attitude ethics lifestyle personality technological segmentation variables: attitude about technology early adopters usage patterns. |
Geography may refer to: | climate: cold hot humid snowy size: large city small town density of area: rural urban region of world or country: Asia Pacific or Europe coastal or inland. |
Demographics may refer to: | age employment habits income occupation people's lifestyles population movements socioeconomic status spending. |
Forecasting model may include: | analogous method: qualitative (symbolical) model quantitative (numeric) model judgemental method: Delphi method surveys technology forecasting prediction market probabilistic forecasting simulation time series forecast: exponential smoothing extrapolation growth curve linear prediction moving average trend estimation. |
Planning authority may refer to: | local: developers entertainment venues parks roads state: educational institutions hospitals housing estates industrial areas new shopping centres new suburbs. |
Key factors may include: | customer attrition ratio customer complaints customer survey results sales growth. |
Forecasting tools may include: | specialist forecasting software spreadsheets statistical tools: graphical estimation moving averages: simple weighted Poisson distribution probability queuing theory regression analysis trend analysis. |
Services of Next Generation Networks (NGN) may include: | interactive TV IP based home networks IPTV video on demand (VoD) virtual networks VoIP services web applications. |
Documentation may include: | customer demand figures customer service plan network growth forecasts recommendations strategic plans. |
Sectors
Unit sector | Telecommunications |
Competency Field
Network planning |
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills. |
Licensing Information
Refer to Unit Descriptor