Technicians involved in planning and consultancy with organisations deploying converging technologies integrating data, wireless, optical and internet protocol (IP) networks apply the skills and knowledge in this unit.

This unit applies to installation of cabling and equipment within customer premises in domestic, commercial or industrial installations.

Communications applications include digital and analog, telephony, data, video, digital broadcasting, computer networks, local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), and multimedia.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Plan to provide consultancy and technical support in the CPE sector

1.1. Obtain consultancy requirements from the client

1.2. Establish relationship with industry experts to maintain currency of latest industry innovations in the customer premises equipment (CPE) sector

1.3. Access sources of product and technical information relating to change and innovation

1.4. Access and evaluate latest data relating to change and innovation in the CPE sector for company use within an appropriate timeframe

2. Assess customer needs

2.1. Develop knowledge and understanding of the client's business to provide an accurate solution according to the requirements

2.2. Investigate communication requirements including networks, based on business needs and demands

2.3. Ascertain client's physical and financial parameters

2.4. Present reports and recommendations within client's timeframes

3. Provide consultancy and expert advice

3.1. Provide timely and accurate expert consultancy and advice to company staff and clients

3.2. Provide communication solutions that meet client's requirements and that meet relevant legislation, codes, regulations and standards

3.3. Provide alternative solutions for clients where their needs cannot be better met in an innovative way

3.4. Provide a report on advice and solutions that match both the physical and financial demands of the client

3.5. Consult with the client for an agreed solution

4. Control and manage product and technical information

4.1. Provide all relevant personnel with the latest product and technical information

4.2. Monitor the information flow process to ensure that appropriate personnel have access to the latest data

4.3. Provide the client with final consultancy reports and recommendations

Required skills

communication skills to liaise with customers to ensure requirements are known and can be met within timeframes

literacy skills to interpret technical specifications and related documentation

numeracy skills to make calculations for dimensioning, cost and financial considerations

planning and organisation skills to make site access arrangements and plan and prioritise own work

problem solving skills to develop communications solutions

research skills to gain and maintain relevant and current technical product knowledge

technical skills to:

interpret drawings related to customer's telecommunications equipment

provide expert advice on installation and upgrade

use databases and diagnostic equipment

Required knowledge

common customer telecommunications applications and related equipment

connections to carrier infrastructure or equipment

current legislation relating to installation of telecommunications equipment and connection to carrier services

enterprise operations and policies

IP networks

new and emerging technologies

overview knowledge of customer premise equipment

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:

provide consultancy advice related to full range of CPE products including:

product models and equipment types

peripherals

facilities including network facilities

system features

provide alternative solutions where customer's needs cannot be met precisely

prepare clear and concise reports to customers complete with recommendations and supporting data, including full financial considerations

provide regular updates to both company personnel and clients as to the latest product and technical information.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

site with:

network or computer layout documentation and premises plans

network components

equipment specifications

organisational guidelines

business plan or model

relevant legislation.

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 exercise

review of reports completed by the candidate for different test examples and situations

oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of planning, types of systems and applications.

Guidance information for assessment

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

ICTTEN5204A Produce technical solutions from business specifications.

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.

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.

Industry may include:

communications

information technology

multimedia industries.

Product and technical information relates to:

CPE product

facilities including:

network facilities

system features

peripherals

product models and equipment types.

Networks may be:

external

internal

in Australia

overseas.

Physical and financial parameters may include:

physical parameters:

building size

equipment inventory

new equipment requirement

power requirements

site access

size of organisation

staffing

financial parameters:

capital expenditure

current budget allocation

current return on investment

forecast fund allocation

future return on investment

operational costs.

Consultancy may be:

direct to a customer

through a third party considering provision of consultant's company product

supported by explanatory documentation.

Company staff and clients may include:

own or partner company staff

sales and technical staff.

Relevant legislation, codes, regulations and standards include:

Australian Communications Industry Forum (ACIF) standards and codes

Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) technical standards

AS/NZS 3000:2007

AS/NZS 3080:2003

AS/NZS 3084:2003

AS/NZS 3085.1:2004

AS/NZS IEC 61935.1:2006

AS/NZS IEC 61935.2:2006

AS/NZS ISO/IEC 14763.3:2007

AS/NZS ISO/IEC 15018:2005

AS/NZS ISO/IEC 24702:2007

Australian building codes and regulations

Australian Standards AS 3901, 3902

fire regulations

heritage legislation

International Standards ISO 9000, 9001

OHS

Trade Practices Legislation.

Agreed solution includes:

cost details

equipment requirements

procurements information

recommended vendors

return on investment (RoI) information.

Unit sector

Telecommunications

Telecommunications networks engineering

This unit contains employability skills.