Network engineering staff or senior technical officers with project management roles and authority to direct the activities of installation staff apply the skills and knowledge in this unit. They also work in conjunction with manufacturers and vendors.

This unit applies to network infrastructure service providers implementing new end to end architectural solutions.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Evaluate tools and techniques for architectural design

1.1. Apply the principles of architectural design within the lifecycle of application software

1.2. Develop a process to apply appropriate tools and techniques for architectural design of end to end solutions

1.3. Evaluate and select appropriate analysis and selection techniques to develop a partition between discipline technologies and derive discipline specific requirements

2. Analyse design options for optimal solutions

2.1. Analyse business options to support architectural design trade offs for an optimal design solution

2.2. Develop alternative architectural designs that are traceable to the requirements

2.3. Evaluate a range of architectural solutions and justify the selection of the optimum solution

3. Develop interface requirements for effective solutions across multiple domains

3.1. Evaluate system element interfaces and the sources of complexity for the interface management of the system across multiple domains

3.2. Develop a process and appropriate techniques to be adopted for the interface management of system elements for end to end architectural solutions

3.3. Produce a control process for the system element interfaces of the management system

3.4. Liaise and arbitrate between stakeholders where there are conflicts in the definition of interfaces

4. Manage end to end systems integration

4.1. Evaluate suitability of system integration, verification and validation plans for end to end architectural solutions across multiple domains

4.2. Develop systems integration, verification and validation plans for complex systems to ensure viable integration process

4.3. Manage system integration plan and diagnose complex faults

4.4. Document fault conditions, report to appropriate person and follow up corrective actions

4.5. Prepare evidence for customer acceptance and certification of the system integration management plan

4.6. Plan and manage a transition to operational activity for the end to end solution

5. Incorporate components of an architecture from a third party

5.1. Negotiate with vendor for acceptable vendor agreements and agreed roles and responsibilities of each party

5.2. Manage vendor within a clearly defined process for dealing with defects and scope changes

5.3. Plan beyond delivery of specific elements and establish requirements for ongoing maintenance and support from vendor

6. Manage requirements for the architecture solution

6.1. Negotiate minimum component costs with vendors and analyse vendor component costs as part of the assessment for the appropriateness of vendors quote

6.2. Manage the vendor selection process to provide high level of solution and support costs

Required skills

analytical skills to evaluate product and technology needs

communication skills to:

interact with enterprise personnel, customers and other contractors, while maintaining a customer focus and consideration of customer needs

liaise with internal and external personnel on technical and operational matters

literacy skills to:

prepare reports given a specific format

read and interpret technical documentation, software and hardware manuals, specifications and relevant enterprise policy

numeracy skills to take and analyse measurements

PC skills to use a word processor to translate enterprise and technology issues into system requirements

planning and organisational skills to:

break large projects into a series of small projects

manage and prioritise own work

organise testing and contingency plans

problem solving skills to resolve software, hardware and logistics problems

safety awareness skills to follow all related occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements and work practices

task management skills to work systematically with required attention to detail and adherence to project requirements

technical skills to:

develop systems integration, verification and validation plans for complex systems

document fault conditions

manage systems integration

Required knowledge

architectural design tools

interface management

management of end to end system integration

new end to end architecture design solutions

solutions for business options across multiple domains

system integration solutions techniques

system interfaces

validation plans

vendor agreements and negotiations

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:

evaluate tools and techniques for architectural design

analyse design options for optimal solutions

develop interface requirements for effective solutions across multiple domains

manage end to end systems integration

incorporate components of an architecture from a third party

manage requirements for the architecture solution.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

site where architecture solutions across multiple domains can be managed

simulation software tools currently used in industry

vendor products, specifications, equipment and enterprise policy required for the activity.

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 managing end to end architectural solutions across multiple domains

review of evaluations, documents and evidence for customer acceptance prepared by the candidate

oral or written questioning of the candidate to assess required knowledge.

Guidance information for assessment

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

ICTTEN7222A Manage solution architecture and impacts in line with organisational processes.

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.

System element interfaces may include:

requirements posed on the system element

services to be provided by the system element

specified connected devices and interfaces

system elements that can support several interfaces.

Sources of complexity may include:

different domains

multinational programmes

multiple suppliers

novel technology.

Interface management may include:

integration with existing system

fine-tuning capabilities in multi-operating environments

links to legacy systems.

System elements may include:

relationships:

contractual

customer

development

hierarchical.

Systems integration may include:

bringing together of the component subsystems into one system and ensuring that the subsystems function together as a system

process of linking together different computing systems and software applications physically or functionally.

Validation plans may include:

identification of method

interaction between the stakeholders

timing for each activity.

Vendor agreements may include:

dealing with defects and scope changes

milestones

objectives and acceptance criteria

roles and responsibilities

scope.

Roles and responsibilities may include:

accountabilities

dependencies

impact on delivery.

Component costs may refer to:

appropriateness

completeness

correctness.

Unit sector

Telecommunications

Telecommunications networks engineering

This unit contains employability skills.