Unit of competency details

Release 

Comments 

Release 1

This Unit first released with ICA11 Information and Communications Technology Training Package version 1.0

Element 

Performance Criteria 

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

1. Establish a quality management plan

1.1 Determine project quality requirements  with reference to project scope and stakeholder needs and expectations

1.2 Adopt or agree on organisational quality policy and quality standards  with stakeholders

1.3 Determine project quality management approach, including proposed quality assurance processes  and quality control  measurement methods and benchmarks

1.4 Negotiate project quality, cost, time trade-offs and changes to stakeholder expectations if necessary

1.5 Develop a quality management plan for the project and obtain sign-off

2. Perform IT quality assurance processes

2.1 Execute quality assurance activities as the project progresses according to the quality management plan

2.2 Identify project processes not meeting quality standards agreed in the quality management plan

2.3 Raise project change request to action process changes or corrective actions, update project-management plan and quality baselines  as necessary

3. Perform quality control

3.1 Validate project processes and deliverables against quality requirements as the project progresses

3.2 Review quality control metrics  and take action as necessary to investigate and understand the reasons for failure

3.3 Use quality-management tools  to determine failures and root causes and implement continuous improvement processes

Overview of assessment 

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

Evidence of the ability to:

• identify and implement appropriate quality management processes within a complex IT project.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Assessment must ensure access to:

• appropriate learning and assessment support when required
• modified equipment for people with special needs
• appropriate simulated or real organisation and suitable IT project
• facilities suitable for holding quality assurance problem-solving workshops.

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 carrying out project work
• verbal or written questioning to assess required knowledge and skills
• review of reports, plans and documents
• review of a portfolio of the project work undertaken.

Guidance information for assessment 

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, where appropriate.

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

Indigenous people and other people from a non-English speaking background may need additional support.

In cases where practical assessment is used it should be combined with targeted questioning to assess required knowledge.

Quality requirements  may include:

• negotiated trade-offs between cost, schedule and performance as these relate to implementation of quality processes
• quality aspects that may impact on customer satisfaction
• requirements from the client and other stakeholders.

Quality standards  may refer to:

• ISO 10006:2003, which provides guidance on the application of quality management in projects and other recognised standards and guidelines
• national and international standards, such as ISO 9004:2008 and 9004:2009 for guidance on implementing continual improvement processes and quality of product and service delivery
• recognised industry best practices.

Quality assurance processes  refer to:

• procedures and processes implemented to ensure agreed quality outcomes based on the specific needs of the project.

Quality control  may relate to:

• monitoring compliance with best practice, standards, requirements and solution specifications
• monitoring the results of regular quality assurance processes, including audits or inspections by internal or external agents
• recommending continual improvement activities
• recommending ways to eliminate root causes of unsatisfactory performance of processes or products.

Quality baselines  may include:

• standard by which quantitative values captured via quality metrics are compared to, such as stakeholder satisfaction index, which must remain above 90%.

Quality-control metrics  relate to:

• measures that have been developed to allow quantitative evaluation of the relative performance of specific processes, activities and outcomes over time
• defect density
• schedule variance
• stakeholder satisfaction index
• training effectiveness.

Quality-management tools  may include:

• benchmarking
• brainstorming
• charting processes
• control charts
• cost-benefit analysis
• flowcharts
• group work activities
• histograms
• Pareto charts
• processes that limit or indicate variation
• ranking candidates
• run charts
• scattergrams
• statistical methods.