Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit defines the competency required to ensure that clients can use a website once a connection has been established.

The following units are linked and form an appropriate cluster:

• ICAA4142C Design a website to meet technical requirements
• ICAB4135B Create a simple mark up language document to specification
• ICAB4171B Develop cascading style sheets
• ICAD4209B Write content for web pages
• ICAI4189B Ensure website content meets technical protocols and standards
• ICAT4183B Confirm accessibility of website for people with special needs
• ICAT4185B Create a website testing procedure
• ICAT4186B Conduct operational acceptance tests of websites

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Application of the unit 

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

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.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Design a site user test

1.1. Establish usability test methods

1.2. Identify critical business functions

1.3. Identify full range of users 

1.4. Confirm user  expectations through market analysis, business intelligence and customer feedback

1.5. Establish performance potential of the business from business requirements  or other approved sources

1.6. Establish performance measurement and success criteria to measure actual performance against user  expectations

1.7. Test site when ready and record outcomes

2. Conduct user test

2.1. Document process performance indicators and benchmarks and disseminate to sample group of users 

2.2. Assemble a full representative range of users  and preferred technologies to test site features and functions based on the business specification 

2.3. Ensure maximum user  satisfaction through ease of navigation controls and design

2.4. Ensure user  and legal, accessibility, privacy and equity requirements  and expectations are met

3. Evaluate user test

3.1. Collate site performance results and measure against performance indicators and benchmarks based on user  expectations

3.2. Identify performance shortfalls and ensure acceptable performance solutions are developed according to business requirements 

3.3. Establish an evaluation feedback mechanism  and provide to users 

4. Document results

4.1. Identify solutions  to problems  during the testing phase

4.2. Discuss problems  with developers and ensure solutions  are continuously refined

4.3. Ensure proposed solutions  meet business requirements  and user  expectations

4.4. Document final solutions  in line with organisational guidelines, and distribute to appropriate person 

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• Website development
• Website analysis
• Technical test design
• Test implementation
• Test evaluation
• Evaluation feedback
• Evaluation analysis

Required knowledge 

• Website architecture
• Website security
• Work load metrics
• Technical performance measurement
• Business process design
• Customer and business liaison
• Website privacy
• Principles of accessibility and equity in the context of website development
• Electronic commerce modelling language
• User testing principles and techniques

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

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 ability to design a valid usability test, facilitate the test process and document the results. The proposed solutions must meet user needs and the current and future needs of the business.

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

• Web servers
• E-business website
• Site server
• Site server software
• Analysis software
• Requirements documentation
• Customer relationship model

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

This competency is about testing a website to see how easy it is for humans to interact with. Ensuring site usability is important as more companies, individuals and community groups need websites to reach clients and other stakeholders. Sometimes usability issues can make websites unworkable or ineffective.

Usability testing is sometimes seen as that stage of overall systems testing in which the developed system is compared to users' expectations and needs.

The breadth, depth and complexity of knowledge and skills in this competency would cover a broad range of varied activities or application in a wider variety of contexts most of which are complex and non-routine. Leadership and guidance would be involved when organising activities of self and others as well as contributing to technical solutions of a non-routine or contingency nature.

Assessment must ensure:

• Performance of a broad range of skilled applications including the requirement to evaluate and analyse current practices, develop new criteria and procedures for performing current practices and provision of some leadership and guidance to others in the application and planning of the skills would be characteristic.

• Applications may involve responsibility for, and limited organisation of, others.

The scope and complexity of knowledge and skills is dependent on the tasks undertaken as part of a specified activity.

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.

• 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, for example:

• ICAA4142C Design a website to meet technical requirements
• ICAB4135B Create a simple mark-up language document to specification
• ICAB4171B Develop cascading style sheets
• ICAD4209B Write content for web pages
• ICAI4189B Ensure website content meets technical protocols and standards
• ICAT4183B Confirm accessibility of website for people with special needs
• ICAT4185B Create a website testing procedure
• ICAT4186B Conduct operational acceptance tests of websites

An individual demonstrating this competency would be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of a broad knowledge base incorporating some theoretical concepts
• Apply solutions to a defined range of unpredictable problems
• Identify and apply skill and knowledge areas to a wide variety of contexts, with depth in some areas
• Identify, analyse and evaluate information from a variety of sources
• Take responsibility for own outputs in relation to specified quality standards
• Take limited responsibility for the quantity and quality of the output of others

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

• Provide benchmarks of websites for examination
• Interpret available information and request clarification where needed
• Take responsibility for output
• Maintain knowledge of industry products and services

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.

User  may include:

• a person within a department
• a department within the organisation
• a third party

Business requirements  may be in reference to:

• business
• system
• application
• network
• people in the organisation

Success criteria  may include:

• timeframe
• cost implications
• technical and logistical considerations

Business specification  may include but is not limited to:

• technical requirements
• user problem statement
• current system functionality

Solutions  may include but is not limited to:

• new hardware
• hardware upgrades
• new software
• software upgrades
• user training
• implementing a new system

Requirements  may be in reference to:

• business
• system
• application
• network
• people in the organisation

Feedback mechanisms  may include:

• surveys
• questionnaires
• interviews
• meetings

Problems  may be in reference to:

• problems with the business
• system
• application
• network
• people in the organisation

Organisational guidelines  may include but are not limited to:

• personal use of emails and internet access
• content of emails
• downloading information and accessing particular websites
• opening mail with attachments
• virus risk
• dispute resolution
• document procedures and templates
• communication methods
• financial control mechanisms

Appropriate person  may include:

• supervisor
• teacher
• authorised business representative
• client

Unit sector 

Test

Co-requisite units 

Competency field