Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to compile, and evaluate the business specifications from a client and produce a set of architecture design solutions that will cater for present and future forecast demands.

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement but users should confirm requirements with the relevant federal, state or territory authority.

Application of the unit 

Officers in field work who to carry out design and implementation of technical solutions of ICT networks apply the skills and knowledge in this unit for a practical solution in network design. They would be employed by telecommunications and IT networking provisioning companies specialising in integrating the converging and emerging technologies of ICT networks.

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. Prepare to produce ICT architecture design

1.1. Obtain business specifications  and business requirements  for the client  from appropriate person 

1.2. Review specifications and requirements to identify the type of ICT network  and network specifications required

1.3. Consult with key stakeholders  to identify their requirements

1.4. Assess business problems, opportunities and objectives and confirm details with appropriate person

2. Produce the preliminary ICT network architecture design

2.1. Ascertain technical requirements , including hardware , software  and network elements  according to specifications

2.2. Select software solutions to suit business platform

2.3. Develop preliminary physical network diagrams as a preface to architecture  blueprint

2.4. Produce a document on the possible impact  of the network design on the business requirements

3. Evaluate preliminary design and likely performance using forecast demands

3.1. Predict forecast traffic demands and the impact on network design from current and future demand requirements

3.2. Benchmark the design using expected performance parameters 

3.3. Review the design based on identification of the likely performance profile (best/worst)

3.4. Determine costs involved with a range of supplier products

3.5. Produce an evaluation report on predicted performance and costs of the network architecture design addressing the business specifications and recommendations

4. Finalise network design and obtain approval

4.1. Review the benchmarks and requirements and final design proposed

4.2. Determine the support and training requirements needed

4.3. Obtain the latest technical specifications and pricing by contacting possible vendors

4.4. Document the network design and present documentation  to appropriate person for approval

4.5. Obtain sign off on final business solution

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• communication skills to liaise with internal and external personnel on technical, operational and business related matters
• literacy skills to read and interpret technical documentation and write reports, design solutions and recommendations
• numeracy skills to interpret business requirements and specifications and evaluate possible technical design scenarios for optimum solution
• planning and organisational skills to plan, prioritise and monitor own work
• problem solving and contingency management skills to adapt varied business procedures to requirements
• research skills to interrogate vendor databases and websites to implement different solutions to meet client business specifications
• technical skills to:

• evaluate and make further recommendations for optimum solution
• produce technical designs

Required knowledge 

• broad technical knowledge of technologies:

• Access Networks
• Core Networks
• ICT network topologies
• mobile cellular networks
• network protocols and operating systems
• optical networks and principles
• radio frequency (RF) technologies and principles
• radio frequency identification (RFID) hardware and software

• business processes
• client business domain, business function and organisation
• compatibility issues and resolution procedures
• configuration of internet protocol (IP) networks
• customer and business liaison
• desktop applications and operating systems
• documenting technical specifications
• linkage between processes
• security protocols, standards and data encryption

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 ability to:

• adapt technologies to specified technical solutions
• use site design software and hardware
• evaluate client specifications against accepted industry practices
• produce technical designs from business specifications
• analyse feedback from client and make adjustment to the proposal
• produce information that can be shared between businesses
• apply design concepts to business solutions
• produce technical reports
• make recommendations and offer optimum design solutions.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Assessment must ensure:

• sites providing:

• client functional requirements
• business specifications
• database software
• simulation software
• organisational guidelines
• network or computer layout
• site design software and hardware
• information on a range of ICT business solutions.

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:

• review of evaluation report prepared by the candidate on predicted performance and costs of the network architecture design outlining the business specifications and recommendations
• oral or written questioning on required knowledge and skills
• evaluation of research methodologies and the final proposal prepared by the candidate outlining solutions and recommendations.

Guidance information for assessment 

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

• ICTOPN6128A Design a dense wavelength division multiplexing systems
• ICTRFN6171A Produce and evaluate architecture designs for WiMAX networks
• ICTTEN6169A Produce and evaluate architecture designs for convergent cellular mobile networks.

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.

Business specifications  may include:

• budget allocation
• budget costs estimate
• current system functionality
• future plan
• growth forecast
• technical requirements
• timeline
• user problem statement.

Business requirements  may include:

• business application
• business plan
• existing system
• mission statement
• nature of the business
• network or people in the organisation.

Client  may include:

• external organisations
• ICT company
• individuals
• internal departments
• internal employees
• service industry.

Appropriate person  may include:

• authorised business representative
• client
• ICT network administrator
• ICT network manager
• ICT support manager
• small or medium enterprise (SME) customer
• small office home office (SOHO) customer
• supervisor.

ICT network  may include:

• Access Network
• broadband network
• Core network
• customer network
• internet
• intranet
• multimedia
• radio
• RFID
• security
• switching
• telecommunications
• transmission
• voice, video and data.

Stakeholders  may include:

• development team
• project team
• sponsor
• user.

Technical requirements  may refer to:

• bandwidth
• hardware problems
• network growth
• network security
• network traffic congestions
• new technologies
• power usage
• software problems
• transmission dropouts
• upgrades.

Hardware  may include:

• cabling network
• cellular phone network
• internet protocol TV (IPTV)
• IT network elements:

• gateway
• local area network (LAN) switch
• router
• server
• wireless network

• multimedia
• optical network
• radio network
• RFID equipment
• switching equipment
• transmission equipment
• voice and data equipment.

Software  may include:

• commercial
• customised software
• in-house
• network management
• operating system
• packaged
• patches
• vendor propriety.

Network elements  may include:

• add-drop multiplexer
• antenna
• base station
• dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) unit
• encoder
• IT network elements:

• gateway
• LAN switch
• router
• server
• wireless network

• laser module
• optical unit
• protocol analyser
• receiver
• RF unit
• RFID unit
• splitter
• transmitter.

Architecture  may include but is not limited to:

• carrier network architecture:

• Access
• billing
• broadband
• broadcasting
• Core
• data
• optical
• wireless

• configuration:

• large memory model
• requests per second
• small memory model

• database software:

• Informix
• Ingres, DB2
• Microsoft SQL server
• mSQL
• MySQL
• Oracle
• SQL server
• Sybase

• operating system:

• Linux
• Mac OS
• Novell NetWare
• Windows.

Impact  may refer to:

• fewer downtimes
• improved efficiency
• improved response times
• increased return on investment
• lower operational costs
• more 'user friendly' network.

Performance parameters  may include:

• attenuation
• bandwidth
• bit error rate (BER)
• congestion
• data security
• distortion
• dropouts
• interference
• latency
• packet loss
• phase jitter
• polarisation
• quality of service - QoS
• transmission data rate.

Documentation  may include:

• audit trails
• client training and satisfaction reports
• costing details
• design report
• evaluation report and recommendations
• implementation plan
• international standards
• International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standards
• Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standards
• International Telecommunications Union (ITU) standards
• Australian standards
• naming standards
• version control.

Unit sector 

Telecommunications

Co-requisite units 

Competency field 

Telecommunications networks engineering