Elements and Performance Criteria

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.

gateways
routers
emulators

large and small local area networks (LANs)
wide area networks (WANs)
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
wireless local area networks (WLANs)

secure shell
Telnet (not secure)
file transfer protocol (FTP)
simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP)
hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP)
hypertext transfer protocol secure (HTTPS)
secure socket layer (SSL)

Some organisations may use a wide range of protocols while others a few or none at all, though more and more companies are using a large number of protocols:
TCP/IP
Hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP)
Simple network management protocol (SNMP)
H.323 protocol
Internet protocol (IP)
Electronic mail protocols
Address resolution protocol (ARP)
Wireless application protocol (WAP)
Dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP)
Simple object access protocol (SOAP)
Internet protocol version 6 (IPv6)
File transfer protocol (FTP)

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 knowledge of network protocols and how this knowledge can be used internally and to facilitate interconnectivity.
Assessment must confirm the ability to install and manage network protocols in a network, including troubleshooting procedures.

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

Live network
Networked computers

Context of and specific resources for assessment
The breadth, depth and complexity of knowledge and skills in this competency would cover selecting, adapting and transferring skills and knowledge to new environments and providing technical advice and some leadership in resolution of specified problems. This would be applied across a range of roles in a variety of contexts with some complexity in the extent and choice of options available.

Assessment must ensure:

Performance of a defined range of skilled operations, usually within a range of broader related activities involving known routines, methods and procedures, where some discretion and judgement is required in the section of equipment, services or contingency measures and within known time constraints would be characteristic.
Applications may involve some responsibility for others. Participation in teams including group or team coordination may be involved.

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.
Competency in this unit should be assessed using summative assessment to ensure consistency of performance in a range of contexts. 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:

ICAS3121B Administer network peripherals
ICAS3031B Provide advice to clients
ICAS3024B Provide basic system administration
ICAS3032B Provide network systems administration
ICAS3120C Configure and administer a network operating system
ICAT3025B Run standard diagnostic tests

An individual demonstrating this competency would be able to:

Demonstrate some relevant theoretical knowledge
Apply a range of well-developed skills
Apply known solutions to a variety of predictable problems
Perform processes that require a range of well-developed skills where some discretion and judgement is required
Interpret available information, using discretion and judgement
Take responsibility for own outputs in work and learning
Take limited responsibility for the output of others
Maintain knowledge of industry products and services