Creating technology solutions
Unit summary
Students will gain a solid understanding of technology fundamentals, including design principles, data analysis and programming basics. Developing understanding of the solutions life cycle, this learning will be rooted in topical contexts, linking technology solutions to organisational needs.
Unit details
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06 Information and Communication Technology
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06.1
ICT Practitioners
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06.2
ICT for Users
Task-based controlled assessment
| Learning Outcome |
Assessment Criteria |
| 1 understand what makes up a technology solution, what the purpose of a technology solution is, how interaction between the key components of a system is enabled, and how differing technology solutions interact and integrate |
a identify technology solutions for a range of business scenarios (eg accounts, payroll, sales order processing, inventory management), explain why new technology solutions are needed in organisations (eg to save money, to speed up processes, to provide better customer service, to develop and manufacture new products) and recognise the key components:
i hardware, including processing (the range of types, size, scale), storage solutions, presentation hardware (screens, printers)
ii software, including systems management software, operating system software, application software, database management software
iii data
iv procedures
v people, including their roles in using and operating the technology
vi networking, including both fixed wire and mobile/wireless communications elements.
b explain how different technology solutions in a business integrate and interact, including:
i why organisations’ needs are often supported by more than one single system
ii a comparison of distributed and centralised systems
iii how one system can feed into another system, for example a stock control system feeding into a management information system for purchasing
iv the need for standards and controls for data transfer between systems
v how data can be shared between systems and the issues involved in sharing data
vi security and networking issues for technology solutions which are integrated
c investigate existing technology solutions, identifying and documenting the key components and interfaces within them and their relationship to the business processes. |
| 2 understand the principles of the systems life-cycle and how to develop a requirements specification based on business analysis |
a understand the importance of applying a structured process and supporting techniques to create technology solutions
b identify the stages in the systems life-cycle and relate them to the production of specified technology solutions that meet the business purpose
c develop a requirements specification to meet a client’s business needs, demonstrating the use of a business case as the input to the process
d develop outline proposals and present ideas for alternative solutions to meet those needs
e evaluate the alternative solutions against the client’s requirements, selecting and justifying the most appropriate to support the need
f produce a requirements specification agreed with the client for a small-scale technology-enabled business solution. |
| 3 be able to design, construct, test and implement a small-scale technology-enabled solution to meet organisational business needs |
a design the technology-enabled business solution using the three-tier architecture of user interface, program code and relational database including designs for:
i data structures (including database design)
ii an effective human-computer interface (HCI) showing views of the data that are required by the user, ie only the items of data required are shown in an appropriate layout and form
iii the solution processes written using structured English
iv unit, system and usability testing
b construct the solution from the designs including:
i setting up of a database structure
ii implementing the HCI to show required views of the data
iii solution processes programmed using an industry standard programming language and the use of a database query language for extracting data from the database
c test:
i the interfaces, data structures, solution processes
ii the whole system, including integrity, performance and operability testing
iii whether the solution is useable by the specified users in the specified environment, and whether it meets the client’s needs for the business
d produce a user guide
e implement the business solution with users. |
| 4 be able to evaluate the design, usability and fitness for purpose of the technology-enabled business solution, and to suggest improvements. |
a review at interim stages the construction of the data structures, HCI and solution processes
b review and evaluate the finished product including feedback from users to identify strengths and weaknesses
c identify and prioritise opportunities for improvement. |