Assessment

Learners will need to be supplied with a scenario or case study detailing an organisation’s (real or invented) activities and usage of IT. It is important that the scenario provides the broadest possible vehicle for learners to meet all the assessment criteria, and that it relates directly to current trends and thinking. If at all feasible it would be of great value for learners if they were able to carry out their own research with a suitable organisation.

Assignment 1 – The Pros and Cons of Technological Development
The first assignment involves learners in thoroughly researching the impact of IT on an organisation. The IT considered should be relatively recent, ie implemented within the last 2-3 years.

The pass criteria are straightforward and learners should use the unit content as a guide. While P1 concentrates on the impact (implications) of IT development, M1 requires a reasoned explanation of why the organisation felt change was necessary.

For P2, learners should explain the impact that the changes will have, while for D1, learners should evaluate the benefits of change when weighed against the risks. A cost benefit analysis, although not specifically required, may provide a good vehicle to do so. Any suitable method may be used to present the assessment material. A presentation or web-based method can provide more interest for learners and introduce a competitive element. If the presentations are followed up with a discussion to identify pros and cons and successes and failures, this will help learners gather ideas for the final assignment.

Assignment 2 – What’s New?
For the second assignment, learners can carry out research into some of the most recent developments in hardware and software. ‘Recent’ means anything within the last 2-3 years. Learners should be encouraged to access trade magazines as well as websites to find opinions and reviews. They need to remember that the focus is business systems not the latest gaming or social networking developments!

P3-P5 could be evidenced with magazine style reviews, awarding stars or points under various categories (such as cost, speed, usability) for each device or software development, together with comments about how organisations might use the technology and the risks involved. Learners should include both hardware and software but the number of each reviewed must be flexible as it will depend on the complexity and detail included.

For M2, learners should suggest how these developments may be used to improve a specific business. This may be an extension of their review or a separate document. Both can be presented in any electronic format or on paper.

Assignment 3 – Moving Forward
The scenario/case study used for the first assignment may be extended for this assignment. The operation of a business function or functions will need to be outlined ensuring there is at least one fairly obvious way of improving the system such as the introduction or improvement of a database system or the addition of a customer feedback form to a website. For P6, the proposal should be fit for purpose but may be the simplest and most obvious solution. The proposal should be sufficiently detailed to show how the improvement would fit in with the existing systems, and include details such as cost, inputs, outputs, effect on staff and other knock-on effects as appropriate.

For M3 to be awarded, the proposal must demonstrate some original thought. This may be the introduction of more than one improvement or a series of improvements over time, or the same technology (as a pass candidate) may be recommended but the proposal will give more consideration to the impact it will have.

D2 requires a justification for the improvement proposed including pros and cons. A basic cost benefit analysis could be included.