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L7 - Digital and Technology Solutions Specialist

Site: QMplus - The Online Learning Environment of Queen Mary University of London
Module: Independent External Assessors at Queen Mary
Book: L7 - Digital and Technology Solutions Specialist
Printed by: Guest user
Date: Tuesday, 27 August 2024, 2:19 PM

Description

There are two EPA components for this programme

  1. Project report
  2. Professional discussion

Table of contents

1. Project report

The apprentice will compose a 10,000 (+/- 10%) written essay in which they will demonstrate all the assessed skills and knowledge.

The Project Report should cover the project terms of reference, the apprentice’s responsibilities, the action taken by the apprentice (in planning and executing the project) and results and conclusions. The report should be properly laid out as a business style report with an executive summary.

The report must include an annex containing a maximum of 4 pieces of evidence relating to the project. Example evidence may include software developed, spreadsheets, databases, models and analyses etc. This list is not definitive and other evidence sources are permitted. The annex must include a mapping of the evidence to the knowledge and skills assessed by this assessment method.

A typical Project Report is organised in the following way:

  • Executive summary. (This is no more than one side - which summarizes the content of the report. It must be comprehensible to someone who has not read the rest of the report.)
  • Introduction. (The scope or hypothesis of the project and terms of reference, setting the scene for the remainder of the report.)
  • Background. (A review chapter, describing the background work or research undertaken at the beginning of the project period.)
  • Work undertaken: Several chapters describing the work that has been undertaken.
  • Outputs. A chapter describing the outputs, deliverables or artefacts that have been produced as a result of the project.
  • Further work. (A chapter describing possible ways in which the work could be continued or developed.)
  • Conclusions. (A statement of conclusions relating to the work done, and outputs produced to the initial hypothesis and terms of reference.)
  • References, annex and appendices.

1.1. Assessing the project report against the KSBs

You must assess the report against the relevant KSBs.

The report will be marked using a Project Report assessment scheme (link needed - not yet provided)

Make sure you allocate sufficient time to read and understand the project and that you are familiar with the standards below.


Business and change management

(Skill) Identify, document, review and design complexIT enabled business processes that define a set of activities that will accomplish specific organisational goals and provides a systematic approach to improving those processes;

Professional competencies

(Skill) Professionally present digital and technology solution specialism plans and solutions in a well-structured business report;

(Skill) Demonstrate self-direction and originality in solving problems, and act autonomously in planning and implementing digital and technology solutions specialist tasks at a professional level;

(Skill) Be competent at negotiating and closing techniques in a range of interactions and engagements, both with senior internal and external stakeholders;

Software Engineering Specialist Skills to be assessed

Architect, build and support leading edge concurrent software platforms that are performant to industry standards and deliver responsive solutions with good test coverage;

Drive the technology decision-making and development process for projects of varying scales, considering current technologies including DevOps and Cloud Computing, and evaluate different technology design and implementation options making reasoned proposals and recommendations;

Develop and deliver, distributed or semi-complex software solutions that are scalable and which deliver innovative user experiences and journeys that encompass cross-functional teams, platforms and technologies;

Update current software products, improving the efficiency and functionality, and build new features to product specifications;

Accomplish planned software development tasks that deliver the expected features, within specified time constraints, security and quality requirements;

Be accountable for the quality of deliverables from one or more software development teams (source code quality, automated testing, design quality, documentation etc.) and following company standard processes (code reviews, unit testing, source code management etc.).

Software Engineering Specialist Knowledge to be assessed

The various inputs, statements of requirements, security considerations and constraints that guide solution architecture and the development of logical and physical systems' designs;

very long list (only small amount of the total given above - could be a pdf (but would benefit from being split out from the KSBs assessed through professional discussion).

1.2. Grading descriptors (Core Professional Competencies)

Fail: The apprentice will be deemed to have Failed the Professional Report if they have not met the pass criteria.

Pass: The apprentice will be deemed to have Passed the Professional Report if they provide evidence to meet all the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviour requirements set out for the Professional Report and all the criteria below for core professional competencies and for their specialism:

Merit: The apprentice will be deemed to have achieved a Merit in the Professional Report if they have met all of the pass criteria and all of the additional criteria below for core professional competencies and for their specialism:

Distinction: The apprentice will be deemed to have achieved a Distinction in the Professional Report if they meet all of the merit criteria and the additional criteria belowfor core professional competencies and for their specialism:


Core Professional competencies

Fail Pass Merit Distinction
Has not met the pass criteria.
  • Demonstrates competence in designing complex IT enabled business processes and in making some recommendations for improvement
  • Demonstrates practical report writing skills to produce solution reports
  • Is able to accomplish complex IT enabled business process design and in making detailed business recommendations aligned and justifiable improvements
  • Can select appropriate formats to produce digital and technology solution specialism plans and solutions in a well-structured business report
  • Is proactive in improving complex IT enabled business processes
  • Is able to select, discuss and prepare a range of appropriate professionally presented digital and technology solution specialism plans and solutions in a well-structured business report, including clear outcomes, methods in a compelling way with a succinct management summary
Has not met the pass criteria.
  • Can plan and implement digital and technology solutions specialist tasks at a professional level
  • Can implement structured problem solving approaches and plan and implement digital and technology solutions specialist tasks at a professional level
  • Can demonstrate self-direction and originality in solving problems, using structured approaches and act autonomously in planning and implementing digital and technology solutions specialist tasks at a professional level
Has not met the pass criteria.
  • Can apply negotiating skills to agree outcomes
  • Is competent at negotiating and closing techniques for semi complex problems and can deal with senior internal and external stakeholders
  • Is competent at selecting and applying negotiating and closing techniques in a range of interactions and engagements, both with senior internal and external stakeholders

1.3. Grading descriptors (Software Engineering Specialist)

Fail Pass Merit Distinction
  • Has not met the pass criteria
  • Demonstrates competence in architecting software platforms.
  • Is aware of contemporary software development approaches and methodologies including DevOps and Cloud Computing.
  • Can develop and deliver, basic software solutions that deliver most of the specified functionality.
  • Can update existing software solutions
  • Can interpret a plan and deliver software solutions on time.
  • Can test own software and others' software to ensure that it is defect free.
  • Understands and can explain the features and benefits of a range of alternative software development methodologies and technologies.
  • Is able to accomplish semi-complex software solutions that deliver all of the required functionality.
  • Can review existing software and improve the efficiency and functionality.
  • Can incorporate basic security considerations into software projects, delivering solutions on time and to meet specified level of quality.
  • Understands and can explain the range of factors that contribute to software quality including source code quality, how testing assures quality, and the importance of quality in design, documentation etc.
  • Compares different software methodologies and can select technologies for different contexts of software development.
  • Can develop and deliver complex software solutions that are scalable and which deliver feature rich user experiences.
  • Is proactive in code review and refactoring
  • Plans and implements security considerations across the software development process. Can plan and deliver complex software projects
  • Displays a comprehensive understanding of software quality and can select and implement quality frameworks for software development.

2. Professional Discussion

The Professional Discussion will focus on assessing how the core knowledge, skills and behaviours outcomes have been achieved and will not relate to the Project Report. 
A standard framework of Professional Discussion questions will be defined by the end-point assessment organisation and must cover the outcomes specified.
There should be a minimum of four questions covering the main themes of the core skills, knowledge and behaviours (business and change management, professional competencies, leadership and technology management). 

The independent assessor will use the questions to verify that outcomes have been met and will explore any gaps or areas of uncertainty following their reading of the portfolio.

The Professional Discussion should give the apprentice the best possible opportunity to get the best possible result. The purpose of the Professional Discussion is to gather sufficient evidence, primarily by discussing the work submitted in the portfolio, against all the identified knowledge, skills and behaviours  for the independent assessor to determine whether the minimum standards have been achieved or not and whether they have been significantly exceeded to inform the decision about the grade to be awarded. The independent assessor will grade this method in accordance with the descriptors.

The apprentice uses their portfolio to answer questions in the professional discussion and may also reference other work they have undertaken in the workplace. The Professional Discussion will not reference the Project Report, as this evidence has already been assessed. Both the independent assessor and the apprentice will have access to the portfolio before and during the Professional Discussion and the apprentice can also bring any additional documentation they may want to use.


2.1. Assessing the professional discussion

The independent assessor assesses the discussion against the knowledge, skills and behaviours and grades the Professional Discussion based on the descriptors. 

The independent assessor will undertake a review of the portfolio in advance of the Professional Discussion. This will enable the independent assessor to determine the relevant questions. 

Whist all the identified knowledge, skills and behaviours must be explored as part of the Professional Discussion, the independent assessor will determine those particular knowledge, skills and behaviours they need to probe in more depth in order to elicit sufficient evidence against the grading criteria.

3. Overall grading

Each of the two end-point assessment methods is graded. The independent assessor must individually grade each end-point assessment method – fail, pass, merit or distinction. This is based on the apprentice demonstrating the themes aligned to the knowledge, skills and behaviours that have been assigned to that end-point assessment method

Each end-point assessment method will be marked and graded, and each should be passed. The individual grades will then be aggregated to produce the final apprenticeship grade. To gain an apprenticeship pass or higher grade, the apprentice must achieve a minimum of a pass in each method. An apprenticeship pass represents full competence against the standard. A grade of merit or distinction means an apprentice is demonstrating competence above the standard.

The table below shows how an overall grade for the apprenticeship is achieved.


Project Report Professional Discussion Overall Grade
Pass Pass Pass
Pass Merit Pass
Pass Distinction Pass
Merit Pass Merit
Merit Merit Merit
Merit  Distinction Merit
Distinction Pass Merit
Distinction Merit Distinction
Distinction Distinction Distinction


4. Grade descriptors and mapping of KSBs

5. Occupational Standard

Overview of the role: Investigating, identifying and implementing technological strategic solutions.

Details of standard:

Role profile: A Digital & Technology Solutions Specialist maintains digital and technology strategies through technology leadership; investigating, identifying and implementing technological strategic solutions. They direct digital technology provision by studying organisation goals, strategies, and practices and delivering and supporting strategic plans for implementing digital technologies. They are confident, competent and capable individuals able to apply leadership and change management skills to operate in a range of digital and technology related specialist roles. This standard is based upon a core set of knowledge, skills and behaviours that will be supplemented by one specialism detailed below.

Entry Requirements:

Individual employers will set the selection criteria, but this is likely to include a degree at 2.1 or higher in a relevant subject, although some employers will accept other relevant qualifications or experience.

Qualifications:

MSc Digital & Technology Solutions. Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the endpoint assessment. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement the apprenticeships English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3 and British Sign Language qualification are an alternative to English qualifications for whom this is their primary language.

Level: This apprenticeship is at level 7.

Duration: The typical duration for this apprenticeship is 18 months.

Review date: This standard will be reviewed in three years from the date of publication. 

Core Technical Skills:

Is able to:

  • Identify, document, review and design complex IT enabled business processes that define a set of activities that will accomplish specific organisational goals and provides a systematic approach to improving those processes;
  • Design and develop technology roadmaps, implementation strategies and transformation plans focused on digital technologies to achieve improved productivity, functionality and end user experience in an area of technology specialism;
  • Deliver workplace transformations through planning and implementing technology based business change programmes including setting objectives, priorities and responsibilities with others in an area of technology specialism;
  • Negotiate and agree digital and technology specialism delivery budgets with those with decision-making responsibility;
  • Develop and deliver management level presentations which resonate with senior stakeholders, both business and technical;
  • Professionally present digital and technology solution specialism plans and solutions in a well-structured business report;
  • Demonstrate self-direction and originality in solving problems, and act autonomously in planning and implementing digital and technology solutions specialist tasks at a professional level;
  • Be competent at negotiating and closing techniques in a range of interactions and engagements, both with senior internal and external stakeholders;
  • Evaluate the significance of human factors to leadership in the effective implementation and management of technology enabled business processes;
  • Develop own leadership style and professional values that contributes to building high performing teams;
  • Apply broader technical knowledge combined with an understanding of the business context, and how it is changing, to deliver to the company’s business strategy;
  • Demonstrate effective technology leadership and change management skills for managing technology driven change and continuous improvement;
  • Create and implement innovative technological strategies to support the development of new products, processes and services that align with the company’s business strategy, and develop and communicate compelling business proposals to support these.

Core Technical Knowledge:

Knows and understands:

  • The strategic importance of technology enabled business processes, and how they are designed and managed to determine a firm’s ability to compete effectively;
  • The principles of business transformation and how organisations integrate different management functions in the context of technological change;
  • The role of leadership in contemporary technology based organisations;
  • Own employer’s business objectives and strategy, its position in the market and how own employer adds value to its clients through the services and/or products they provide;
  • How to justify the value of technology investments and apply benefits management and realisation;
  • How to monitor technology related market trends and research and collect competitive intelligence;
  • The personal leadership qualities that are required to establish and maintain an organisations technical reputation.
  • The role of leaders as change agents and identify contributors to successful implementation;
  • Technology road-mapping concepts and methods and how to apply them;
  • The role of learning and talent management in successful business operations
Core behaviours:
  • Inspire and motivate others to deliver excellent technical solutions and outcomes
  • Establish high levels of performance in digital and technology solutions activities
  • Be results and outcomes driven to achieve high key performance outcomes for digital and technology solutions objectives
  • Promote a high level of cooperation between own work group and other groups to establish a technology change led culture
  • Develop and support others in developing an appropriate balance of leadership and technical skills
  • Create strong positive relationships with team members to produce high performing technical teams

Specialism Occupations:

A Digital and Technological Solutions Professional will choose one of the following technical specialisms:

  • Software engineering specialist
  • Data analytics specialist
  • Digital business and enterprise systems architecture specialist
  • System test and assurance specialist
  • IT strategy specialist
  • IT business analysis specialist
  • Network engineering specialist
  • IT operations management specialist
  • IT project management specialist
  • Cyber security technology specialist
  • IT / digital futures management specialist

More detailed information about each specialism can be found here