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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Interpret publishing product specifications

SAQA US ID	UNIT STANDARD TITLE
246518	Interpret publishing product specifications
ORIGINATOR
SGB Publishing
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-
FIELD			SUBFIELD
Field 04 - Communication Studies and Language			Communication Studies
ABET BAND	UNIT STANDARD TYPE	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	CREDITS
Undefined	Regular	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	4
REGISTRATION STATUS		REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE	SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"		2018-07-01	2023-06-30	SAQA 06120/18
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30		2027-06-30

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard.

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD

The purpose of learning is to be able to interpret and recommend modifications to specifications for publishing products. Credited learners are able to take into account production, product quality, supplier, and cost requirements and limitations and recommend the most effective solution.

Correct interpretation of product specifications improves the overall quality of publishing products, and requires working with everyone in the value chain to achieve the intended output. This competence is generic and being able to interpret product specifications can be applied in many contexts. It requires a detailed knowledge of the learner's area of responsibility in the production process and provides a basis for learning to manage product production/manufacturing processes. Adhering to specifications (briefs) improves (internal or external) customer satisfaction by ensuring that outputs meet expectations, and, therefore, can impact positively on the image of the publishing industry.

Credited learners are capable of:

Identifying product outcome requirements.

Proposing appropriate specifications to achieve final product outcomes.

Identifying cost requirements of specifications.

Recommending specification modifications where required.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

The credits and level assigned to this unit standard is based on the assumption that learners have already attained the following competencies:

Communication and language at NQF Level 4.

Administering projects at NQF Level 4.

UNIT STANDARD RANGE

This unit standard must be achieved in one area of responsibility. Range statements are included with the relevant specific outcomes and assessment criteria where appropriate.

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria:

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1

Identify product outcome requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

All relevant product requirements are identified.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Requirements include medium; format; qualitative, physical and technical specifications, etc.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

Identified requirements include all components of given product requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

All relevant industry standards/requirements for content outputs are identified.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

All relevant manufacturing/technical output requirements are identified.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2

Propose appropriate specifications to achieve final product outcomes.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Identified product requirements are translated into specifications for interpretation, approval and information by all parties in the value chain.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

Specifications notes are documented in the prescribed format to inform all parties in the (specified) approval chain.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

Product examples of the specifications are presented for approval to identified parties in the approval chain.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

Specification notes are documented in the prescribed format to archive and prescribe the product specifications for the production chain.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

The production chain includes publishing, editorial, design, output preparation, production, and manufacturing.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3

Identify cost requirements of specifications.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Suitable suppliers are identified that can achieve the specifications.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

Estimates/quotes/rates are obtained for all identified specifications.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

Product quality, supplier specifications and costs are evaluated and are balanced to ensure most effective combination.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

Budget requirements are compared with cost and quality requirements to ensure adherence to budgetary constraints.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5

Costs are presented in specified format to all parties in the (specified) approval chain.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6

Costs are documented in specified format for access by all parties in the value chain.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4

Recommend specification modifications where required.

OUTCOME RANGE

Modifications are limited to those impacted by technical and resource limitations.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

All discrepancies between specification and production requirements are identified.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

Modifications are recommended that rectify all discrepancies.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

Recommendations are motivated in terms of impact on product quality.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

Samples of recommendations or alterations are provided that illustrate potential impact on products.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5

Recommendations are communicated according to specified procedures to all relevant persons in the approval chain.

UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS

Assessment of learner achievements takes place at providers accredited by a relevant ETQA (RSA, 1998b) for the provision of programs that result in the outcomes specified for this unit standard.

Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with a relevant ETQA.

Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with a relevant ETQA.

The relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines and the agreed ETQA procedures will oversee moderation of assessment and is responsible for moderation of learner achievements of learners who meet the requirements of this unit standard.

UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE

Credited learners understand and can explain:

Publishing processes, products and product outcome requirements.

Industry standards/requirements for content outputs.

Manufacturing/technical output requirements.

Publishing value chain.

Product specifications and specification formats, and impact on product quality.

Publishing approval chain.

Product quality, supplier specifications and costs (e.g. estimates/quotes/rates).

Budget requirements and constraints, and cost and quality requirements.

UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME

N/A

UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES

N/A

Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO):

UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING

Identify and solve problems where responses to problems show that such critical and creative thinking has been used to make responsible decisions when product quality, supplier specifications and costs are evaluated and are balanced to ensure most effective combination, all discrepancies between specification and production requirements are identified, and specification modifications are recommended that rectify all discrepancies.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING

Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation or community when identified product requirements are translated into specifications for interpretation, approval and information by all parties in the value chain, and product examples of the specifications are presented for approval to identified parties in the approval chain.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING

Organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively when estimates/quotes/rates are obtained for all identified specifications.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING

Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information to identify product outcome requirements, and cost requirements of specifications.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING

Communicate effectively using visual, mathematic and/or language skills in the modes of oral and/or written presentation when specifications notes are documented in the prescribed format to inform all parties in the (specified) approval chain and prescribe the product specifications for the production chain, and recommendations are communicated according to specified procedures to all relevant persons in the approval chain.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE

Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others when costs are presented in specified format to all parties in the (specified) approval chain, and for access by all parties in the value chain.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING

Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation when suitable suppliers are identified that can achieve the specifications, budget requirements are compared with cost and quality requirements to ensure adherence to budgetary constraints, and recommendations are motivated in terms of impact on product quality.

UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA

N/A

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015.

UNIT STANDARD NOTES

Notes to Assessors:

Assessors should keep the following principles in mind when designing and conducting assessments against this unit standard:

Focus the assessment activities on gathering evidence in terms of the main outcome expressed in the title to ensure assessment is integrated rather than fragmented. Remember we want to declare the person competent in terms of the title. Where assessment at title level is unmanageable, focus assessment around each specific outcome, or groups of specific outcomes.

Make sure evidence is gathered across the entire range, wherever it applies. Assessment activities should be as close to the real performance as possible, and where simulations or role-plays are used, there should be supporting evidence to show the learner is able to perform in the real situation.

Do not focus the assessment activities on each assessment criterion. Rather make sure the assessment activities focus on outcomes and are sufficient to enable evidence to be gathered around all the assessment criteria.

The assessment criteria provide the specifications against which assessment judgements should be made. In most cases, knowledge can be inferred from the quality of the performances, but in other cases, knowledge and understanding will have to be tested through questioning techniques. Where this is required, there will be assessment criteria to specify the standard required.

The task of the assessor is to gather sufficient evidence, of the prescribed type and quality, as specified in this unit standard, that the learner can achieve the outcomes again and again and again. This means assessors will have to judge how many repeat performances are required before they believe the performance is reproducible.

All assessments should be conducted in line with the following well documented principles of assessment: appropriateness, fairness, manageability, integration into work or learning, validity, direct, authentic, sufficient, systematic, open and consistent.

QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD:

	ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	STATUS	END DATE	PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
Elective	58977	National Certificate: Publishing	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"	2015-06-30	FPMSETA

PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD:

This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.

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