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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Interpret publishing project specifications 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
246513  Interpret publishing project 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 the learning is to interpret given publishing project specifications (briefs) in terms of their requirements for a specific area of the publishing process, from the initial analysis, to the motivation of modifications to the specifications, if required. Credited learners can interpret specifications including information that is problematic, with the view of finding solutions.

Correct interpretation of project specifications improves the overall quality of products, and requires working with the relevant production team to achieve the intended output. This competence is generic and being able to interpret project 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 develop proposals. 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 requirements contained in production specifications.
  • Interpreting production specifications for an area of responsibility.
  • Planning implementation to meet production 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:
  • Computer literacy at NQF Level 3.
  • Communication and language at NQF Level 4.
  • Working as a member of a team 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 requirements contained in production specifications. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Examples of specifications are identified, from a particular area of responsibility, that are relevant for the area. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Relevant examples of specifications are compared in terms of their production requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    All aspects of specifications are included when identifying requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Aspects include purpose, time frames, budget, etc.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Notes are documented in a format that can be used during interpretation of specifications. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Identified requirements include all components of given specifications. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Interpret production specifications for an area of responsibility. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Identified requirements are contextualised within the publishing environment, and current developments, trends and characteristics of products. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Interpretation adheres to specific production context limitations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    All relevant production process requirements in an area of responsibility are identified. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Production process needs are delineated in terms of all required activities within an area of responsibility. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Outputs are clearly identified and are measurable. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Production specifications are adhered to and identified requirements are met. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Plan implementation to meet production specifications. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Resources are identified that meet all production specification requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Resources include physical and human resources.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Plans adhere to the limitations of organisation context requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Plans adhere to production specification requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Plans include all required activities within an area of responsibility. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Contingency planning addresses all identified implementation risks. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Recommend specification modifications where required. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Modifications are limited to those impacted by technical and resource limitations, and does not include creative decision-making or recommendations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Recommendations are presented using organisation-specific formats and methods. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Recommendations include relevant motivations for modifications. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Relevant motivations include technical limitations and resource constraints.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Proposed resolution of discrepancies between production specifications and delivery adhere to specification and organisation requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Discrepancies between production specifications and proposed delivery are resolved to the satisfaction of all decision makers. 


    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:
  • The publishing environment, and current developments, trends and characteristics of products.
  • Production specification formats and components.
  • Production requirements and context limitations.
  • Production processes, activities, outputs and areas of responsibility.
  • Resource planning.
  • Risks and contingency planning.
  • Presentation formats and methods. 
    		•

    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 identified requirements include all components of given specifications, all relevant production process requirements in an area of responsibility are identified, production process needs are delineated in terms of all required activities within an area of responsibility, outputs are clearly identified and are measurable, and production specifications are adhered to and identified requirements are met, plans adhere to production specification requirements, plans include all required activities within an area of responsibility, and contingency planning addresses all identified implementation risks. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation or community when interpretation adheres to specific production context limitations, plans adhere to the limitations of organisation context requirements, and discrepancies between production specifications and proposed delivery are resolved to the satisfaction of all decision makers. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively when proposed resolution of discrepancies between production specifications and delivery adhere to specification and organisation requirements. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information to identify requirements contained in production specifications and interpret production specifications for an area of responsibility. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, mathematic and/or language skills in the modes of oral and/or written presentation when notes are documented in a format that can be used during interpretation of specifications, and recommendations are presented using organisation-specific methods. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others when recommendations are presented using organisation-specific formats. 

    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 examples of specifications are identified that are relevant for a particular area of responsibility, all aspects of specifications are included when identifying requirements, identified requirements are contextualised within the publishing environment, and current developments, trends and characteristics of products, resources are identified that meet all production specification requirements, and recommendations include relevant motivations for modifications. 

    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
    Core  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.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.