Core Body of Knowledge - 2231-13

Author Profile

• Applied as 2231-17 (Applications & Analyst Programmer), but assessed by ACS as 2231-13 (Systems Designer)
• 9 years IT experience at 3 companies - the leading UK retailer, a top global IT services company, and a major insurance company
• Roles have included Programmer, Operations Analyst, Senior Systems Engineer (in name only, the reality being a Senior Analyst/Programmer!)
• Experience of software package implementation, SQL, Unix shell scripting, COBOL II & CICS within Windows NT, Unix and MVS environments
• Educated to degree level with a BSc Mathematics (Honours) degree

ASCO 2231-13 CBOK Example

Complete RPL application form including Project Reports

This includes all the CBOK sections detailed below and both Project Reports for this RPL.

1. Computer Organisation and Architecture

"I started my career as a programmer on an IBM mainframe and this is where I received a good introduction to the basic architecture and organisation of the mainframe. The initial in-house training included the following..."

2. Conceptual Modelling

"One of my key tasks in 2003 was to analyse distribution pay rules in order to ascertain the impact of incorporating all the variations within a new time and attendance application software package. First, I undertook user and system training courses in the application to obtain a high level of understanding..."

3. Database Management

"Throughout my career I have dealt with data and database management, initially within an MVS Mainframe platform, but more recently with Unix/Oracle and Windows/SQL Server platforms. I have received in-house training for DB2, external IBM training for IMS/DL1..."

4. Data Communications and Networks

"I started my career as a programmer on an IBM mainframe and this is where I received a good introduction to the basic architecture and organisation of the mainframe. The initial in-house training included the following..."

5. Data Structures and Algorithms

"This unit contains a lot of integral topics that are a necessary base for programming. In all of my Cobol II programs, I have needed to understand different data types, strings, substrings, and storage queues. Arrays are a necessary part of storing similarly structured data strings..."

6. Discrete Mathematics

"On my BSc Mathematics degree course, I studied and passed many modules that are relevant to this unit. Of these, the main 10 modules are listed below..."

7. Ethics / Social Implications / Professional Practice

"I have a high level of moral, ethical and professional standards and I have been fortunate that most work colleagues also have good standards in these areas. I am helpful to everyone and most importantly, I treat people in the way that I would like them to treat me..."

8. Interpersonal Communications

"I have attended several in-house training courses that have aided my interpersonal communications. These included Facilitation Skills, Influencing and Simple Communications..."

9. Program Design and Implementation

"I wrote my first computer programs in Basic on the BBC Micro when I was 12 years old, whilst at university I wrote programs in Turbo Pascal 7.0 containing menu systems and complex equation calculations as part of my degree. As a mathematician, I used letters to represent variables..."

10. Project Management and Quality Assurance

"I have learnt from in-house training of RACI - Responsibility, Accountability, Consult, Inform - to ensure that everyone is aware of their roles within any task. I have learnt from in-house training of Plan-Do-Review that proper preparation reduces the time and risks involved during implementation..."

11. Security

"At university, I studied and passed a BSc Mathematics degree module (MA349 - Information And Coding Theory) that focussed on information theory, coding theory and cryptography..."

12. Software Engineering and Methodologies

"I have had to follow the fundamentals of software engineering throughout my career. This has included both development and maintenance of the following..."

13. Systems Analysis and Design

"I have had to follow the fundamentals of software engineering throughout my career. This has included both development and maintenance of the following..."

14. Systems Software

"I started my career as a programmer on an IBM mainframe and this is where I received a good introduction to the basic architecture and organisation of the mainframe. The initial in-house training included the following..."

Brief Summary of Conclusions

"As a graduate in mathematics, I have learnt many of the concepts that are fundamental to IT in a formal educational environment. Throughout my career, I have..."