Overview

The Foundation Certificate in Digital Solution Development is an introductory level qualification intended to give a broad coverage of the many topics affecting Digital Solution Development (DSD) in a modern enterprise setting.

The syllabus seeks to:

  • Lay the foundation for a Body of Knowledge concerning DSD, and therefore includes a broad range of themes/topics, roles, best practices, techniques and methods that are widely recognised and employed by practitioners in this field.
  • Cover topics in the development space between Business Analysis and the coding environment.
  • Be product, technology and platform agnostic as far as possible.

The syllabus emphasises activities in the development part of a digital service lifecycle, with links to the other parts, as appropriate.

The BCS Foundation Certificate in Digital Solution Development is primarily targeted at the following groups:

1) People within roles other than software development who wish to gain a broad understanding of the terminology, concepts, techniques, standards, frameworks and processes involved in the development of modern digital software applications.

2) Developers with entry level coding experience who wish to widen their horizons, preparing themselves for a Solution Architect role.

3) Experienced practitioners involved in the maintenance of legacy software solutions who wish to refresh their understanding of the terminology, concepts, techniques, standards, frameworks and processes involved in the development of modern digital software applications.

4) Graduates in a non-IT discipline who are seeking to work in a consulting capacity.

It is anticipated that this certification will appeal to individuals undertaking a range of job roles including, but not limited to:

software developer / software engineer, software tester, business analyst, systems analyst, solution architect, product owner, Scrum master, systems development manager, IT service delivery manager.

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Prerequisites

None, however please read the special notice section for details on the syllabus and syllabus guidance.

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Learning Outcomes

The course prepares candidates for the examination to qualify for the BCS Foundation Certificate in Digital Solution Development.

The examination is based on the topics published in the syllabus and the accompanying guidance document. SFIA Levels 1/2.

Candidates will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of terminology, concepts, techniques, standards, frameworks and processes in the following areas:

1. The context for digital solution development.

2. Digital service definition.

3. User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI).

4. Digital solution architecture and design.

5. Data and information architecture and design.

6. Quality assurance and quality control.

7. Digital Solution acquisition, deployment and maintenance.

8. Cyber security.

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Course Outline

Introductory Module: Course Introduction

Module 1: The context for digital solution development.

Module 2: Digital service definition and requirements engineering.

Module 3: User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI).

Module 4: Digital solution architecture and design.

Module 5: Data and information architecture and design.

Module 6: Quality assurance and quality control, including Testing

Module 7: Digital Solution acquisition, deployment and maintenance.

Module 8: Cyber security.

BCS Mock Examination

Note: the examination itself is taken on-line through the BCS exam provider, and is not taken as part of the course.

Delegates will be signed up to take the examination by BCS/QA and may arrange to take the exam on-line at their convenience after the course.

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Why choose QA

Special Notices

We recommend studying the following BCS documents before attending:

Once registered you will receive a confirmation email directly from the BCS. This email will reference a provisional exam location, date and time and should not be mistaken for a confirmed session.

You will receive a further email from Questionmark (within 48 hours). It is at this stage that you will be provided access to the live calendar to enable you to schedule your exam session.

Examination

All BCS exams are delivered as Remote Proctored. Learners will log into their QuestionMark portal and schedule their exam for any time that suits them at a later date. This must be sat only after 5pm on the final day of the course.

Exam Requirements

If you are taking a BCS exam you must bring photographic identification with you (passport, driving license or student card), as it is a BCS requirement to produce it for the invigilator prior to the exam. Failure to produce a valid form of photographic identification will result in a candidate not being able to sit the exam. For any questions about what form of identification is acceptable please contact your Account Manager or the QA Examination Administration team on 44 (0)1793 696273.

BCS allow additional time for candidates who have a disability or whose native language differs to that of the examination paper. Full details are provided in the BCS Reasonable Adjustments Policy which is available to view on the BCS website. If you believe you qualify for this then please notify the Exam Administration team on the details below as early as possible. At least two weeks' notice will be required for processing this request. Delegates failing to advise QA and provide evidence when requested, may not be allowed the additional support offered via the BCS policy. QA Exam Administration can be contacted by email exam.admin@qa.com or by phone 44(0) 1793 696162.

Dates & Locations

= Required
= Certification
BCS Business Analysis International Diploma
Agile Business Analyst
BCS Advanced International Diploma in Business Analysis
BCS International Diploma in Solutions Development
Need to know

Frequently asked questions

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All courses are built around case studies and presented in an engaging format, which includes storytelling elements, video, audio and humour. Every case study is supported by sample documents and a collection of Knowledge Nuggets that provide more in-depth detail on the wider processes.

When will I receive my joining instructions?

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When will I receive my certificate?

Certificates of Achievement are issued at the end the course, either as a hard copy or via email. Read more here.

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