To develop a programmed software solution, which meets business and user needs, it is necessary to understand the problem and be very clear in terms of the user requirements. Issues are often caused by poor understanding of user need as well as poor planning. A wide range of different development programming languages and paradigms is available to developers with quite different characteristics and features. Learners will build an appreciation of why different high-level languages are available and why they are chosen in particular situations.

This unit focuses on the design and development process, for learners to start incorporating the systems development lifecycle, and would be an appropriate place to start looking at programming concepts before they undertake more focused programming language units. The unit examines the business context within which solutions can be developed and explores the tools that can be used to demonstrate software designs.

A major part of learners’ time will be spent on familiarising themselves with fundamental software development processes and concepts. This will give learners a firm foundation to move onto the more focused programming units