Unit 49 Systems Integration Assignment Brief 2026
| Qualification | Pearson BTEC Levels 4 and 5 Higher Nationals in Computing |
| Unit Number | 49 |
| Unit Title | Systems Integration |
| Unit code | D/618/7485 |
| Unit type | Optional |
| Unit level | 5 |
| Credit value | 15 |
Introduction
Large organisations and businesses are composed of different functional areas, such as finance, HR, customer management, engineering services, product manufacturing, storage and warehousing. These functional areas carry out different operations in order to fulfil the goals of the business and often use a variety of different IT systems, for example stock control, accounts, human resources, from a range of different suppliers and vendors to service their needs. The success of any large business or enterprise in achieving its goals depends on the ability of IT systems to communicate effectively with each other. However, IT systems from different vendors or suppliers often use different hardware and/or software platforms and services, creating the need for systems integration.
This unit introduces students to enterprise business requirements and the need for and purpose of systems integration to support organisational goals. Students will gather and review business objectives with the aim of developing a systems specification document. As part of a feasibility analysis, students will evaluate factors and issues affecting the successful completion of integration, including describing and documenting the functional architecture and design of a system. Students will explore the hardware and software technologies used to connect systems and subsystems and will establish an integration methodology to design and implement an integrated solution. Students will also investigate and compare different cloud service models and evaluate deployment methods, considering their effect on systems integration.
Among the topics included in this unit are: enterprise business objectives, purpose and operation of systems integration, systems specification documents, feasibility analysis, risk assessments, architectural development, hardware and software technologies for systems integration, operational configuration, systems integration design framework, design, development and deployment of a systems integration solution, quality assurance, cloud services as a systems integration provision, cloud service models and different deployment models, such as private and public cloud services.
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to analyse systems integration requirements in terms of business objectives. They will know how to investigate different hardware and software systems in terms of connectivity, communication and data transfer, and be able to prepare a suitable integrated solution based on a set of business requirements. They will also be able to compare a range of cloud computing providers and evaluate their services. As a result, students will develop skills such as communication literacy, critical thinking, analysis, reasoning and interpretation, which are crucial for gaining employment and developing academic competence.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this unit students will be able to:
LO1 Analyse systems integration requirements in terms of business objectives
LO2 Investigate different hardware and software systems in terms of connectivity, communication and data transfer
LO3 Prepare a suitable integrated solution based on a set of business requirements
LO4 Compare a range of cloud computing providers and evaluate their services in terms of the impact on systems integration.
Essential Content
LO1 Analyse systems integration requirements in terms of business objectives
Identification of business objectives:
The purpose and operation of ‘systems integration’.
Interpreting business needs from different functional areas and departments.
Developing a systems specification document, including establishing and that ensuring requirements can be met.
The concept of non-functional requirements, including security, availability, scalability, and manageability.
Feasibility analysis:
Use of risk assessments to evaluate issues threatening the successful completion of integrating systems, including identifying any reasonable steps necessary to prevent or mitigate issues.
Appropriate risk mitigation strategy, including assuming and accepting some risk, avoidance of risk, control of risk, transference of risk and watching and monitoring risk.
Architectural development, including describing and documenting the functional architecture and design of the system and specifying all technical requirements and capabilities.
LO2 Investigate different hardware and software systems in terms of connectivity, communication and data transfer
Exploration of hardware and software technologies:
Research hardware and software servers, technologies, platforms and services impacted by the systems integration process.
Methods of connecting systems and subsystems, including custom software services and development.
Establishment of a systems integration methodology:
Operational configuration, including exploring requirements, information needs and facilitating data transfer and communication.
Identifying and tracking issues for problem resolution and fault detection, including diagnosing type and location.
Implementing a design framework, including using top-down and bottom-up methodologies.
LO3 Prepare a suitable integrated solution based on a set of business requirements
Integrated systems solution document:
Based on using existing systems specification and risk assessment documents, including illustrated design diagrams and details on information flow.
Detailed integrated systems solution including fully annotated diagrams, details on information flow, risk, redundant systems, back-ups, security, connectivity, deployment and testing.
Establishment of a strategic approach:
Analysis of functional architecture and technical capabilities against a specification document, to determine the probability of successfully developing (and deploying) an effective integrated solution.
Establishment of a management strategy based on business needs.
System design, development and deployment:
Design, development and monitoring of an integrated system.
Quality Assurance, including deploying and testing an integrated system.
Evaluation of system functionality, including documentation, maintenance and upgrades.
LO4 Compare a range of cloud computing providers and evaluate their services in terms of the impact on systems integration
Investigation and comparison of cloud service models:
IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service).
PaaS (Platform as a Service).
SaaS (Software as a Service).
Investigation and comparison of deployment models:
Private, public and hybrid clouds and issues including security, privacy and constraints.
Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria
| Pass | Merit | Distinction |
| LO1 Analyse systems integration requirements in terms of business objectives |
LO1 and LO2 D1 Critically evaluate the detailed system specification and risk assessment document, including justification of how each of the specified business objectives has been met. |
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| P1 Discuss the objectives and effect of systems integration in terms of business operations and management.
P2 Prepare a suitable systems specification and risk assessment document for a set of specific business objectives. M1 Evaluate the processes involved in systems integration and review the purpose and impact of assessing risk. |
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| LO2 Investigate different hardware and software systems in terms of connectivity, communication and data transfer |
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| P3 Discuss a range of hardware and software systems, technologies, platforms and services that would be suitable for use with a given systems specification document.
P4 Determine the purpose of top-down and bottom-up methodologies and how they relate to systems integration. |
M2 Analyse selected systems, platforms, technologies and services, including system and service connectivity. | |
| Pass | Merit | Distinction |
| LO3 Prepare a suitable integrated solution based on a set of business requirements | LO3 and LO4 | |
| P5 Create an integrated systems solution to a set of specific business objectives.
P6 Create a systems deployment and test plan suitable for use with an integrated systems solution. |
M3 Produce a detailed integrated systems solution with a full review of the solution’s functionality compared to the systems specification document. | D2 Critically evaluate the impact of cloud services on systems integration and discuss the implications of IaaS, PaaS and SaaS, and how they could be used to help organisations improve their performance. |
| LO4 Compare a range of cloud computing providers and evaluate their services in terms of the impact on systems integration | ||
| P7 Discuss the differences between IaaS, PaaS and SaaS services, and compare the private, public and hybrid deployment models offered by cloud computing providers. | M4 Review a range of cloud computing providers and compare the services offered. | |
Recommended Resources
Textbooks
Erl, T., Mahmood, Z. and Puttini, R. (2014) Cloud Computing: Concepts, Technology & Architecture. USA: Prentice Hall.
Paul, D., Yeates, D. and Cadle, J. (2020) Business Analysis. 4th edn. UK: BCS.
Poulton, N. (2016) CompTIA Server + Study Guide: Exam SK0-004. USA: John Wiley & Sons Inc.
Links
This unit links to the following related unit:
Unit 28: Cloud Computing.
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