In scope
- Build a sandbox assistant over approved fictional policies with source references, abstention and human escalation.
- Synthetic records, approved test tools, role-specific outputs and trainer-led client review.
All projects
VSPA-SIM-020Digital solutions — fictional SMBFoundation to advanced; prerequisites reviewed
AI Knowledge Assistant Simulation
Build a sandbox assistant over approved fictional policies with source references, abstention and human escalation. All work uses fictional organizations and synthetic data in an approved sandbox.
Fictional organization: GuideDesk Learning • Suggested duration: Trainer-scoped with cohort
Related demonstration outputs
See examples derived from this brief.
These VSPO-authored examples illustrate selected outputs. They are separate from assessed learner submissions and do not replace the project’s evidence or release requirements.
Required disclosure: This is an assessed training simulation completed with fictional organizations and synthetic data. It is not evidence of work for a real client, live commercial results, employment, placement, earnings, or a client endorsement.
Business challenge
Why this simulation matters
Practise a defined digital delivery workflow, with assessable evidence for the associated VSPO role family.
Objectives
- Build a sandbox assistant over approved fictional policies with source references, abstention and human escalation.
- Trace every acceptance criterion to tested evidence.
- Demonstrate safe exception handling, quality review and a maintainable handover.
Explicitly out of scope
- Live customer data, real payment processing, production credentials or unapproved public deployment.
- Employment guarantees, client endorsements, commercial outcome claims or regulated systems.
Integrated acceptance package
Deliverables the simulated client can review.
D01
As-is and future process maps
D02
Working sandbox automation
D03
Failure, duplicate and recovery tests
D04
Runbook and net time-saved calculation
D05
Scope and acceptance criteria
D06
Test and correction evidence
D07
Client review and handover record
Success measures
- All assigned role pods deliver accepted evidence.
- Assessment score at least 80/100 and no unresolved critical error.
- Privacy, rights, accessibility, moderation and consent gates passed before portfolio release.
Assumptions
- Cohort and trainer readiness are confirmed before assignment.
- Advanced coding work requires a prerequisite assessment.
Dependencies
- Controlled brief, synthetic dataset and assessor answer key.
- Approved sandbox tools and licensed assets.
- Trainer, QA reviewer and independent moderator.
Primary risks and required controls
Unsafe data or credentials enter a simulation.
Control: Use synthetic records, sandbox credentials and a pre-release evidence review.
A polished prototype is mistaken for a production-ready system.
Control: Label limitations, simulated metrics and unimplemented functions in every handover.
Cross-functional role plan
Every role has owned work, deliverables and measurable KPIs.
ROLE-SQA
QA & Software Testing
QA & Software Testing will verify acceptance criteria and document release readiness for GuideDesk Learning's build a sandbox assistant over approved fictional policies with source references, abstention and human escalation.. The pod owns its role evidence, quality corrections, handoff record, and a concise explanation of business value and limitations.
Course alignment: VSPA-SQA-201
Tasks
- • Confirm the brief, prerequisites, approved tools and acceptance criteria.
- • Produce versioned evidence in a sandbox with synthetic data only.
- • Complete peer review, document defects and retest corrections.
- • Explain decisions, limitations, costs and maintenance responsibilities at handover.
Deliverables
- • Requirements-to-test matrix
- • Functional and regression results
- • Defect register and retest evidence
- • UAT and release recommendation
KPIs
- Acceptance coverage: 100%Required acceptance criteria linked to evidence. Evidence: Requirements and evidence matrix.
- Critical defects: 0 unresolvedNo open critical security, data, rights or functional defects at release. Evidence: Defect and retest log.
- On-time evidence: At least 95%Outputs submitted on time divided by outputs due. Evidence: Milestone log.
- Handover completeness: 100%Required instructions, ownership and recovery steps accepted. Evidence: Assessor handover checklist.
ROLE-AUT
Automation & AI
Automation & AI will automate a synthetic workflow with controlled failure and recovery for GuideDesk Learning's build a sandbox assistant over approved fictional policies with source references, abstention and human escalation.. The pod owns its role evidence, quality corrections, handoff record, and a concise explanation of business value and limitations.
Course alignment: VSPA-AUT-201
Tasks
- • Confirm the brief, prerequisites, approved tools and acceptance criteria.
- • Produce versioned evidence in a sandbox with synthetic data only.
- • Complete peer review, document defects and retest corrections.
- • Explain decisions, limitations, costs and maintenance responsibilities at handover.
Deliverables
- • As-is and future process maps
- • Working sandbox automation
- • Failure, duplicate and recovery tests
- • Runbook and net time-saved calculation
KPIs
- Acceptance coverage: 100%Required acceptance criteria linked to evidence. Evidence: Requirements and evidence matrix.
- Critical defects: 0 unresolvedNo open critical security, data, rights or functional defects at release. Evidence: Defect and retest log.
- On-time evidence: At least 95%Outputs submitted on time divided by outputs due. Evidence: Milestone log.
- Handover completeness: 100%Required instructions, ownership and recovery steps accepted. Evidence: Assessor handover checklist.
ROLE-CRE
Creative Content
Creative Content will produce an accessible, rights-cleared content package for GuideDesk Learning's build a sandbox assistant over approved fictional policies with source references, abstention and human escalation.. The pod owns its role evidence, quality corrections, handoff record, and a concise explanation of business value and limitations.
Course alignment: VSPA-CRE-201
Tasks
- • Confirm the brief, prerequisites, approved tools and acceptance criteria.
- • Produce versioned evidence in a sandbox with synthetic data only.
- • Complete peer review, document defects and retest corrections.
- • Explain decisions, limitations, costs and maintenance responsibilities at handover.
Deliverables
- • Audience and creative brief
- • Copy, graphics and short-form video
- • Rights and source register
- • Review log and delivery pack
KPIs
- Acceptance coverage: 100%Required acceptance criteria linked to evidence. Evidence: Requirements and evidence matrix.
- Critical defects: 0 unresolvedNo open critical security, data, rights or functional defects at release. Evidence: Defect and retest log.
- On-time evidence: At least 95%Outputs submitted on time divided by outputs due. Evidence: Milestone log.
- Handover completeness: 100%Required instructions, ownership and recovery steps accepted. Evidence: Assessor handover checklist.
ROLE-DPM
Digital Project Management
Digital Project Management will coordinate a digital project from discovery through handover for GuideDesk Learning's build a sandbox assistant over approved fictional policies with source references, abstention and human escalation.. The pod owns its role evidence, quality corrections, handoff record, and a concise explanation of business value and limitations.
Course alignment: VSPA-DPM-201
Tasks
- • Confirm the brief, prerequisites, approved tools and acceptance criteria.
- • Produce versioned evidence in a sandbox with synthetic data only.
- • Complete peer review, document defects and retest corrections.
- • Explain decisions, limitations, costs and maintenance responsibilities at handover.
Deliverables
- • Discovery and requirements pack
- • Estimate, milestones and change log
- • Risk, licensing and acceptance register
- • Client handover and maintenance plan
KPIs
- Acceptance coverage: 100%Required acceptance criteria linked to evidence. Evidence: Requirements and evidence matrix.
- Critical defects: 0 unresolvedNo open critical security, data, rights or functional defects at release. Evidence: Defect and retest log.
- On-time evidence: At least 95%Outputs submitted on time divided by outputs due. Evidence: Milestone log.
- Handover completeness: 100%Required instructions, ownership and recovery steps accepted. Evidence: Assessor handover checklist.
Controlled delivery lifecycle
Eight gates from brief to reset.
1
Brief intake
Trainer releases the controlled brief, synthetic dataset, role allocation, constraints, and acceptance criteria.
2
Planning
The team creates the work plan, RACI, milestone schedule, risk and assumption log, communication plan, and quality plan.
3
Execution
Role pods create their assigned outputs in an approved sandbox while maintaining evidence, decisions, and handoffs.
4
Quality review
QA samples work; specialists complete peer review; errors, accessibility issues, and control exceptions are corrected.
5
Simulated client review
A trainer or assessor role-plays the fictional client, tests the solution, and records change requests without presenting the exercise as real client work.
6
Assessment and moderation
Each learner is scored against role evidence and the common rubric; an independent moderator confirms consistency and critical-error decisions.
7
Portfolio release
Only approved excerpts pass consent, privacy, IP, source, accessibility, truthfulness, and evidence checks before view-only publication.
8
Archive and reset
The cohort record is closed, evidence retained or removed under the schedule, lessons logged, and a clean scenario version prepared for the next class.
Common assessment rubric
Pass threshold: 80/100 and no critical error. Passing does not itself authorize public release.
| Criterion | Weight | Evidence expectation |
|---|---|---|
| Accuracy | 20% | Correct processing, analysis, calculations, decisions, and factual statements. |
| Completeness | 15% | All acceptance criteria, required fields, handoffs, and evidence are present. |
| Process and control | 15% | Approved workflow, security, privacy, escalation, versioning, and audit steps are followed. |
| Client relevance | 15% | The output solves the stated business need and is usable by its intended audience. |
| Communication | 10% | Clear, concise, professional, audience-appropriate written and spoken communication. |
| Data quality | 10% | Traceable sources, validation, reconciliation, exception handling, and reproducible reporting. |
| Accessibility | 5% | Accessible structure, labels, contrast, alternative text, and inclusive language. |
| Teamwork and handover | 5% | Reliable collaboration, ownership, dependencies, peer review, and usable handover. |
| Reflection and improvement | 5% | Evidence-based retrospective, root cause, corrective action, and next-version recommendation. |