A Use Case is a list of steps, typically defining interactions between a role (actor) and a system, to achieve a goal. Use Cases are becoming a common tool for describing functional requirements for software systems and for documenting business processes. The technique itself seems simple, however those unfamiliar with Use Cases are usually confronted with questions about what they are supposed to write – how much and at what level of detail?
This concise course provides the guidelines for Use Case writing and will include many examples of good Use Cases. The course is a mix of instructor lecture and exercises. It begins with an introduction to what Use Cases are and how they add value to the process. This is followed by a comprehensive explanation of the Use Case segments including actors, goals, exceptions, scenarios, alternate paths, preconditions and success guarantees.
This course is intended for people who are involved with documenting project requirements and want to learn how to prepare effective Use Cases for their projects. Project personnel including Business Analysts, Project Managers, project and resource managers, clients involved on projects, and others with project responsibilities will find this course relevant to their project work.
- Understand the body parts of a Use Case
- Know the three named goal levels
- Describe key terms such as conditions, triggers and guarantees
- Know the steps in building a Use Case including the main success scenario and extensions
- Prepare Use Cases
- Avoid the common mistakes made when preparing Use Cases
Module 1: Introduction to Use Cases
- What is a Use Case?
- Background
- Why Use Cases?
- Requirements and Use Cases
Module 2: Use Case Body Parts
- Use Case Element Overview
- Usage Narratives
- Actors, Goals and Relationships
- Interactions
- Use Case Levels
- Guarantees
- Triggers
- Pre-conditions
Module 3: Scenarios, Steps and Extensions
- Scenarios and Action Steps
- Action Step Guidelines
- Extensions
- When Are We Done?
This course addresses the following knowledge areas identified in the PMI®’s A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide):
- Project Scope Management
- Project Communications Management