Software Requirements with Use Cases

Use cases are a popular technique for gathering, analysing and managing software requirements.

While use cases provide a central theme for the course, it is also shown that use cases by themselves do not constitute a complete set of software requirements. As such, the course also includes other practices and techniques commonly used with or incorporated into use cases, such as domain models, business rules, data requirements, user interface specifications, and supplementary requirements. Furthermore, the course provides insight into how use cases form the basis for use case realisation and test case preparation.

The ‘Software Requirements with Use Cases’ course is delivered by seasoned Equinox consultant practitioners who apply the techniques and practices presented in this course on a daily basis.

For groups of 5 or more, contact training@equinox.co.nz to discuss hosting a private course in-house at your place. 

Use Case Modelling Overview

• Overview of UML
• What is use case modelling?
• What does a use case Model consist of?
• Benefits of use case modelling
• Who produces and consumes use cases?
• Evolution of use cases

Identify and Briefly Describe Use Cases

• Business models as a source
• Brainstorming to find use cases
• Use case diagram

Outline the Use Cases

• Use case outline contents
• Sources for use case outlines
• Guidelines for outlining use cases
• Domain models

Prioritise Use Cases

• Prioritisation approach
• Team roles in prioritisation
• Formal methods for prioritisation

Detail Use Cases

• Detailed use case contents
• Use case flows of events
• Preconditions and postconditions
• Special requirements
• Business rules
• Activity diagrams
• Data requirements

Structuring the Use Case Model

• Reasons for re-structuring the model
• Includes use case relationship
• Extends use case relationship
• Actor generalisation

Other Use Case Concepts

• Use case stereotypes
• Use cases and legacy systems
• Specifying the user interface
• Use case style

Supplementary Requirements

Beyond Requirements

• Supporting use case realisation
• Test support
• The business analyst role

Following the completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Identify candidate use cases and actors for a software project
• Model use cases using the UML notation
• Correctly document use case reports
• Prepare a supplementary specification to document requirements not covered by use cases
• Incorporate other common techniques with use cases to prepare a complete software requirements specification

The primary audience for this course is business analysts and systems analysts of all levels of experience. The course will also be of value to any project team members who are involved in software requirements activities.

It is recommended that participants have some experience with requirements in project environment and have attended Equinox’s ‘Requirements Analysis Framework’ course before attending.