Analyzing systems process: Activity diagram

Outline
Activity diagram concept Elements of activity diagram Reading activity diagrams Process l logic in activity diagram d Creating activity diagrams

Activity Diagram (AD) concept

AD used for requirements determination AD depicts: p
process (workflow) manual & automated process logic time order of process steps (activities) d i i ( ti iti ) & decision points i t process performers

AD resembles old flow charts and somewhat data flow diagram

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AD elements Quote process

Start
*

Who/What performs activity Swimline

Time

Activity, Process step p Process flow Decision point (Systems logic);

End

* System=computer, computer software and hardware; same as in use case descriptions

Choices (yes/no); (y / ); activity branching

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AD elements

(cont.) (cont )

Synchronization Bar

Parallel processes

Synchronization Bar

AD diagram of the Telephone Order Process

AD of the Telephone Order Process simpler

(cont.) (cont )

Process logic
Sequential (step 1 step 2) Conditional, If-Then (decision points: if , ( p condition A, then step n) Iteration, loops (feedback into a previous , p ( p step while certain condition persists
Slide 4, feedback from the Change required? decision i ) d i i point) Slide 6, loop between bars For each item to End of

each

What AD does not show?

Data passed between steps Objects (directly, can be inferred) User interface

How to create AD
1. 2.

3. 4. 4 5.

6. 7.

Identify activities (steps) of a process Identify who/what performs activities (process steps) Draw swimlines Identify decision points (if then) (if-then) Determine if step is in loop (For each, if-then based loop) p) Determine if step is parallel Identify order of activities, decision points
Continues
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How to create AD

(cont.)

8. Draw the start point of the process in the swimline of the first activity (step) 9. 9 Draw the oval of the first activity (step) h l f h f ( ) 10. Draw an arrow to the location of the second activity 11. 11 Draw subsequent activities while inserting decision activities, points and synchronization/loop bars where appropriate 12. Draw the end point after the last activity.

You can tabulate this information (see next slide).

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How to create AD (cont ) (cont.)

Step ID 1 2 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 7 9 10 6 7 8 9 10 Process Step (Activity, Decision) Request quote Develop requirement notes Decision: Help? Salesperson enters data Check requirements Tech. expert enters data Calculate quote Review quote R i t Decision: Changes? Accept quote as order d Who/What Performs Step Customer Salesperson Salesperson Salesperson Technical Expert Technical Expert System Customer C t Customer Customer No No No No No N No No Parallel Activity No No Loop Preceding Step 1 2 3 3 5 4, 6 7 8 9 No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Y Yes No

3 4 8

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