2 Days

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This workshop is designed to show by example how to write, review and test use cases. The result of this workshop is an increased understanding of use cases and how to apply that understanding in real-life projects.

This workshop is perfect for organizations that need a quick start in writing use cases.

Return on Investment

• Learn how to define and solve the right problem and avoid spending tons of money building the wrong system.
• Learn how to find problems in use cases before they ripple through the rest of the project, where they are much more costly to fix.
• Understand the key issues in identifying and writing use cases.
  Learn how to design tests that adequately cover use cases.
• Get the most out of your existing investment in user requirements and use cases and how to leverage that investment.
• Advance your career by reinforcing your software engineering expertise.
  
  

Who Will Benefit

• Project managers
• Business analysts
• End-users
• System designers
• Software engineers and developers
• QA analysts
• Test analysts
• Testers 
  
  

This course requires only basic IT knowledge or experience. Business knowledge is highly desirable. Technical documentation knowledge or experience is not a pre-requisite.

Program Information

This course is presented on an in-house basis only unless offered as a special public course. Contact us for information about how to bring this course into your organization.

Content and Structure

Topics

Module 1 - Introduction to Use Cases

This module shows the nature, history and purpose of use cases. In addition, this module establishes a solid foundation of the strengths and limitations of use cases.

• What is a Use Case?
• The History of Use Cases
• The Purpose of Use Cases
• How Use Cases Fill Gaps in Requirements
• The Relationship Between Use Cases and Requirements
  
  

Module 2 - Writing Effective Use Cases

This module shows by example how to write an effective use case.

• The Components
• The Four-phase Evolutionary Approach to Writing Use Cases
• Exercise: Writing a Basic Use Case
  
  

Module 3 - Getting Use Cases Right

This module teaches how to find problems in use cases.

• How to Review Use Cases
• What to Look For - Examples of Errors and Gaps Seen in Use Cases
• Exercise: Reviewing a Use Case
  
  

Module 4 - Test Cases From Use Cases

This module describes use cases and how they can be used to design tests.

• Sample Use Case
• Translating Use Cases into Test Cases
• Filling in the Gaps with Other Test Case Techniques
• Sample Test Case Derived from Use Case
• Establishing Traceability between Use Cases, Test Cases and Requirements
• Exercise: Developing a Set of Test Cases from a Use Case
  
  

Module 5 - Holding a Use Case Workshop

This module describes how to plan and conduct sessions to define use cases.

• Why Workshops are Helpful
• Preparing for the Workshop
• Finding a Good Facilitator
• Finding the Right People
• Training the Participants
• The Structure of a Workshop
• Dealing with Common Workshop Issues
  
  

Module 6 - Business Rules and Use Cases

This module describes the role that business rules play in use cases.

• What is a Business Rule?
• The Relationship of Business Rules with Use Cases
• A Business Rule Taxonomy - Types of Business Rules
• Expressing Business Rules in Use Cases
• Example
  
  

Module 7 - Relationships Between Use Cases

This module describes how use cases can include other use cases, can be extended and can be generalized.

• Three Ways to See Relationships
• Included Relationships
• Extended Relationships
• Generalized Relationships
  
  

Module 8 - More About Event Flows

This module shows how to define the main flow, alternate flows and exceptional flows.

• Basic Flow
• Alternate Flows
• Exceptional Flows
• How Much Detail to Include in Event Flows?
• Expressing Flows in Non-Graphical Ways
  
  

Module 9 - Summary

• Top 5 Seminar Points
• Final Questions and Answers
  
  

Deliverables

• Course notebook with slides, worksheets, checklists, complete examples and supporting text
• You will have the basic information needed to write and test use cases.