UML Weekend Crash Course™ - To Parent Directory

SESSION
7
Building the Use Case Narrative
Session Checklist
✔ Explaining the purpose of a Use Case narrative
✔ Explaining the elements of a typical Use Case narrative
✔ Writing a Use Case narrative for the case study
Although the Use Case diagram provides a convenient view of the main features of a
system, it is too concise to completely describe what users are expecting. So, as with
most diagrams, it must be supported by a narrative, a textual description that takes
us to the next level of understanding.
There are many ways to write Use Case descriptions. Typically, each methodology will have
its own set of elements and preferences. What I offer here is a set of common elements that
you will find in most methodologies.
Elements of a Use Case Narrative
Describing a Use Case requires that you frame the context of the Use Case and describe the
communication between the Use Case and the user, which could be an actor or another Use
Case. With this in mind, most Use Case narratives include the following elements, or others
very similar in meaning:
Assumptions
Pre-conditions
Use Case initiation
Process or dialog
Use Case termination
Post-conditions