Skip to content

Use Case Diagrams

During the MSIS program

During your time in the MSIS program you will be required to model processes using BPMN , primarily in the APA module. However, it is important that you understand general modeling techniques that may aid you throughout the program on various assignments and group projects. For this reason, we expect that you have experience with UML and creating Use Case Diagrams.

You are encouraged to practice with Microsoft Visio as this is primarily used throughout the program. However, below are a few other options which will be sufficient.

Major concepts

You should be able to identify actors, use cases, and relationships for use within use case diagrams.

  1. Explain what an actor is and be able to identify a set of actors within an outlined case or business process.
  2. You ought to be able to extract multiple use cases while effectively turning them into tasks. after reading through a case or business process.
  3. Identify relationships between actors and specific tasks and understand the four different types of relationships.
    1. Understand when to utilize a association relationship
    2. Understand when to utilize a generalization relationship
    3. Understand the differences between an include and extend as well as when to use either relationship.

Resources

There are plenty of great resources out there for learning how to effectively utilize use case diagrams when representing the interaction between an actor/user and various use cases/tasks in a system. We have highlighted below a variety of these resources to assist you in understanding the basics of use case diagrams as well as providing a simple refresher.

  • What is a Use Case Diagram?1 This article serves as a good overview of use case diagrams by offering insight into their components and how to identify use cases and the associated actors.

  • Use Case Diagrams - In-depth2 The attached slide deck breaks down use case diagrams in depth, while discussing their benefits, how to identify actors, setting up relationships and more.

  • Constructing Use Case Diagrams3 This resource expands on how to construct a use case diagram by bringing together major concepts such as identifying actors and establishing relationships among those actors.

  • Use Case Diagrams - PowerPoint & Examples4 The attached slide deck goes into depth regarding actors, use cases, and general best practices surrounding use case diagrams. Additionally, this resource provides examples to ensure you, as the reader, have a better understanding of the concept.

  • Use Case Diagrams - Tutorial w/ Example5 The attached reading serves as a resource to better understand what a use case diagram is, its purpose, as well as expanding in more detail about actors and use cases

  • Use Case Diagrams - Tutorial/Walkthrough6 The attached video serves as a tutorial for use case diagrams while covering both actors and relationships. Use Case Walkthrough

  • Use Case Diagrams - Tutorial/Walkthrough7 This video dives into use case diagrams, actors, relationships, and descriptions all while providing a step-by-step tutorial.

Use Case Walkthrough

Practice

Below you will find a condensed list of walkthroughs and practice exercises pertaining to Use Case Diagrams that may be helpful in ensuring you have an understanding on the topic.

  • Bank ATM UML Use Case Diagrams Examples: “Customer uses a bank ATM to check balances of his/her bank accounts, deposit funds, withdraw cash and/or transfer funds (use cases). ATM Technician provides maintenance and repairs to the ATM.” Answer Provided 8

  • Point of sales (POS) terminal: “Checkout use case involves Customer, Clerk and Credit Payment Service actors and includes scanning items, calculating total and taxes, and payment use cases. This is an example of a large and complex use case split into several smaller use cases.” Answer Provided 8

  • e-Library online public access catalog (OPAC): “Patrons of a library can search library catalog online to locate various resources - books, periodicals, audio and visual materials, or other items under control of the library. Patrons may reserve or renew item, provide feedback, and manage their account.” Answer Provided 8

  • Credit card processing system: “The merchant submits a credit card transaction request to the credit card payment gateway on behalf of a customer. Bank which issued customer’s credit card is actor which could approve or reject the transaction. If transaction is approved, funds will be transferred to merchant’s bank account.” Answer Provided 8

  • Website Administration: “Website Administrator actor could manage user groups, users, user sessions, and logs. Help Desk staff uses a subset of functions available to the Website Administrator.” Answer Provided 8

Coming Soon!

  1. “What Is Use Case Diagram?”, Visual Paradigm. ↩

  2. Torlak, Emina. “Use Cases”, University of Washington. ↩

  3. “Constructing Use Case Diagrams”, Souremaking. ↩

  4. Marchese, Francis. “Use Case Diagrams”, Pace University. ↩

  5. “UML Use Case Diagram: Tutorial with EXAMPLE”, Guru99. ↩

  6. Lucidchart. “UML Use Case Diagram Tutorial.” Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 7 February 2018. Web. 10 October 2020. ↩

  7. Master2Teach. “Use Case Diagram - Step by Step Tutorial with Example.” Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 22 March 2020. Web. 10 October 2020. ↩

  8. Fakhroutdinov, Kirill. “UML Use Case Diagram Examples”. ↩↩↩↩↩