Analyzing systems process:

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

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

„ AD resembles old flow charts and

somewhat data flow diagram
3
 AD elements – Quote process
* Who/What
Start performs
activity

Swimline

Activity,
Time Process step
p
Process
flow

Decision point
(System’s logic);
End Choices (y
(yes/no);
/ );
activity branching
* System=computer, computer software and hardware; same as in use case descriptions
4
AD elements (cont )
(cont.)

Synchronization
Bar

Parallel
processes Synchronization
Bar

5
 AD diagram of the
Telephone Order Process

6
 AD of the
Telephone Order Process – simpler (cont )
(cont.)

7
Process logic
„ Sequential (step 1 Æ step 2)
„ Conditional,, If-Then ((decision points:
p if
condition A, then step n)
„ Iteration,, loops
p (feedback
( into a previous
p
step while certain condition persists
„ Slide 4, feedback from the “Change required?”
d i i point)
decision i )
„ Slide 6, loop between bars For each item to End of
each

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What AD does not show?
„ Data passed between steps

„ Objects (directly, can be inferred)

„ User interface

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How to create AD
1. Identify activities (steps) of a process
2. Identify who/what performs activities (process
steps)
3. Draw swimlines
4
4. Identify decision points (if
(if-then)
then)
5. Determine if step is in loop (For each…, if-then
based loop)
p)
6. Determine if step is parallel
7. 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 Draw the
9. h ovall off the
h first
f activity (step)
( )
10. Draw an arrow to the location of the second activity
11 Draw subsequent activities
11. activities, while inserting decision
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 Process Step Who/What Parallel Loop Prece-
ID (Activity, Performs Activity ding
Decision) Step Step
1 1 Request quote Customer No No -

2 2 Develop Salesperson No Yes 1

requirement notes
3 Decision: Help? Salesperson - Yes 2
5
3 4 Salesperson Salesperson No Yes 3
enters data
4 6
5 Check Technical Expert No Yes 3
8 requirements
7 6 Tech. expert Technical Expert No Yes 5
enters data
9
7 Calculate quote System No Yes 4, 6
10
8 R i
Review quote
t C t
Customer N
No Y
Yes 7

9 Decision: Customer No Yes 8

Changes?
10 Accept quote as Customer No No 9
order
d

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