1 Text Layout Introduction (1-4) Team Skill 1 – Analyzing the problem (5-7) Team Skill 2 – Understanding User and Stakeholder Needs (8-13) Team Skill 3 – Defining the System (14-17) Team Skill 4 – Managing Scope (18-19) Team Skill 5 – Refining the System Definition ( 20-24) Team Skill 6 – Building the Right System (25-31)
2 A Use Case Primer Chapter 14
3 Benefits of Use Cases Force developers to think through the problem from the user perspective Give context for the requirements Provides an ordering mechanism for requirements Reduce the risk of transitioning form an expression of requirements to a differing implementation Carry over directly into the testing process Serve as inputs into user documentation
4 Definition A use case describes sequences of actions a system performs that yield an observable result of value to a particular actor Sequences of actions – an action is atomic; it is performed either entirely or not at all System performs – system works for the actor An observable result of value – the use case must be of value to the user A particular actor – The actor initiates the use case Use Case
5 Actors An actor is someone or something that interacts with the system Users Homeowners are actors on HOLIS system Authors are actors on a word processing system Other systems or applications HOLIS Control Switch is an actor on the HOLIS Central Control Unit A device Lights Printer Actor
6 Use Case Anatomy Mandatory elements Name – Unique and descriptive Brief description – Paragraph describing purpose Actors – List all actors that interact with this use case Flow of events – Basic flow and Alternate flows Optional elements Pre-conditions – conditions that must be present in order for a use case to start Post-condition – state of the system after a use case has run its course System or subsystem – level of use case. System causes multiple subsystems to interact Other stakeholder – non users Special requirements – performance or throughput
7 Building a Use-Case Model A use-case model is the complete set of use cases, actors, and their interactions Five steps to build the Use-Case Model 1. Identify the describe the actors 2. Identify the use cases and write a brief description 3. Identify the actor and use case relationships 4. Outline the individual use cases 5. Refine the use cases
8 Actors Discussed in Chapter 7 – dividing the world into two classes, the system and things that interact with the system Questions to consider Who uses the system? Who gets information from this system? Who provides information to the systems? Where in the company is the system used? Who supports and maintains the system? What other systems use this system?
9 Identify the Use Cases Questions to consider What will the actor use the system for? Will the actor create, store, change, remove, or read data in the system? Will the actor need to inform the system about external events or changes? Will the actor need to be informed about certain occurrences in the system? Provide a brief description that elaborates the intent of the use case Program Vacation Setting Actor(s): Homeowner/programmer Description: Homeowner/programmer sets lighting and alarm options for an extended stay away from home
10 Identify the Actor – Use-Case Relationships An actor can be involved in several use cases and a use cases can have more than one actor Homeowner/ Programmer Program Vacation Settings Set Clock Change Password
11 Outline the Use Cases Outline all the basic flows first Basic flow is the most common path What event starts the use case? How does the use case end? How does the use case repeat some behavior? Outline alternate flows Are there optional situations? What odd cases might happen? What variants might happen? What may go wrong? What may not happen? What kind of resources can be blocked?
12 Refining the Use Cases At a later point in time, analyze the use cases Look for more alternative flows including exception conditions Add pre and post conditions – make sure the use cases still are what was intended with the post conditions Some experts believe on writing the pre and post conditions during step 4 and not in refinement
13 HOLIS Actors ActorDescription Homeowner Programmer Operator who programs various features using either optional PC Programmer or the CCU ResidentActor that interacts with system on a daily-usage basis Emergency Receiver When an emergency signal is activated by a resident, a phone call is made to this actor Light BankSet of light banks grouped together for common action Wireless Remote Controller Wireless remote control device Lumenations Services A Lumenations service person who access the system remotely for maintenance purposes Motion SensorMotion senor inputs
14 HOLIS with subsystem and actors Homeowner/ programmer Luminations Services Emergency Receiver TBD Lights and other Resident Control Switch Central Control Unit PC Programmer (optional) HOLIS Note: new actor, Resident turns lights off and on. Homeowner can program the control switch
15 Portion of HOLIS Use-Case Model Homeowner/ programmer Emergency Receiver Light Banks (1-32) Resident Turn light on/off Activate Scene Activate Vacation Mode Indicate Emergency Program Scene Program Vacation Sequence Initiate Motion Sequence Motion Sensor (1-8)
16 Key Points Use cases carry the majority of the requirements for the system The development team, with user involvement, writes the use cases Use cases are built on a common, standard format Use cases later drive test case development
17 Organizing Requirements Information Chapter 15
18 Systems Requirements Document(s) Reasons why one document may not be adequate System may be complex and volume of documentation may be excessive System may be a member of a family of related products…no one document contains all the specs System may be a subsystem of a larger system and may satisfy only a subset of the requirements Marketing and business goals need to be separated from product requirements Other requirements, regulatory or legal, may be imposed on the system and documented elsewhere.
19 Complex Hardware and Software Systems A system-level requirements set is created describing the system as a whole no reference to any subsystems Requirements are developed for each subsystem No reference to any lower level subsystem The resuls are a hierarchy of requirements Requirements are allocated to the appropriate lower- level subsystem The lowest level is usually comprised of hardware or software only
20 Product Families A set of closely related products that have much functionality in common, yet each product contains some unique features Organize requirements as follows: Develop a product-family vision documents Develop a set of use cases show how users interact with various applications running together Develop a common software requirements set For each product, develop a vision document, supplementary specification, and use-case model that dines its specific functionality
21 HOLIS Case Study Vision document for short and longer term visions for HOLIS, including basic system-level requirements System-level use-case model records use cases and the actors Hardware requirements specification for the 3 subsystems (control switch, central control unit, and PC programmer) A supplementary specification for each of the subsystems and a use-case model for how each subsystem interacts with its various actors
22 Key Points For nontrivial applications, requirements must be captured and recorded in a document, database, model or tool Different types of project require different requirements organization techniques Complex systems require that requirements sets be developed for each subsystem
23 The Vision Document Chapter 16
24 Vision Document Short, well crafted, document capturing… the project’s objective the needs of the user the features of the system other common requirements A basis for discussion and agreement among… Marketing and product management team Project team Management team Similar to a project charter from PMI Similar to SOW in Industry
25 Sample Vision Document Outline – pg Introduction 1.1 Purpose of the Vision Document 1.2 Product Overview 1.3 References 2. User Description 2.1 User/Market Demographics 2.2 User Profiles 2.3 User Environment 2.4 Key User Needs 2.5 Alternatives and Competition
26 Sample Vision Document Outline – pg Product Overview 3.1 Product Perspective 3.2 Product Position Statement 3.3 Summary of Capabilities 3.4 Assumptions and Dependencies 3.5 Cost and Pricing 4. Feature Attributes 5. Product Features 6. Exemplary Use Cases
27 Sample Vision Document Outline – pg Other Product Requirements 7.1 Applicable Standards 7.2 System Requirements 7.3 Licensing, Security, and Installation 7.4 Performance Requirements 8. Documentation Requirements 8.1 User Manual 8.2 Online Help 8.3 Installation Guides, Configuration, and Read Me Files 8.4 Labeling and Packaging 9. Glossary
28 Key Points Every software project will benefit from having a Vision document The Vision document describes the application in general terms, including descriptions of the target market, the system users, and the application features The Vision document defines, at a high level of abstractions, both the problem and the solution The Delta Vision document focuses on what has changed
29 Product Management Chapter 17
30 Product Champion Also called – product manager, project manager, IT manager, project lead, engineering manager, etc. The Champion must… Manage the elicitation process and determine when enough requirements are discovered Manage the conflicting inputs Make the trade-offs Own the product vision and advocate for the product Defend against feature creep Maintain a “healthy tension” between what the customer desires and what the team can deliver Manage expectations of customers and management Communicate features to all stakeholders Manage changing priorities Review use cases and requirements to ensure they conform to the Vision document
31 HOLIS Software Development Team Emily VP and GM Tracy Director of Engineering Marcy Software Development Manager Earl Software Lead Russ Software Lead Developers Gene Software Lead Mark Architect Galvin QA Lead Test Team Louise Doc Lead Rick Director of Marketing Alyssa Product Manager
32 Product Road Map Graphical view of major release dates, and milestones for delivery, and other key events
33 Product Manager in a Software Product Company Driving the Vision Maintaining the Product Road Map Defining the Whole Product Plan Including ancillaries like…available configurations, special hardware, secure access, licensing provisions, etc. Sponsoring the Use-Case Model and Supplementary Requirements Testing the Product Concept Completing the User Experience User documentation, online help, tool tips, etc. Defining Commercial Terms Licensing Pricing Policy Customer Support Positioning and Messaging Supporting Activities Branding and Product Labeling End User Training Product Demo Sales and Marketing
34 Product Champion in an IS/IT Shop Customers work with you and will be around No marketing department Your management may be your customer Still need a product champion and still need to collect and manage requirements
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37 Key Points Every project needs an individual champion or a small champion team to advocate for the product In a software products company, the product manager plays the role of the champion The product manager drives the whole product solution: the application itself, support, user conveniences, documentation, and the relevant commercial factors