Have you ever tried to explain the process of a project and everyone involved quickly loses track? Use case diagrams can help you to visualize stakeholders and their activities in such a way that everyone immediately understands how the individual steps fit together.
In this article, you will find out which components make up a use case diagram and how to create it step by step. You will also see how you can not only draw together with Collaboard, but also host your data securely - whether on-premises or in the cloud.
In the UML context, a use case diagram is used to clearly depict interactions between different people or external systems and your software. You can use it to show which actions are triggered by individual actors and how your system reacts to them. In this way, you can quickly recognize who is working with your system and which functions are in the foreground.
Tip: A lean presentation helps you to maintain an overview. Therefore, keep the number of use cases per diagram manageable. This way, everyone in the team can immediately see how processes are structured.
A use case diagram shows you who uses your system and which actions are in the foreground. Below you can see the most important building blocks that help to clearly illustrate your processes.
Actors are people or external systems that are in contact with your project. These can be customers, internal employees or external partner tools.
Use cases (ellipses) indicate which tasks your system enables. For example, they show what an actor can trigger or which goal is to be achieved.
The system demarcation defines which components belong to your system and which remain external. Lines between actors and use cases clarify who can access what.
Tip: Use multiple use cases if your processes are complex. This makes it easier for you to display individual steps and your team will immediately recognize how the processes are structured.
If you want to create your use case diagram together and host it in a secure environment, you can start now for free with Collaboard. This gives you full control over your data and allows you to collaborate with your team at the same time.
With Collaboard, you can get started right away and create your use case diagram together with your team. The following steps will show you how to proceed.
Start Collaboard and set up an empty whiteboard. This gives you a central platform on which all participants can work simultaneously.
Make a note on the whiteboard of what your system is intended for. Then specify who should have access (e.g. employees, external partners or customers).
Add oval shapes and name them according to the tasks that each actor performs. This way you can quickly recognize which functions are used by whom.
Draw connecting lines to show which actor uses which action. Make sure the visuals are clear so that everyone in the team immediately recognizes who is accessing what.
Invite your colleagues to look at the diagram and add to it. Thanks to the real-time collaboration in Collaboard, you can incorporate changes directly.
Tip: You can host Collaboard in your preferred infrastructure, for example on-premises or in the cloud. This allows you to retain full control over your data at all times.
Use case diagrams can be used in a wide variety of areas. They quickly show who is responsible for which task and how individual steps are connected. Below you will find typical examples:
If you want to design your UML use case diagram in such a way that everyone involved in the project can understand it immediately and actively contribute, it is worth taking a look at the following tips. These recommendations will help you to maintain an overview and ensure data security.
A UML use case diagram gives you a clear overview of actors and processes. In the previous chapters, you learned how to define actors, name use cases and depict their interaction in a diagram. Typical practical examples were also given - from order processes in sales to complex projects. You have seen which elements a use case diagram comprises and how to set it up step by step.
If you want to create your diagrams together with your team, it's worth taking a look at the best practices: Short and clear names, a clearly laid out board and a step-by-step procedure ensure that everyone involved keeps an overview. It is also important that you choose a suitable platform on which you can work together without hesitation.
Collaboard offers you a flexible and secure environment for this. You can host your online whiteboard on-premises or opt for a cloud. This allows you to adapt the hosting to your internal security regulations and benefit from real-time collaboration in a secure environment.
Would you like to set up your own use case diagram and try out how smoothly it works in Collaboard? Then you can get started with Collaboard now for free or arrange a demo to get an accurate picture of the functions and security.
A use case diagram focuses on actors and the actions they trigger in the system. An activity diagram, on the other hand, depicts the sequence of individual steps in the process without focusing on the people involved.
Basic knowledge of UML makes it easier to get started, but simple use case diagrams can also be created without in-depth prior knowledge. Many tools help you to quickly understand the most important symbols and structures.
Yes, Collaboard provides you with suitable forms for actors, use cases and relationships. You can create the diagrams together with your team and decide for yourself whether you want to host them on-premises or in a cloud.
No, they can also be used for organizational workflows or internal processes. The only important thing is that you have clearly defined actors and actions that you make visible in the diagram.
It should be structured in such a way that everyone involved has a quick overview. At the same time, you need enough information to clearly identify players and actions.