Creating Use Cases

The operational risk analysis forms the basis for the use case development.  During the operational and functional analysis portion of the risk analysis, use cases have been identified and linked to the failure modes.  This analysis needs to be formalized into use cases that can be translated into requirements.  In most definitions of a use case (Cockburn, 1998), the following elements are initially identified

Use Case Elements

Use Case ElementDescription
Use Case NameDescriptive name for the use case
ScopeWhat is the scope of the use case. This should relate back to the mission or therapy phase.
LevelThis should be either Summary, Primary task (phase), Sub-function (a sub-case within the primary task)
PriorityWithin this context this should be related to the maximum severity of the associated risk
Frequency
This should be linked to the α as defined in the risk analysis
TriggerWhat initiates the use case
Main Success ScenarioWhat is the main path for the use case, often referred to as the “happy path” in that errors and issues are not addressed
ExtensionsAdditions to the use case, usually in the case of issues or failure modes.
Sub-VariationsExplicit differentiated changes to the use case

The operational phase risk analysis links failures to use cases.  The following figure illustrates how the elements of the risk analysis integrate with the workflow in the development of use cases

 

Use Case and Risk Analysis LInkages
Use Case and Risk Analysis LInkages

The development of the use cases should consider the following

  • Completeness – Main Success Scenarios may link to one or multiple functions, as identified in the risk analysis, depending upon the granularity of the use cases development. Simpler systems may require fewer use cases, but all Main Success Scenarios must address all phases and associated functions.
  • Extensions – Each Use Case must include extensions for all of the failure modes associated with the functions included.
  • Linkage – Each use case must include information that links the Use Case to the mitigations associated with the failure modes encompassed in the extensions.

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