Title of Presentation: Use Cases an Agile View

Short Abstract:
A use case describes a conversation between users and systems to achieve a goal. A use case driven process or similar activity, sits at the heart of most complex product development. Use Cases when done well form the backbone for an effective product development effort by highlighting the analysis effort and making it a focal point for managing time and energy. Use Cases are one of the most widely accepted ways to document and validate functional requirements for a software system. Unfortunately, use cases are often used as a check list for filling in the blanks of a template. The thinking that goes into effective analysis is lost as the goal becomes one of template production. This is a shame, since the power of this technique can used to significantly affect the outcome of a successful product development effort.

We will see how good use cases can manage team energy by focusing on the exploration of questions we want, when we want and how we shape our work. When done well, our product development effort shifts to become validation centric as we seek to build the right product.

The methods taught in this class can be used successfully in both agile and artifact driven developments. In either case the use cases are used to drive development, functional testing, and documentation. A brief overview of use case driven agile development is provided for context.