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Applying use cases in project planning

Merlin Mann | Mar 2 2005

Use-Cases Part II: Taming Scope: A List Apart

Use cases detail Lucid “A List Apart” article describing how to translate the programmer nerdiness of use cases for use in web project planning (although similar techniques would be helpful in any variety of project contexts).

We habitually storyboard new functionality for customers so that they can see the consequent increase in complexity. By doing so, we define options for the customer and then decide which bits of proposed functionality are the most important. We also use use-case diagrams to establish boundaries for the project; any use cases devised for the site later on are obviously change requests that add extra effort and therefore increase the project’s cost.

I wish all clients were wise and patient enough to walk through this level of detail before they started choosing new drapes and doorknobs. Understanding the critical pieces and dependencies is arguably the backbone of good project planning; you’ll never get to start coloring until everyone agrees where the lines need to go.

(Part I of the series is worth reading, too.)


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Stephane's picture

Talking about use cases, a...

Submitted by Stephane (not verified) on March 2, 2005 - 11:00pm.

Talking about use cases, a “must read” is the Cockburn’s book: “Writing Efective Use Cases”. http://alistair.cockburn.us/usecases/usecases.html

It’s simply my use case bible.. :-)

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Fred's picture

Hello, Yeah,...

Submitted by Fred (not verified) on March 3, 2005 - 3:53am.

Hello,

Yeah, use case can be use for any project type visualizations. But there are another type of UML schema that I love is the Sequence Diagram. If you model your problem with a use case, after you only have to get your found entities and put them in the Sequence diagram. You will model the flux of information and actions between them through time. I used it to model classic software but also for ecommerce websites. It's really useful to know how your entities will interact, the actions you have to perform before others to reach a specific state in your system.

Good modeling :)

Salutations,

Fred

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wah-wah pedal's picture

??????????????? 43Folders???UML???USE CASE?????????????????????

Submitted by wah-wah pedal (not verified) on March 11, 2005 - 2:52am.

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43Folders???UML???USE CASE????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? 43 Folders: Applying use cases in project planning

I wish all clients were wise and patient enough to wa…

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http://www.nathanslaughter.com/'s picture

43Folders launches wiki Merlin Mann's excellent...

Submitted by http://www.nathanslaughter.com/ (not verified) on March 21, 2005 - 5:56pm.

43Folders launches wiki

Merlin Mann’s excellent productivity weblog, 43Folders, now has a wiki - that’s a website anyone can write on.

I have found plenty of good stuff on Merlin’s blog, especially tips from his readers. They’l

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Merlin Mann is an independent writer, speaker, and broadcaster. He’s best known for being the guy who started the website you’re reading right now. He lives in San Francisco, does lots of public speaking, and helps make cool things like You Look Nice Today. Also? He looks like this, answers questions, and has something like a life.

Merlin’s favorite thing he’s written recently is a short essay called, “Better.”

  
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