Activity diagram: why it is needed and how to build it

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In order to better manage business processes, they often try to formalize, describing a specific set of rules and introducing a certain logic.In addition, this method enables better analysis and control business, he still clearly allocate responsibilities and powers between employees and allows you to find reserves of increase of efficiency of activity of the company.In this regard, very convenient in application activity diagram UML (second name - the activity diagram), and now you will understand why it is rapidly gaining popularity.Consider the following example:

He describes the elementary organization of the shipping service.

concept

In principle, the sequence of actions can be expressed using the usual block diagrams, built in the popular MS Word or any other program.However, activity diagram - it is something more.This arrangement is made with the help of language UML, which has proven itself as an object-oriented method of compilation and analysis of business processes and building applications.His notation allows you to get to any of its five submissions from the following positions:

  • design;
  • precedents;
  • deployment;
  • processes;
  • implementation.

And each of these methods display system may comprise a sequence of actions that can be easily represented by means of an algorithm.That this is just a diagram of activity is unparalleled.You can use it to complement the dynamic element of the model, and thus to clarify its dynamics.Therefore, activity diagram is perfect for business processes that take place in the company: in fact there is almost inherent in the activity of each component!On the resulting pattern can be seen when and how the flow of control proceeds from one area of ​​activity to another.And for a single system such representations can build some.Each chart of activities will focus on a specific aspect of the system taken, showing the various actions taking place inside.The basic difference of this circuit from the conventional flow scheme is that it supports and encourages the creation of parallel processes.To illustrate, consider the following example.

This diagram shows?how can it be organized behavior of the waiter in the restaurant.

Advice on

Let's start with the software.If you are interested in UML-activity diagram, you need to install on your computer, any application that supports the UML: MS Visio, StarUML, Enterprise Architect.Despite the fact that the professionals use the commercial version, you can practice first with free software.You can also use the services of a specially created for this site, such as service Gliffy, Cacco or diagram.ly.The character set to create the chart is usually the same.The figure below shows the main elementy.Dlya to identify business process and build his model, do the following:

  1. highlight the most interesting to you site.When designing complex systems simply can not be displayed in one diagram all important sequence.
  2. Select business objects that carry a high responsibility for specific parts of the selected process.In this case, their location can be either real-world entities, as well as more abstract objects.One way or another, each of them will need to create a separate track.
  3. Define initial conditions for the start state of the process and the final post-conditions for its completion.This will help determine its boundaries.
  4. from the starting state, describe and display on the chart all the actions and activities that take place at different times.
  5. sets of actions or complex actions need to turn to the individual activities and status for each of them to make a chart.
  6. Display transitions between states of these actions and activities.First, begin to flow sequence, and then proceed to the end of branching and consider mergers and divisions.
  7. When the workflow depends on important sites, they should also be represented on the chart activity.If it becomes necessary to show how the value and status of the object to clarify the nature of its trajectory.