Benefits of supplementing use case narratives with activity diagrams—An exploratory study

Use case narratives modeling the complex functionality of a given system often extend for several pages due to the need to include numerous alternative scenario specifications. In such situations, it is difficult to ensure the completeness and validity of the process logic embedded in such lengthy text narratives. This exploratory study investigates the benefits of supplementing each complex and lengthy use case narrative with an activity diagram for analysts and clients during requirements gathering and analysis. Our findings indicate that the process logic in corresponding activity diagrams is more complete and offers a greater degree of validity than that used in use case narratives. In addition, the quality of the process logic in these artifacts is not negatively affected by a use case narrative's length or complexity when they are used together to capture system requirements. Our research provides empirical evidence of beneficial improvements in the quality of these widely used artifacts that subsequently help eliminate or minimize inconsistencies among the requirements specified in different artifacts.

► Process logic embedded in lengthy use case narratives is difficult to comprehend.
► Supplementing such use case narrative with an activity diagram is beneficial.
► Process logic in activity diagrams is relatively more complete and valid.
► Length and complexity of narratives does not affect quality of activity diagrams.