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Generating Use Cases from User Stories

Generating Use Cases from User Stories#

In software engineering, translating user stories into use cases is a crucial step in the requirements engineering process. This transformation helps bridge the gap between user needs and the functional design of the system. Use cases provide a detailed description of how users interact with the system to achieve their goals, offering a clearer, step-by-step narrative that developers and stakeholders can follow.

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The Importance of Use Cases#

Use cases extend user stories by adding context and specificity, making them invaluable for:

  • Design and Implementation: Guiding the development team in building the system’s functionality.

  • Testing and Validation: Serving as a basis for creating test cases and ensuring the system meets user expectations.

  • Communication: Facilitating a common understanding among all project stakeholders.

Generating Use Cases: A Guided Approach#

To generate use cases from user stories, we can use the following structured prompt with generative AI:

Given the user story: [Insert User Story Here],
Generate a detailed use case, including:
- Title: A concise title for the use case.
- Actor: The user or system initiating the use case.
- Preconditions: Conditions that must be true before the use case begins.
- Main Flow: A step-by-step description of the interaction between the actor and the system to achieve the goal.
- Alternate Flows: Any variations in the interaction sequence.
- Postconditions: The state of the system after the use case completes.

Example: From User Stories to Use Cases#

User Story 1#

  • As Alex, I want to easily create a professional profile highlighting my teaching philosophy and preferred subjects so that potential employers can understand my unique approach to education.

Generated Use Case#

Use Case Name: Creating a Professional Profile

  1. Actor: Alex

  2. Precondition: Alex is registered and logged into the system.

  3. Main Flow:

    • Alex selects the option to create a new professional profile.

    • Alex is prompted to enter details about their teaching philosophy and preferred subjects.

    • The system validates the entered information and saves the profile.

    • The system displays a confirmation message that the profile is successfully created.

  4. Postconditions: Alex’s professional profile is visible to potential employers.

  5. Exceptions:

    • If any required information is missing, Alex is prompted to complete all fields.

User Story 2#

  • As Alex, I want to filter job opportunities by location and accessibility features so that I can find schools that match my needs and values.

Generated Use Case#

Use Case Name: Filtering Job Opportunities

  1. Actor: Alex

  2. Precondition: Alex has accessed the job opportunities section.

  3. Main Flow:

    • Alex inputs preferred location and accessibility features into the filter criteria.

    • The system retrieves and displays a list of job opportunities matching the criteria.

    • Alex reviews the filtered job opportunities.

  4. Postconditions: Alex can identify and select job opportunities that match their preferences.

  5. Exceptions:

    • If no matches are found, the system informs Alex and suggests adjusting the filter criteria.

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