1. Systems Modelling
The course begins by examining why modelling is important and where models fit within the Systems Development Lifecycle.
- The need for modelling
- Modelling standards
- Rationale for the selected modelling approach
- Modelling and the Systems Development Lifecycle
- The position of models within the development lifecycle
- Modelling systems from different perspectives
- Interaction between models
- Validating and verifying models
2. Systems Modelling in Context
Participants consider how modelling activities remain connected to wider organisational and system objectives.
- Monitoring analysis against business objectives
- Alignment with system requirements
- Using models as a bridge to design
- Supporting software package selection
- Moving from analysis towards development
3. Use Case Modelling
This section focuses on representing requirements from the user's perspective.
- Modelling user requirements
- Use cases
- Actors
- System boundaries
- Use Case Diagrams
- Generalising actors and use cases
- Use case associations
- Use case descriptions
- Use case description templates
- Pre-conditions and post-conditions
- Main flows
- Alternative flows
Participants learn how to represent what users require from a system and how interactions with that system can be described systematically.
4. Activity Diagrams
Activity Diagrams are introduced as a technique for modelling processes and representing use case behaviour.
- Process modelling
- Activity Diagram concepts
- Modelling use case descriptions
- Representing process flows
- Activities and decision points
5. Static Modelling of Data
This section considers how the static structure of a system can be represented using UML.
- Rationale for analysis class modelling
- Objects and classes
- Representing classes
- Encapsulation
- Defining attributes
- Associations
- Generalisation
- Inheritance
- Abstraction
- Class Diagrams
- Object Diagrams
Participants develop models that represent the key objects and data structures within a system and the relationships between them.
6. Dynamic Modelling
The course then moves from static structure to the representation of system behaviour and interaction over time.
- State Machine Diagrams
- Modelling event-driven behaviour
- Use case realisation
- Introduction to Communication Diagrams
- Sequence Diagrams
- Modelling interactions between objects
7. Interaction of Models
UML models are not treated as isolated deliverables. Instead, participants examine how different models describe related perspectives of the same system.
Key relationships include:
- Activity Diagrams and Use Cases
- Use Cases and the Class Model
- State Machine Diagrams and Use Cases
- Objects and Activity Diagrams
Understanding these relationships helps analysts check consistency and ensure that system requirements are represented coherently across the modelling set.
8. Case Study and Practical Application
A continuing case study is used throughout the course to give participants practical experience with the modelling techniques.
Participants work with the same system scenario to:
- Analyse requirements
- Select appropriate modelling techniques
- Construct UML models
- Explore relationships between models
- Review model consistency
This provides an integrated approach to systems modelling rather than treating each UML technique as an isolated exercise.
