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

In order to better manage business processes, they are often trying to formalize, describing a certain set of rules and presenting them as a kind of logical scheme. In addition to the fact that this method contributes to better analysis and control of commercial activities, it still clearly distributes responsibilities and powers among employees and allows to find reserves for increasing the efficiency of the firm's activities. In this regard, it is very convenient to use the UML activity diagram (the second name is the activity diagram), and now you will understand why it is rapidly gaining popularity. Take a look at the following example:

He describes the elementary organization of the delivery service.

The concept of

In principle, the algorithm of actions can be expressed using an ordinary flowchart built in a popular Word editor or any other program. However, the activity diagram is something more. This scheme is compiled using the UML language, which has proven itself as an object-oriented method for compiling and analyzing business processes, as well as creating applications. Its notation allows you to get five of its representations for any system from the following positions:

• Designing;
• Precedents;
• Deployment;
• Processes;
• Implementation.

Moreover, each of the above methods of mapping the system can contain a sequence of actions that can be easily represented using an algorithm. This is just the diagram of the activity is unrivaled. With its help, you can supplement the dynamic element of the model and, thus, refine its dynamics. Therefore, the activity diagram is excellent for business processes occurring in the company: after all, activity is inherent in almost every component! On the received scheme it will be possible to see, when and how control flows pass from one site of activity to another. And for a single system of such representations one can construct several. Each such activity diagram will focus on a particular aspect of the system, showing the various actions taking place inside. The main difference between such a scheme and the usual block diagram is that it supports and stimulates the creation of parallel processes. For clarity, consider the following example.

Is this diagram shown? How can the behavior of the waiter in the restaurant be organized.

Recommendations for creating

Let's start with the software. If you are interested in the UML activity diagram, you will need to install on your computer any application that supports the work with UML: MS Visio, StarUML, Enterprise Architect. Despite the fact that professionals use commercial versions, at first you can practice with free software. You can also use services specially created for this site, for example, the service Gliffy, Cacco or diagram.ly. The character set for creating the chart is usually the same. Below, the figure shows the main elements. In order to identify the business process and build its model, perform the following operations:

1. Highlight the most interesting site for you. When designing complex systems, it is simply impossible to display all the important sequences on one diagram.
2. Select business objects that have a high responsibility for the individual parts of the selected process. In this case, in their place can be both real entities, and more abstract objects. Anyway, each of them will need to create a separate track.
3. Define the initial conditions for the start state of the process and the final postcondition to complete it. This will help determine its boundaries.
4. Starting from the starting state, describe and display in the diagram all the actions and activities taking place at different times.
5. Sets of actions or complex actions need to be reduced to separate states of activity and for each of them to make up your own diagram.
6. Display the transitions between the states of these actions and activities. Initially proceed to successive flows, then proceed to branching and at the end consider merging and separation.
7. When the workflow is dependent on important objects, they should also be depicted in the activity diagram. If there is a need, show how the value and state of such an object change in order to clarify the essence of its trajectory.