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INTERVIEW QUESTION:

What is the difference between a use case alternative flow and an exception flow?

Posted by cadams

// 205548 Views // 2 Additional Answers & Comments

Categories: Business Analysis, Systems Analysis, Unified Modeling Language (UML), Use Cases, Requirements Analysis (BABOK KA), Functional Specifications

ANSWER

A use case specification describes the functionality of a system in terms of a sequence of user-system interactions. The main flow of events describes a single path through the system. It represents the most common way that the use case plays out successfully and contains the most common sequence of user-system interactions. Other scenarios or paths through the system are described in alternative flows and exception flows. So what is the difference between and alternative flow and an exception flow?

First, it’s worth saying that there’s a number of differing opinions in this area since the Unified Modeling Language has no standard for Use Case Specifications. Some authors mention only alternative flows and use them for both optional user paths and error paths. However, among authors who differentiate between alternative flows and exception flows, agreement has emerged.

An alternate flow describes a scenario other than the basic flow that results in a user completing his or her goal. It is often considered to be an optional flow. It implies that the user has chosen to take an alternative path through the system. An exception flow is an unintended path through the system usually as a result of missing information or system availability issues. Exception flows represent an undesirable path to the user. However, even though the exception flow has occurred the system should still react in a way that recovers the flow and provides some useful information to the user.

The primary benefit of differentiating between alternative flows and exception flows is the focus that exception flows bring to error conditions. By capturing all of the ways that the system can fail or produce an error, the business analyst can be sure to create a design that mitigates the impact of the error.

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Chris Adams
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ADDITIONAL ANSWERS / COMMENTS

Nelson posted on Sunday, March 8, 2009 2:13 PM

I agree with the distinction drawn in this article. By definition "alternative" means just another way. As Business Analysts, we need to remember to keep the language simple and understandable for consumers of our documentation. Using the "alternative flow" section of our use case narratives to describe error flows or exceptions or paths that do not arrive at the same Post Conditions as our normal course (happy path) is confusing for everyone. Business Analysts need to adhere to the KISS principle.

Leslie posted on Tuesday, December 1, 2009 4:04 PM

Pretty much agreed. RUP appears to be unclear on this point .. instead it talks about extending and included use cases.

To be clear, I define an alternate path as described above that always returns to the expected postcondition (or goal) of the use case.

Exception path does not return the the basic flow, but instead ends the use case at an unexpected, or exception postcondition of the use case.

It is easy to clarify the difference if modeling with activity diagrams.

Les.

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