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Milav Dabgar
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Milav Dabgar
Experienced lecturer in the electrical and electronic manufacturing industry. Skilled in Embedded Systems, Image Processing, Data Science, MATLAB, Python, STM32. Strong education professional with a Master’s degree in Communication Systems Engineering from L.D. College of Engineering - Ahmedabad.
Lecture 24: UML Activity Diagrams

Lecture 24: UML Activity Diagrams

Unit 3: Requirement Analysis and Design (4353202)

Lecture Agenda

  • Recap of Sequence Diagrams
  • What is an Activity Diagram?
  • Components of an Activity Diagram
  • Example: Online Order Processing Activity Diagram
  • Advantages of Activity Diagrams
  • Key Takeaways

Recap of Sequence Diagrams

Sequence Diagrams show time-ordered interactions between objects, depicting the sequence of messages exchanged to achieve a specific functionality. They are excellent for understanding dynamic system behavior.

What is an Activity Diagram?

An Activity Diagram is a behavioral UML diagram that illustrates the flow of control or data in a system. It shows the sequence of activities performed to achieve a goal, highlighting the decisions, parallel processes, and paths within a workflow.

It is similar to a flowchart but specifically designed for object-oriented systems.

Components of an Activity Diagram

  • Activity: Represents a single step or action in a process. (Rounded rectangle)
  • Initial Node: Represents the starting point of the activity flow. (Solid circle)
  • Final Node: Represents the end point of the activity flow. (Bullseye)
  • Control Flow (Edge): Represents the transition from one activity to another. (Arrow)
  • Decision Node: Represents a point where a decision is made, leading to different paths. (Diamond)
  • Merge Node: Represents a point where different paths converge. (Diamond)
  • Fork Node: Represents a point where a single flow splits into multiple parallel flows. (Thick horizontal or vertical bar)
  • Join Node: Represents a point where multiple parallel flows converge into a single flow. (Thick horizontal or vertical bar)

Example: Online Order Processing Activity Diagram

graph TD start((start)) --> A[Receive Order] A --> B{Check Stock} B -- In Stock --> C[Process Payment] B -- Out of Stock --> D[Notify Customer Out of Stock] C --> E[Ship Order] D --> F[Cancel Order] E --> G((end)) F --> G

Advantages of Activity Diagrams

  • Workflow Visualization: Provides a clear visual representation of business workflows and processes.
  • Parallel Activities: Effectively models concurrent and parallel activities using Fork and Join nodes.
  • Decision Points: Clearly shows decision points and alternative paths within a process.
  • Communication: Easy for both technical and business stakeholders to understand the flow of activities.
  • Process Improvement: Helps in identifying bottlenecks and areas for process optimization.

Key Takeaways

  • **Activity Diagrams** illustrate the **flow of control or data** within a system.
  • They are similar to flowcharts but are specifically designed for **object-oriented systems**.
  • They effectively model **sequential, conditional, and parallel activities**.
  • Useful for **workflow visualization** and **process improvement**.

Next Unit

Unit 4: Software Project Management

First Lecture: Responsibility of a Software Project Manager

Q & A

Questions & Discussion