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Glossary

Use Case

November 21, 2023 - Around 7 mins mins to read

What is Understanding Use Cases?

A use case refers to a detailed description of how a specific application is utilized by an actor or system to achieve a particular goal within the context of software development. The term “actor” represents the individual or entity involved, while the term “goal” signifies the objective being pursued. It is essential to specify at least one actor and one goal in a use case.

In 1987, Ivar Jacobson introduced the use case format as a means to document complex requirements in a simple and easily understandable manner. Since then, use cases have become a crucial component of the unified process, which provides guidelines for the development of large-scale applications.

What is the significance of Use Cases?

Describing a user’s interaction with an application through use cases offers several advantages:

  • It provides developers with a comprehensive understanding of how users accomplish their goals using the system.

  • It facilitates communication among stakeholders, both internal and external to the project, by requiring them to consider their roles and responsibilities for each use case.

  • It generates documentation that can be utilized for tests and other activities.

Use cases present a step-by-step representation of workflows, enabling project team members and stakeholders to comprehend the necessary actions, potential outcomes, and interactions between actors at each stage of the process.

Use cases serve as the foundation of any software development project. They assist the team in identifying key user requirements, ensuring that the design and implementation align with business goals, and providing a clear checklist of the software’s functionalities. This helps teams avoid scope creep, a major cause of failed software projects.

What is the illustration of a use case?

Driving directions serve as an example of a use case that extends beyond software and systems development.

Let’s consider a scenario where a motorist intends to travel from City 1 to City 2. In this case, the driver acts as the actor, the goal is to reach City 2, and the road network serves as the system used to accomplish this objective. Typically, there is only one route between City 1 and City 2, representing the common course use case. However, there may be various deviations from this path that still lead to City 2. These deviations and alternative paths are known as expanding use cases. The purpose of driving instructions is to guide the motorist through the necessary turns and highway exits to reach their final destination.

What do Use Cases address?

Imagine you have an eCommerce site that offers a wide range of products. While you may possess knowledge about the products you sell, you may not have the same level of expertise in the technologies used to build them.

How can you determine the most suitable technology for your requirements?

You could seek advice from your network or read opinions on social media, forums, and blogs. However, there is no guarantee that this information is accurate or up-to-date.

If you want to avoid any risks, especially considering the cost of technology, you wouldn’t want to end up with something that is incompatible with your existing systems or fails to meet your requirements.

Why are Use Cases important in Blockchain Development?

In the realm of blockchain technology, the concept of use cases takes on even greater significance. Blockchain is a decentralized, transparent, and immutable ledger that records transactions across multiple computers or nodes. Use cases play a crucial role in identifying how blockchain technology can be effectively utilized to solve various real-world problems.

By leveraging the unique characteristics of blockchain, such as decentralization and security, developers can create innovative applications that provide value in different domains.

For example, one use case of blockchain technology is supply chain management. Traditionally, supply chains have involved multiple parties and intermediaries, leading to inefficiencies, lack of transparency, and increased risk of fraud. By implementing a blockchain-based solution, stakeholders can track and verify the movement of goods, ensure product authenticity, and automate processes, leading to increased efficiency, reduced costs, and enhanced trust.

Another use case is in the realm of identity management. With traditional systems, individuals often have to rely on various centralized entities to store and manage their personal information. This creates privacy concerns and puts the data at risk of breaches. By utilizing blockchain, individuals can have greater control over their digital identities and choose what information to share with whom, thereby enhancing privacy and security.

What are the advantages of implementing use cases in blockchain projects?

Implementing use cases in blockchain projects offers several advantages:

  • Clarity: Use cases provide a clear understanding of the specific problem blockchain technology aims to solve and how it can add value.

  • Alignment: Use cases help ensure that the development efforts are aligned with the desired business outcomes, thereby increasing the chances of project success.

  • Efficiency: By focusing on specific use cases, development teams can avoid unnecessary complexity and concentrate on building the necessary features and functionalities.

  • Scalability: Use cases allow for the identification of potential scalability challenges early on in the development process, enabling the implementation of appropriate solutions.

  • Flexibility: As use cases are specific and well-defined, they can be easily modified or expanded as requirements evolve or new opportunities arise.

What are examples of use cases in Blockchain?

1. Supply Chain Management:

Blockchain can be used to track the movement of goods, verify product authenticity, and streamline supply chain processes.

For example, Walmart, in collaboration with IBM, implemented a blockchain-based system to track the supply chain of mangoes in the United States. By scanning QR codes on mangoes, consumers can trace the journey of the fruit from the farm to the store, ensuring its authenticity and quality.

2. Digital Identity:

Blockchain can enable individuals to have more control over their digital identities and provide secure and verifiable credentials.

One example is the Sovrin Network, which uses blockchain to create self-sovereign identities. Individuals have ownership and control over their personal information, and they can selectively disclose information to different entities without compromising their privacy.

3. Cross-Border Payments:

Blockchain can facilitate faster, cheaper, and more transparent cross-border transactions by removing intermediaries and enabling peer-to-peer transfers.

Ripple, a blockchain-based payment protocol, enables real-time, low-cost international money transfers. By utilizing the XRP cryptocurrency, Ripple eliminates the need for traditional correspondent banking networks, reducing costs and settlement times.

4. Intellectual Property Rights:

Blockchain can be used to establish a transparent and immutable record of ownership and transfers of intellectual property rights.

One example is the company Mediachain, which aims to create a decentralized database of creative works. By leveraging blockchain technology, artists can have greater control over their intellectual property and ensure fair compensation for their creations.

These examples demonstrate the diverse range of use cases that can be implemented using blockchain technology. By leveraging the decentralized and transparent nature of blockchain, developers can create innovative solutions that solve real-world problems, increase efficiency, and enhance trust.

What is the conclusion?

Use cases are a fundamental component of software development, providing a detailed description of how a specific application is utilized to achieve a particular goal. In the context of blockchain technology, use cases play a crucial role in identifying the potential applications and advantages of utilizing decentralized and secure ledgers.

By implementing use cases in blockchain projects, developers can ensure that their efforts are aligned with desired business outcomes, increase project clarity, efficiency, scalability, and flexibility. The examples provided highlight the wide range of possibilities that blockchain technology offers in various domains, such as supply chain management, digital identity, cross-border payments, and intellectual property rights.

As blockchain continues to evolve and mature, exploring and implementing use cases will remain critical in realizing the full potential of this groundbreaking technology.

Author

Coincu

Glossary

Use Case

What is Understanding Use Cases?

A use case refers to a detailed description of how a specific application is utilized by an actor or system to achieve a particular goal within the context of software development. The term “actor” represents the individual or entity involved, while the term “goal” signifies the objective being pursued. It is essential to specify at least one actor and one goal in a use case.

In 1987, Ivar Jacobson introduced the use case format as a means to document complex requirements in a simple and easily understandable manner. Since then, use cases have become a crucial component of the unified process, which provides guidelines for the development of large-scale applications.

What is the significance of Use Cases?

Describing a user’s interaction with an application through use cases offers several advantages:

  • It provides developers with a comprehensive understanding of how users accomplish their goals using the system.

  • It facilitates communication among stakeholders, both internal and external to the project, by requiring them to consider their roles and responsibilities for each use case.

  • It generates documentation that can be utilized for tests and other activities.

Use cases present a step-by-step representation of workflows, enabling project team members and stakeholders to comprehend the necessary actions, potential outcomes, and interactions between actors at each stage of the process.

Use cases serve as the foundation of any software development project. They assist the team in identifying key user requirements, ensuring that the design and implementation align with business goals, and providing a clear checklist of the software’s functionalities. This helps teams avoid scope creep, a major cause of failed software projects.

What is the illustration of a use case?

Driving directions serve as an example of a use case that extends beyond software and systems development.

Let’s consider a scenario where a motorist intends to travel from City 1 to City 2. In this case, the driver acts as the actor, the goal is to reach City 2, and the road network serves as the system used to accomplish this objective. Typically, there is only one route between City 1 and City 2, representing the common course use case. However, there may be various deviations from this path that still lead to City 2. These deviations and alternative paths are known as expanding use cases. The purpose of driving instructions is to guide the motorist through the necessary turns and highway exits to reach their final destination.

What do Use Cases address?

Imagine you have an eCommerce site that offers a wide range of products. While you may possess knowledge about the products you sell, you may not have the same level of expertise in the technologies used to build them.

How can you determine the most suitable technology for your requirements?

You could seek advice from your network or read opinions on social media, forums, and blogs. However, there is no guarantee that this information is accurate or up-to-date.

If you want to avoid any risks, especially considering the cost of technology, you wouldn’t want to end up with something that is incompatible with your existing systems or fails to meet your requirements.

Why are Use Cases important in Blockchain Development?

In the realm of blockchain technology, the concept of use cases takes on even greater significance. Blockchain is a decentralized, transparent, and immutable ledger that records transactions across multiple computers or nodes. Use cases play a crucial role in identifying how blockchain technology can be effectively utilized to solve various real-world problems.

By leveraging the unique characteristics of blockchain, such as decentralization and security, developers can create innovative applications that provide value in different domains.

For example, one use case of blockchain technology is supply chain management. Traditionally, supply chains have involved multiple parties and intermediaries, leading to inefficiencies, lack of transparency, and increased risk of fraud. By implementing a blockchain-based solution, stakeholders can track and verify the movement of goods, ensure product authenticity, and automate processes, leading to increased efficiency, reduced costs, and enhanced trust.

Another use case is in the realm of identity management. With traditional systems, individuals often have to rely on various centralized entities to store and manage their personal information. This creates privacy concerns and puts the data at risk of breaches. By utilizing blockchain, individuals can have greater control over their digital identities and choose what information to share with whom, thereby enhancing privacy and security.

What are the advantages of implementing use cases in blockchain projects?

Implementing use cases in blockchain projects offers several advantages:

  • Clarity: Use cases provide a clear understanding of the specific problem blockchain technology aims to solve and how it can add value.

  • Alignment: Use cases help ensure that the development efforts are aligned with the desired business outcomes, thereby increasing the chances of project success.

  • Efficiency: By focusing on specific use cases, development teams can avoid unnecessary complexity and concentrate on building the necessary features and functionalities.

  • Scalability: Use cases allow for the identification of potential scalability challenges early on in the development process, enabling the implementation of appropriate solutions.

  • Flexibility: As use cases are specific and well-defined, they can be easily modified or expanded as requirements evolve or new opportunities arise.

What are examples of use cases in Blockchain?

1. Supply Chain Management:

Blockchain can be used to track the movement of goods, verify product authenticity, and streamline supply chain processes.

For example, Walmart, in collaboration with IBM, implemented a blockchain-based system to track the supply chain of mangoes in the United States. By scanning QR codes on mangoes, consumers can trace the journey of the fruit from the farm to the store, ensuring its authenticity and quality.

2. Digital Identity:

Blockchain can enable individuals to have more control over their digital identities and provide secure and verifiable credentials.

One example is the Sovrin Network, which uses blockchain to create self-sovereign identities. Individuals have ownership and control over their personal information, and they can selectively disclose information to different entities without compromising their privacy.

3. Cross-Border Payments:

Blockchain can facilitate faster, cheaper, and more transparent cross-border transactions by removing intermediaries and enabling peer-to-peer transfers.

Ripple, a blockchain-based payment protocol, enables real-time, low-cost international money transfers. By utilizing the XRP cryptocurrency, Ripple eliminates the need for traditional correspondent banking networks, reducing costs and settlement times.

4. Intellectual Property Rights:

Blockchain can be used to establish a transparent and immutable record of ownership and transfers of intellectual property rights.

One example is the company Mediachain, which aims to create a decentralized database of creative works. By leveraging blockchain technology, artists can have greater control over their intellectual property and ensure fair compensation for their creations.

These examples demonstrate the diverse range of use cases that can be implemented using blockchain technology. By leveraging the decentralized and transparent nature of blockchain, developers can create innovative solutions that solve real-world problems, increase efficiency, and enhance trust.

What is the conclusion?

Use cases are a fundamental component of software development, providing a detailed description of how a specific application is utilized to achieve a particular goal. In the context of blockchain technology, use cases play a crucial role in identifying the potential applications and advantages of utilizing decentralized and secure ledgers.

By implementing use cases in blockchain projects, developers can ensure that their efforts are aligned with desired business outcomes, increase project clarity, efficiency, scalability, and flexibility. The examples provided highlight the wide range of possibilities that blockchain technology offers in various domains, such as supply chain management, digital identity, cross-border payments, and intellectual property rights.

As blockchain continues to evolve and mature, exploring and implementing use cases will remain critical in realizing the full potential of this groundbreaking technology.

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