Use processes — modeling requirements based on elements of BPMN and UML Use Case Diagrams

This paper presents a new approach to gather requirements called Use Processes. The approach includes a Use Process Diagram which is based on notation elements of the OMG Business Process Modeling Notation and Use Case Diagrams of UML v1.5. We also propose a set of templates to describe the elements of the Use Process Diagram. We believe that a business process-oriented approach to gather requirements will lead in the customer and user satisfaction because it allows their participation in the requirements definition. This is very important because the main customers of the software applications are business people who are usually very comfortable in working with visualization of business processes. To prove the validity of our approach, we implemented it to develop three small object-oriented software projects in two organizations, one in a department of a bureau of the Mexican Government and two in a private enterprise that develops software.