Using AI to Suggest Essential Use Cases Presented in a Structured Table Format
After brainstorming actors and their high-level goals in Section 2.1, the next natural step is to let the AI accelerate and enrich that creative process by generating a broader, more structured set of candidate use cases. This is where Visual Paradigm’s AI-Powered Use Case Modeling Studio truly demonstrates its value: it takes the inputs you’ve already provided—scope statement, problem description, stakeholder map, and any manually added actor–goal pairs—and intelligently proposes a comprehensive yet focused list of essential use cases.
The AI applies UML best practices, common domain patterns, and contextual reasoning derived from your earlier work to suggest:
- Use cases that directly deliver value to primary actors
- Supporting use cases that enable or are required by the main ones
- Use cases for secondary/external actors (e.g., payment processors, notification services)
- Potential administrative or maintenance goals that stakeholders often overlook
These suggestions appear instantly in a clean, editable structured table inside the studio, typically with columns such as:
- Use Case Name
- Primary Actor
- Goal / Value Delivered
- Priority (High / Medium / Low – often AI-inferred)
- Notes / Rationale (optional – why the AI suggested it)
You can:
- Accept the entire set as a strong starting point
- Select only the ones that fit your vision
- Edit names for clarity and consistency
- Add, delete, or merge entries
- Mark priority or add your own rationale
This table becomes the authoritative working list that feeds directly into Use Case Diagram generation (Section 2.3) and later refinement steps.
Practical Examples
Example 1: GourmetReserve – Mobile Dining Reservation App
After entering scope, problem, stakeholder map, and a few manually added goals (e.g., “Book a Table”, “Manage Reservations”), you click “Generate Candidate Use Cases”.
AI-Generated Candidate Use Cases Table (shown in the studio):
| Use Case Name | Primary Actor | Goal / Value Delivered | Priority | Notes / Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Search for Available Tables | Diner | Find restaurants and time slots matching preferences | High | Core entry point for most users |
| Book a Table | Diner | Secure a reservation for date, time, party size | High | Main value proposition of the app |
| View Table Availability Calendar | Diner | See future availability at a glance | Medium | Enhances user experience |
| Pre-order Meal | Diner | Select dishes ahead to reduce on-site wait time | High | Differentiating feature |
| Cancel Reservation | Diner | Release booking if plans change (with possible fee/refund logic) | Medium | Reduces no-shows |
| Receive Booking Confirmation & Reminder | Diner | Get notified of booking details and upcoming reservation | Medium | Improves reliability |
| View Reservation History | Diner | Review past bookings, receipts, and ratings | Low | Loyalty / repeat usage |
| Manage Incoming Reservations | Restaurant Staff | View, confirm, modify, or cancel bookings | High | Essential for restaurant operations |
| View Pre-Ordered Meals | Restaurant Staff | See advance orders to prepare kitchen | High | Directly supports efficiency goal |
| Process Payment / Deposit | Payment Gateway | Handle secure transaction for booking fee or full payment | High | Required for no-show protection |
| Send Notification | Notification Service | Deliver SMS/email/push reminders and updates | Medium | Supporting actor |
You might accept most, rename “Manage Incoming Reservations” → “Manage Reservations” for brevity, and add a new row: “Handle Waitlist” (Primary Actor: Restaurant Staff) if the restaurant wants overflow support.
Example 2: SecureATM – Next-Generation ATM Network
AI-Generated Table (partial – after refinement):
| Use Case Name | Primary Actor | Goal / Value Delivered | Priority | Notes / Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Withdraw Cash | Retail Customer | Obtain physical currency quickly and securely | High | Most frequent ATM use case |
| Check Account Balance | Retail Customer | View current funds without branch visit | High | Basic inquiry |
| Transfer Funds | Retail Customer | Move money between own accounts or to others | Medium | Common for personal finance |
| Deposit Check | Small Business Owner | Add funds via check scanning at ATM | Medium | Modern feature for non-cash deposits |
| Change PIN | Retail Customer | Update personal identification number | Low | Security maintenance |
| Authenticate User | Retail Customer | Prove identity (card + PIN / biometrics / mobile) | High | Foundational – will likely become «include» |
| Replenish Cash Cassettes | Bank Operations Team | Load currency into the machine | Medium | Operational necessity |
| Monitor ATM Status & Alerts | Bank Operations Team | Detect faults, low cash, jams, or suspicious activity | High | Prevents downtime and fraud |
| Analyze Transaction for Fraud | Fraud Detection System | Evaluate each transaction in real-time | High | External system integration |
Example 3: CorpLearn – Corporate E-Learning Platform
AI-Suggested Table (excerpt):
| Use Case Name | Primary Actor | Goal / Value Delivered | Priority | Notes / Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enroll in Available Course | Employee | Join self-selected or recommended training | High | Core learner action |
| Complete Learning Module | Employee | Progress through content (videos, readings, quizzes) | High | Main activity |
| Take Final Assessment | Employee | Demonstrate mastery and earn credit | High | Required for certification |
| View Progress & Certificates | Employee | Track status and download proof of completion | Medium | Motivation & compliance |
| Upload / Update Course Content | HR / Training Administrator | Add new training materials or revise existing ones | High | Content management |
| Assign Mandatory Training | HR / Training Administrator | Require completion by individuals or groups | High | Compliance driver |
| Approve Training Request | Manager | Authorize employee participation in optional courses | Medium | Governance |
| Generate Compliance Report | Compliance Officer / HR | Produce auditable records of training completion | High | Regulatory requirement |
Tips for Working with AI-Generated Candidates
- Trust but verify — AI suggestions are strong starting points, but domain knowledge is still essential (e.g., spotting missing compliance use cases).
- Aim for 5–12 essential use cases for most systems at this stage—too many indicates over-scoping.
- Use consistent naming — Verb + Noun, present tense, actor-goal focused (e.g., “Withdraw Cash”, not “Cash Withdrawal Process”).
- Prioritize ruthlessly — Focus on high-priority items for the first diagram iteration.
- Capture rationale — Add notes on why you kept/rejected items; this helps traceability later.
By the end of this step, you have a curated, AI-enriched table of candidate use cases that reflects both intelligent automation and your expert judgment. This table is the direct foundation for the visual Use Case Diagram in the next section—turning words into a powerful, stakeholder-friendly picture of system responsibility.