Process Action Diagrams

The product of interaction analysis is the Process Action Diagram that consists of an ordered collection of actions that defines an elementary process.

You can also generate statements that appear in a Process Action Diagram using tools other than the Action Diagram. For example, you can expand the expected effects of processes defined with the Activity Hierarchy Diagram or Matrix Processor into actual effects and views in a Process Action Diagram. Similarly, when you detail views, the software generates corresponding entries in a Process Action Diagram.

Process logic analysis identifies actions to be performed on entities by an elementary process. The actions produce output information based on input information. Process logic analysis also deals with how entity actions act on data in the underlying Data Model. Procedure logic builds on the process logic to identify how the system interacts with the end user.

The following list details the objectives of process logic analysis:

Define each elementary process rigorously and unambiguously by detailing its actions upon entities, relationships, and attributes
Ensure that the Data Model can support all the processes
Combine the results of data analysis and activity analysis so that it is clear how changes to the process definition affect data analysis
Provide the data designer with the basic information necessary to define data structures
Provide the starting point for transformation to Design and the definition of procedures