Collect requirements - Context diagram

Context Diagram

Tool used for collecting requirements.

The Context Diagram shows the system under consideration as a single high-level process and then shows the relationship that the system has with other external entities (systems, organizational groups, external data stores, etc.). 

But like many analysis tools they have been leveraged for other purposes.  For example, they can also be leveraged to capture and communicate the interactions and flow of data between business processes. So, they don’t have to be restricted to systems analysis.

A sample Context Diagram is shown here.


Some of the benefits of a Context Diagram are:

• Shows the scope and boundaries of a system at a glance including the other systems that interface with it
• No technical knowledge is assumed or required to understand the diagram
• Easy to draw and amend due to its limited notation
• Easy to expand by adding different levels of DFDs
• Can benefit a wide audience including stakeholders, business analyst, data analysts, developers