Actor Block
An actor is a person, role, team, organization, or system role that initiates work or makes decisions.
When To Use It
Use an Actor block when the model needs to show who initiates a command, asks a query, owns a decision, or receives the outcome. Actors are usually roles, not individual people.
Required Data
- Name: role name, such as Customer, Claims Handler, or Warehouse Operator.
- Type: human role, team, organization, automated role, or external participant.
- Responsibilities: what the actor can decide or do.
- Commands issued: commands the actor may initiate.
- Queries used: information the actor needs.
Recommended Data
- Permissions: actions and data allowed for this actor.
- Primary interfaces: portal, back-office screen, mobile app, API, or notification channel.
- Success measure: what this actor is trying to accomplish.
- Exception path: what happens when the actor cannot complete the task.
Examples
- Customer places an order and views order status.
- Claims Handler requests evidence and approves low-value claims.
- Underwriter reviews high-risk loan applications.
- Warehouse Operator packs shipments and reports shortages.