A partition needs a boundary and a rule
An illustrative request-status classification
DEFINE THE WHOLE FIRST
Example scope: every request received by a service.
One classification rule: the request’s current status
Not started
In progress
Closed
one place
per request
at a time
Test for overlap
Could one request belong in two categories at once?
Test for gaps
Could a request fit none of the categories?
Define ambiguous and exceptional cases before counting.
Conceptual illustration • not measured data