---
title: Define a System Actor and System Response
slug: rm/define-a-system-actor-and-system-response
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-06-09T13:38:48.080Z
---

Similar to tasks, system tasks use a generic **system** as the actor, which by default is shown in Additional Details, as well as the system task label in the Process Editor.

An actor is an artifact that must already exist in order to be selected. When you select an **actor** artifact, its name replaces the default task label.

You can specify a *long-form response* for a system task in its Additional Detail window.

When undefined in the Additional Detail window, a **System Response** is the label on the system task shape. If it is defined, it is a separate long-form response that is used in user story generation.

To define a system actor and system response:

1. Click the additional details icon (:inlineImage[]{src="https://files.helpdocs.io/4rdnduk17o/other/1567629556089/additional-details-ico.png" alt caption width="16" height="16"}) for the system task of interest.

   ![](https://files.helpdocs.io/4rdnduk17o/other/1567631112731/define-system-response-1.png)
2. In the Additional Details modal:
3. Select an actor from the System Actor dropdown if you want to define a specific actor as opposed to maintaining the default actor. You can also search for and select an existing artifact within your project by clicking the **Select** button.
4. Define the system response in the corresponding field.
5. Click **OK**.

   ::Image[]{src="https://files.helpdocs.io/4rdnduk17o/other/1567631127968/define-system-response-2.png" size="70" isUploading="false" width="505" height="585" darkWidth="505" darkHeight="585" position="flex-start" showCaption="false"}

:::hint{type="info"}
Complete the hint text to create values that are well-formed for the user story template. The system response should start with a verb, and use the present participle form of a verb (that is, verb + ing), in the third person (for example, "updating account info," or "authenticating login").
:::