Final answer:
When considering the execution of three steps where each step does not leave a system in a consistent state, they are most likely to be treated as 1 use case, as use cases aim to provide a complete outcome. Each step could also be viewed as an individual transaction, but the overall process is typically encapsulated as a single use case in system design.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to a scenario where there are three steps that need to be executed one after the other, and each step does not leave the system in a consistent state. This sounds like a query related to systems design and processing, potentially discussing atomic transactions in a computing context. From a use case point counting perspective, use case point analysis is a methodology used to estimate the complexity and thereby the effort required to develop and maintain software functionalities.
If these steps are to be treated as part of a single functional flow where the overall outcome must be consistent and the system cannot be left in an inconsistent state at the end of each step, then they should generally be treated as one use case. This is because use cases are meant to provide a complete and meaningful outcome for the user or system interacting with the application. Hence, the option of treating these steps as 1 use case is likely the most accurate.
Without additional context on how the system processes these transactions or the specific task of the system, it could also be argued that each step represents an individual transaction within the use case, but to provide a precise response, understanding the context and requirements of the system in question would be essential.