P a g e 3 work breakdown structures a work breakdown structure is a deliverableoriented hierarchical decomposition of the work to be executed by the project team to accomplish the project objectives and create the required deliverables. These risks should be tracked in a project log and. Introduction the work breakdown structure is a fundamental tool of project management which is formed as an output of the process 5. The work breakdown structure is a useful tool for developing the project plan and links the projects scope to the schedule and budget. It can help the project manager predict outcomes based on various scenarios. Without a full and complete schedule, the project manager will be. Wbs produces a detailed list of tasks to be performed for a project, helping to. A work breakdown structure wbs is a chart in which the critical work elements, called tasks, of a project are illustrated to portray their relationships to each other and to the project as a whole. Generally speaking, there are three typical ways in structuring works with a work breakdown structure wbs.
The wbs represents a logical decomposition of the work to be performed and focuses on how the product, service, or result is naturally subdivided. Clearly understanding whats included in a project is the only way of guaranteeing its. The work breakdown structure includes tasks, requirements for each task, and revenue and. The importance of project management 1252 words cram. A wbs is the cornerstone of effective project planning, execution, controlling, monitoring, and reporting. Jun 17, 2014 this article describes one of the most important tools the wbs work breakdown structure for understanding and decomposing project scope and also the various advantagessuccesses that a project team could derive if a wbs is wellprepared and used through the duration of the project. What are the 4 aspects of work breakdown structure wbs. As a supporting document to the work breakdown structure, each definition pertains to the tasks specified in the latter document in relation to the project requirements.
It does so by presenting key milestones within a hierarchy that simplifies large projects into smaller, more manageable groups. Work breakdown structure wbs the building blocks of a schedule start with a work breakdown structure wbs. The graphical nature of the wbs can help a project manager predict outcomes based on various scenarios, which can ensure that optimum decisions are made about whether or not to adopt suggested procedures or changes. Drafts are created during the project definition phase of the project then details are flushed out during. Differentiate the five approaches for creating work breakdown structures wbs the work breakdown structure wbs is a chart. Work breakdown structure is abbreviated as wbs and create work breakdown structure process mainly aims to produce the wbs of the project. Nov 26, 2019 a work breakdown structure is your map through more complicated projects. The importance of the wbs experienced project managers know there are many things that can go wrong in projects. The wbs provides the foundation for all project management work, including, planning, cost and effort estimation, resource allocation, and scheduling. Large or complex deliverables are broken down into smaller components. Work breakdown structure examples and overview brighthub.
A work breakdown structure wbs is a hierarchical structure of things that the project will make or outcomes that it will deliver this one is far better. Explaining wbs work breakdown structure with wbs examples. Work breakdown structure is a type of project management that offers a visual way to detail the deliverables within a project. How to improve productivity with a work breakdown structure. It is often described as a resultoriented tree that covers all project procedures in an organized way. The wbs dictionary is a key project definition tool that defines indepth the scope for each work. Essay about wbs work breakdown structure 1252 words cram. The graphical nature of the wbs can help a project manager predict outcomes based on various scenarios, which can ensure that optimum decisions. Systems development life cycle sdlc methodology information technology services july 7, 2009 version 1 authors. The work breakdown structure the project management institute pmi 2001 define the wbs as a hierarchical structure that defines and organises the total project scope based on deliverables, with each descending level in the hierarchy representing an increasingly detailed definition of the project work. Work breakdown structures help define project scope. Work breakdown structures a work breakdown structure is a deliverableoriented hierarchical decomposition of the work to be executed by the project team to accomplish the project objectives and create the required deliverables. A work breakdown structure defines all the things a project needs to accomplish, organized into multiple levels, and displayed graphically. The wbs is designed to help break down a project into manageable chunks that can be effectively estimated and supervised.
Work breakdown structure posted on march 19, 20 by jerome rowley 1. Work breakdown structure relativistic heavy ion collider. The work breakdown structure visually defines the scope into manageable chunks that a project team can. What is a work breakdown structure wbs example included. Thinking in detail is critical when planning your project, but you also need to consider the big picture. Company owners and project managers use the work breakdown structure wbs to make complex projects more manageable. But to confront the challenges of working in todays volatile economic environment, project managers are increasingly using. The work breakdown structure wbs has long served as a valuable tool in helping project managers plan deliverables and detail project scope. Unfortunately, the business pressures driving projects have often prevented project managers from developing a comprehensive wbs. A work breakdown structure wbs is one way to get good results. Schedule a project with a work breakdown structure.
A pm wbs includes phases, activities and tasks which organise, define and graphically display the total work to be accomplished, in order to. Differentiate the five approaches for creating work. Create a work breakdown structure to represent the sequence of tasks in a project. It is the connecting point for work and cost estimates, schedule information, actual work effortcost expenditures, and accountability. One project may include several phases, or also smaller subprojects. An important part of project planning, the wbs begins with a hierarchy of tasks and levels that help to identify how the project will flow within a designed timeline set by the project manager. Once the elements of the wbs have been defined, resource requirements are determined for each element. Work breakdown structure or wbs is a hierarchical tree structure that outlines your project and breaks it down into smaller, more manageable portions. If a work breakdown structure has a branch that is not well defined then it represents a scope definition risk. The graphical nature of the wbs can help a project manager predict outcomes based on various scenarios, which can ensure that optimum decisions are made about whether or not to adopt suggested. Apr 27, 2020 pmp scope management also ensures that all of that work and only that work is done. A project budget can be allocated to the top levels of the work breakdown structure, and department budgets can be quickly calculated based on the each projects work breakdown structure. Therefore, there are lots of benefits of using wbs project management.
A work breakdown structure is one way to assign tasks, keep track of progress, and ensure project completion. What is the importance of wbs in project management. Creating the work breakdown structure by kim colenso, managing principal, artemis management systems the work breakdown structure wbs is the foundation for project planning and control. Pdf the work breakdown structure in software project management. The wbs also helps to define the specifics of the project outlined in the project scope. All about work breakdown structures wbs smartsheet. It is one of the three elements of the scope baseline. Plan, and to provide the means for early calibration. Even subprojects can be broken down into smaller bits. It is simply a chart or outline of your projects deliverables. Figures 1 and 2 provide examples of a wbs for the building of a table. Work breakdown structure wbs is a tool that is used to define the work elements of a project and identify its entire scope. A work breakdown structure is a key project deliverable that organizes the teams work into manageable sections. A work breakdown structure wbs is a visual tool for defining and tracking a project deliverable and all the small components needed to create it.
In wrike, you can build a wbs by creating folders and subfolders, and can even go further to divide individual tasks into subtasks. Therefore, one should take creating wbs as a critical step in the process of project management. A work breakdown structure wbs is a deliverableoriented hierarchical decomposition of the work to be executed by the project team to accomplish the project objectives and create the required deliverables. The wbs also can involve combinations of these formats, for example, process and geography or. The efficiency of a work breakdown structure can determine the success of a project.
Jun 02, 2014 if you are a project manager and you want to stretch your tasks correctly, then you need to create what is known as a work breakdown structure for your project. The work breakdown structure wbs is defined by a guide to the project management body of knowledge 3rd edition pmbok guide as. The project management body of knowledge defines the work breakdown structure as a deliverable oriented hierarchical decomposition of the work to be executed by the project team. The following discussion will examine the current trends and practice regarding work breakdown structures. Splitting your tasks into smaller portions is a way to be well organised and to have a clear overview of the things that need to get done. Its creation process is the 4th process of scope management, coming after create scope management plan process. A deliverableoriented hierarchical decomposition of the work to be executed by the project team to accomplish the project objectives and create the required deliverables. The project schedule should reflect all of the work associated with delivering the project on time. What is wbs work breakdown structure in project management. The objective is to furnish each member with a means for undertaking on how to keep the work processes. For example, the wbs utilizes the project charter as its starting point. The work breakdown structure wbs is one of the most important tools you can use when managing a project. Applying work breakdown structure to project lifecycle.
It assists to ensure the project flow, according to the project management plan. A work breakdown structure is a tool used to define and group a projects discrete work elements or tasks in a way that helps organise and define the total work scope of the project it provides the framework for detailed cost estimating and control along with providing guidance for schedule development and control. Pdf the work breakdown structure wbs is a vehicle for breaking an engineering project down into. The work breakdown structure provides a common framework for the natural development of the overall planning and control of a contract and is the basis for dividing work into definable increments from which the statement of work can be developed and technical, schedule, cost, and labor hour reporting can be established a work breakdown structure permits summing of subordinate costs for tasks. The project schedule is the tool that communicates what work needs to be performed, which resources of the organization will perform the work and the timeframes in which that work needs to be performed. Explain the content of a work breakdown structure wbs and discuss its role in project management and the connection to the organisation. Work breakdown structure rev e, june 2003 work breakdown structure a project work breakdown structure wbs is a deliverable or product oriented grouping of project work elements shown in graph ical display to organize and subdivide the total work scope of a project. The wbs is a hierarchical reflection of all the work in the project in terms of deliverables. In so doing, you gain clarity into the details needed to accomplish every aspect of your project. Pdf building a project work breakdown structure dawei.
The work breakdown structure wbs is the foundation for project planning and control. At the same time, according to the actual situation of the project, the team can make this unit of work associated with a milestone. Check the work breakdown structure against the project approach specified in project charter for any activities that needs to be included in the work breakdown structure. Project activities in which wbs and schedules are useful. Level 2 define a set of planned outcomes that collectively and exclusively. Work breakdown structure wbs purpose, process and pitfalls. The work breakdown structure provides a common framework for the natural development of the overall planning and control of a contract and is the basis for dividing work into definable increments from which the statement of work can be developed and technical, schedule, cost, and labor hour reporting can be established. The work breakdown structure has a number of benefits in addition to defining and organizing the project work.
As seen in the pmp training, work breakdown structure of a project shows the hierarchy of the project work and deliverables in a project. The lowest level components for each deliverable are known as work packages. Applying the work breakdown structure to the project. The project schedule in the work breakdown structure has a familiar look and feel, complete with an interactive gantt chart. Differentiate the five approaches for creating work breakdown. What is work breakdown structure in project management. Create work breakdown structure process is the 4th process of the scope management according to the online pmp course.
Mel barracliffe, lisa gardner, john hammond, and shawn duncan. Using work breakdown structure wbs for effective project. Oct 27, 2016 a work breakdown structure wbs proposes a graphical nature that helps project managers predict results based on various scenarios. The wbs, or the work breakdown structure, is essential as part of a projects lifecycle and timeline. The importance of the work breakdown structure p3moteam. It is the subject that the rest of the work will describe. Developing the work breakdown structure work breakdown structure format the work breakdown structure is usually organized so that it emphasizes the product structure, but sometimes it is organized in terms of process structure life cycle or geography. Pdf building a project work breakdown structure dawei wu. With a work breakdown structure, you can stay focused on what you need to accomplish as you move toward the project deadline. Chapter of project management tools and techniques 7. The wbs is initiated with the definition of tasks in a hierarchy structure.
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