A typical approach in developing a wbs is to start at the highest level, with the product of the project. In this process the scope management plan is created. Better allocation when there is a clear plan of action, allocating time and resources becomes much less complicated. Wbs help project managers to breakdown complex activities into smaller doable task. Outline for module 6 preparing the work breakdown structure, responsibility matrix, and master summary. Review the overview and steps for creating a work breakdown structure starting on the next page. Plan development task identification and work breakdown. A work breakdown structure is a key project deliverable that organizes the teams work into manageable sections. This guideline is intended to help the project manager organize project materials by providing a simple set of rules for creating and storing project documentation, and illustrates the application of these rules to a. Development of work breakdown structure wbs standard for producing the risk based structural work safety plan of building.
A work breakdown structure or wbs for short is a chart or document used to organize project work into a list of focus areas so that all work stays on track to meet project goals. These components are further decomposed until a required person from the team can be assigned. Download wbs modeler addin for visio 2010 from official. Consider it a precursor to a detailed gantt chart or microsoft project file. What is the importance of wbs in project management. Usually this process is about creating a detailed decomposition of work planned for completion into smaller, more manageable and measurable components the pmbok guide. All about work breakdown structures wbs smartsheet. Think of the wbs as a visual model of the project that identifies each piece of the scope of. To do this, the project manager will reference a set of key documents to begin developing the wbs. Meetings will be held with the customer and users to determine the business requirements. The first approach structures the wbs primarily from a deliverables perspective, in that the highest level level 1 entries represent the major deliverables that the project is committed to create. For the purpose of examples, the phase is at level 1.
Differentiate the five approaches for creating work breakdown structures wbs the work breakdown structure wbs is a chart. Creating the work breakdown structure the wbs can be structured in either of two ways. Pdf in the construction project plan, a description of the project work that will be used as a reference for the implementation of the construction. Work breakdown structures that subdivide work by project phases e. It is the connecting point for work and cost estimates, schedule information, actual work effort cost expenditures, and accountability. In order to produce these deliverables, work must be performed.
By kim colenso, managing principal, artemis management systems. Today, wbi helps develop individual, organizational, and institutional capacity in the world banks member. Today, work breakdown structures are widely used for projects of all types, both business and personal. It documents the projects scope how it is defined, validated and controlled. Pdf the work breakdown structure in software project. At this point, you now have level n components, where n is the number of the lowestlevel component in a particular wbs branch.
Work breakdown structure wbs the wbs provides a clear description of the projects deliverables. Breakdown structures wbs as they begin the process of project management. 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. Pdf development of work breakdown structure wbs dictionary. It describes the what is to be done not the process or schedule. 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 was originally developed by the us department of defense, which mandated their use across the dod. Work breakdown structure assignment online nursing. Doe office of management, budget and evaluation work breakdown structure project management practices guide, revision e dated june 2003. This zip file contains the white paper the work breakdown structure. Developing and elaborating effective work breakdown structures. Developing the work breakdown structure means defining the relationships between the project goals, deliverables and scope. Cost estimating cost budgeting resource planning risk management planning activity definition. The wbs runs from conceptualization to final editing and manuscript delivery.
Creating a work breakdown structure wbs helps you be both comprehensive and specific when managing a project. Applying the work breakdown structure to the project. A work breakdown structure wbs is a fundamental project management technique for defining and organizing the total scope of a project, using a hierarchical. When creating a deliverablesbased wbs, the term is probably not appropriate. Pdf development of work breakdown structure wbs standard. Develop standard pm wbs templates for all types of infrastructure and non. Management information systems work breakdown structure for developing a new customer relationship management crm system 1.
Managing the implementation of development russell d. As such the work breakdown structure wbs also defines the scope of work of the project. Microsoft download manager is free and available for download now. Wbs work breakdown structure approach in project management. Based on the work breakdown structure formats document attached in the file area, address the level one headings as numbered below. Every work breakdown structure example will help managers understand how the structure works and why its useful. This microsoft project file for developing and writing a software user manual includes a work breakdown structure, general scheduling and dependencies, resource allocation, and even beginning leveling information. It does not elaborate about individual tasks or the order of execution in detail. The following discussion will examine the current trends and practice regarding work breakdown structures. The importance of it is that, it helps to make sure that all activities are assign. A work breakdown structure wbs is a project management tool designed to capture project tasks in a visual, organized manner. Work breakdown structure is a hierarchical breakdown of the work to be done in the project.
Work breakdown structure element dictionary concept development. 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. In reality, wbs is a simple and easy visual breakdown of deliverables for product, result, or service. How to improve productivity with a work breakdown structure.
The wbs is a hierarchical reflection of all the work in the project in terms of deliverables. 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. The plan scope management process spells out the directions on how scope management will take place through the project including identifying needs, and developing a work breakdown structure. Help improve the project planning process by generating a project plan from a graphical work breakdown structure wbs using this visio 2010 addin in combination with microsoft project. The purpose of the project documentation naming conventions and repository guideline is to establish project documentation naming standards and structure for project repositories. With a work breakdown structure, you can stay focused on what you need to accomplish as you move toward the project deadline. Preliminary design phase, critical design phase must ensure that phases are clearly separated by a deliverable e. It consists of the purpose, the need, and goals and objectives. 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.
Students shall work with their opening pos statement, or project charter, and use this document as a basis to begin developing and creating a work breakdown structure, or wbs. To develop work breakdown structures, the project manager should take the guidance provided here and apply wbs construction activities independently of the project schedule or scheduling tools. 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. A work breakdown structure, commonly abbreviated wbs, is a key project deliverable that is utilized to organize a project teams work and responsibilities into compact sections that are more manageable. Many people have mistaken wbs as a list of tasks, a schedule or an organization chart. Work breakdown structure formats pdf see attached pdf in file area this document presents a scenario and three corresponding work breakdown structures that you will use for your discussion this week. It can help the project manager predict outcomes based on various scenarios. A brief synopsis, an oil, gas and petrochemical ogp work breakdown structure in both word and excel, and a pdf appendix of the oil, gas and petrochemical ogp work breakdown structure wbs example.
Is a deliverable breakdown structure is a hierarchical decomposition of the work the deliverables are decomposed to. The work breakdown structure wbs is a vehicle for breaking an engineering project down into subproject, tasks, subtasks, work packages, and so on. Work breakdown structure relativistic heavy ion collider. Develop a work breakdown structure to determine the hierarchy of a project. Identify how team members will be involved in creating the wbs and educate them on their role. Managers use wbs to break down their projects into easily manageable components. A work breakdown structure wbs can help and heres how. After this, the next step will involve integration, which in this case would be developing an interface that will link various smaller modules for producing the x. Oil, gas and petrochemical ogp work breakdown structure. It takes each output and shows in sequence, from general to specific, all the activities and tasks required for its production. A work breakdown structure in every project management and system engineering is an effective tool that is used for defining and group the discrete elements of work in any project so that it can help the organization, build it in some way and boost the work scope of the whole project. The importance of the wbs experienced project managers know there are many things that can go wrong in projects. 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.
The work breakdown structure visually defines the scope into manageable chunks that a project team can. 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. Defining a work breakdown structure a work breakdown structure wbs is defined as a hierarchy of tasks that are representative of the real work flow of a construction project. Considerable thought and planning should be given to its development and implementation. Lets understand the work break down structure by taking an example of the aircraft system. Wbs can be severed as input to five key project management activities. Cdc unified process practices guide work breakdown structure up version. See a large image and download a visio or pdf of the wbs. A work breakdown structure wbs is a hierarchical outline of the tasks needed to deliver the projects product or service. Instead, wbs provides useful inputs for cost estimating and budgeting, scope control, activity definition, and more.
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