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Work Breakdown Structure




The purpose of a WBS is to identify Terminal Element s (the actual items to be done in a project). Therefore, WBS serves as the basis for much of Project Planning .

Work breakdown structure is a very common project management tool. Many United States government Statements Of Work require work breakdown structures.


HOW TO BUILD A WBS


Whether the WBS should be activity-oriented or deliverable-oriented is a subject of much discussion . There are also various approaches to building the WBS for a project (see e.g. How to Build a Work Breakdown Structure below). Project Management Software , when used properly, can be very helpful in developing a WBS, although in early stages of WBS development, plain sticky notes are the best tool (especially in teams).

An example of a work breakdown for painting a room (activity-oriented) is, to state the obvious:

  • Prepare materials

  • --- Buy paint

  • --- Buy a ladder

  • --- Buy brushes/rollers

  • --- Buy wallpaper remover

  • Prepare room

  • --- Remove old wallpaper

  • --- Remove detachable decorations

  • --- Cover floor with old newspapers

  • --- Cover electrical outlets/switches with tape

  • --- Cover furniture with sheets

  • Paint the room

  • Clean up the room

  • --- Dispose or store left over paint

  • --- Clean brushes/rollers

  • --- Dispose of old newspapers

  • --- Remove covers


The size of the WBS should generally not exceed 100-200 Terminal Element s (if more terminal elements seem to be required, use Subproject s). The WBS should be up to 3-4 levels deep. Each level should be 5-9 elements broad. These suggestions derive from the following facts:
# Short-term Memory capacity is limited to 5-9 items.
# having fixed time to plan a project, the more terminal elements there are, the less time there is to pay attention to any single one of them. Consequently, the estimates are less thought-through.
# the more terminal elements there are the more there are potential Dependencies among them (see fact 2 above for consequences).


EXAMPLE OF A WORK BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE



BOOKS

  • Carl L. Pritchard. Nuts and Bolts Series 1: How to Build a Work Breakdown Structure. ISBN 1890367125

  • Project Management Institute. Project Management Institute Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures. ISBN 1880410818

  • Gregory T. Haugan. Effective Work Breakdown Structures (The Project Management Essential Library Series). ISBN 1567261353



SEE ALSO