Integration of WBS and Organizational Breakdown Structure

Integration of WBS and OBS: A Comprehensive Guide

Why Integration of WBS and OBS is Important

Integrating the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) with the Organizational Breakdown Structure (OBS) is essential for project success because it:

- Creates clear accountability by mapping who is responsible for each work package
- Establishes the foundation for resource allocation and management
- Provides a framework for cost tracking and performance measurement
- Enables effective communication between project tasks and organizational units
- Forms the basis for responsibility assignment matrices like the RACI chart

What is the Integration of WBS and OBS?

The integration of WBS and OBS represents the intersection of what work needs to be done (WBS) with who will do it (OBS). While the WBS decomposes the project scope into manageable components, the OBS shows the hierarchical structure of the organization with departments, teams, and individuals. When these two structures are integrated, they create a comprehensive project management framework that clarifies:

1. Which organizational units are responsible for which deliverables
2. How resources are distributed across project components
3. Where costs should be allocated and tracked
4. How communication should flow between work packages and organizational entities

How the Integration Works

The integration process typically involves the following steps:

1. Create the WBS: Develop a complete breakdown of project deliverables and work packages

2. Establish the OBS: Map out the organizational hierarchy relevant to the project

3. Develop a Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM): This matrix (often a RACI chart) shows the intersection points between the WBS and OBS

4. Define Control Accounts: These are management points where scope, budget, actual cost, and schedule are integrated and compared to earned value for performance measurement

5. Create Work Authorization Systems: Formal procedures that ensure work is approved before execution

The result is a framework that allows project managers to track progress, manage resources, and maintain accountability throughout the project lifecycle.

Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Integration of WBS and OBS

1. Focus on management control points: Understand that the intersection of WBS and OBS creates control accounts that are crucial for earned value management.

2. Know the relationship with performance measurement: Be prepared to explain how the integration facilitates performance tracking and reporting.

3. Recognize key documentation: Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM) and RACI charts are direct outcomes of WBS-OBS integration.

4. Understand project governance aspects: Questions may address how the integration supports project governance and decision-making authority.

5. Identify resource optimization benefits: Be ready to discuss how proper integration helps optimize resource allocation and utilization.

6. Connect to communication planning: Explain how the integration clarifies communication channels and responsibilities.

7. Remember the link to stakeholder management: The integration helps identify key stakeholders responsible for different work elements.

8. Apply to real scenarios: Practice applying these concepts to scenario-based questions that might appear in the exam.

9. Consider the strategic perspective: Be prepared to discuss how WBS-OBS integration supports overall project and organizational strategy.

10. Identify common issues: Understand challenges that might arise from poor integration, such as unclear responsibilities or resource conflicts.

When answering exam questions, relate your answers back to these core concepts and emphasize how proper integration enhances project control, accountability, and successful delivery.