Developing the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

Developing the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is a critical process in project scheduling and part of the scope management knowledge area. The WBS represents a hierarchical decomposition of the total scope of work to be carried out by the project team to accomplish project objectives and create the required deliverables. The WBS organizes and defines the total scope of the project by breaking down the work into smaller, more manageable components called work packages. Each descending level of the WBS represents an increasingly detailed definition of project work. The key steps in developing a WBS include: 1. Identify the final deliverables and project work 2. Structure and organize the WBS (product-oriented, phase-oriented, or functional) 3. Decompose the upper WBS levels into lower-level detailed components 4. Assign identification codes to WBS components 5. Verify that the degree of decomposition is appropriate The lowest level of the WBS, the work package, serves as the basis for estimating, scheduling, monitoring, and controlling project work. The 100% rule applies to the WBS, meaning the sum of work at the lower levels must equal 100% of the work at higher levels. A WBS dictionary complements the WBS by providing detailed descriptions of each component, including scope information, deliverables, activities, and milestones. Benefits of a properly developed WBS include: - Better scope definition and clarity - Improved accuracy in time and cost estimates - Clear assignment of responsibilities - Baseline for performance measurement and control - Foundation for communication about project scope The WBS becomes a critical input for subsequent scheduling processes, including activity definition, sequencing, duration estimating, and schedule development.

Developing the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is a critical process in project scheduling and part of the scope management knowledge area. The WBS represents a hierarchical decomposition of the total…

Concepts covered: Work Packages, Control Accounts, WBS Templates and Reuse, Work Breakdown Structure and Risk Management, WBS Levels and Hierarchical Structure, WBS Dictionary, 100% Rule, Decomposition Process, Integration of WBS and Organizational Breakdown Structure