It presents all of the work that will be carried out by the project team during the life of the project, including the project management work. The work breakdown structure wbs is an essential component of the planning process of all project types, whether external or internal facing, regardless of industry or discipline. Work breakdown structures wbs are a key component in the project planning process, regardless of industry or discipline. What is a work breakdown structure wbs example included. The number of the levels required for the wbs project management template xls will be depend on the characteristics of the project, but the levels must be sufficient to meet the project managers needs for the accurate estimating and the effective project monitoring. Applying work breakdown structure to project lifecycle pmi. The wbs organizes the projects total scope while reflecting the work specifiedhelping practitioners standardize how they track projects and. How to create a work breakdown structure projectengineer. The project management body of knowledge pmbok 5 defines the workbreakdown structure a hierarchical decomposition of the. Work breakdown structure the wbs is a hierarchical decomposition of the total scope of work to be carried out by the project team to accomplish the project objectives and create the required deliverables. Successful project management uses planning techniques to define the project objectives in sufficient detail to. Nasa work breakdown structure wbs handbook page viii preface p. Section 2 focuses on the work breakdown structure wbs as a tool that. Detailed tasks which must be performed to satisfy the subsidiary work product goals and objectives are then identified and defined for each work product or element on which work will be performed.
Different levels helps in streamlining the risks and identifying the risks in a categorical approach where. But to confront the challenges of working in todays volatile economic environment, project managers are increasingly using. For a comprehensive list of pmi marks, contact the pmi legal department. A work breakdown structure starts with a large project or objective and breaks it down into smaller, more manageable pieces that you can reasonably evaluate and assign to teams. Work breakdown structure dictionary project management. Nov 01, 2019 nasa work breakdown structure wbs handbook page 3 set of goals and objectives which must be met in order for the project objectives to be met. Without a full and complete schedule, the project manager will be. If you fail to identify a major part of your projects work, you wont have the chance to detail it. A work breakdown structure is a higher level project artifact that supports the creation of schedules and budgets. Appendix gprocess improvement work breakdown structure. It do have different levels similar to work breakdown structure which makes rbs a very strong tool for project managers to use. Therefore, there are lots of benefits of using wbs project management. According to the project management body of knowledge pmbok, and the practice standard for work breakdown structures second edition from the project management institute pmi, the work breakdown structure can be used to effectively decompose the project scope, to improve estimating, to better control the project execution and to more.
The project schedule should reflect all of the work associated with delivering the project on time. According to the pmi, the minimum amount of information present in a work breakdown structure is. Each descending level of the wbs represents an increasingly detailed definition of the project work. The wbs is a project management tool that can be used in different ways, depending upon the needs of. The work breakdown structure dictionary is a useful resource for project management, and should be consulted for relevant information on each component of the work breakdown structure wbs. The work breakdown structure dictionary is an essential information resource for project management. It is an enabler that ensures clear definition and communication of project scope while performing a critical role as a monitoring and controlling tool. 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. In your project you will want to develop them down to a much more detailed level using the 8 to 80 rule where the wbs is broken down to where a work package contains between 8 and 80 hours of work to complete. The work breakdown structure presented here represents all the work required to complete this project. The 100% rule is an essential part of work breakdown structure methodology, in that application of this rule and its related concepts is critical in.
Successful project management uses planning techniques to define the project objectives in sufficient detail to support effective management of the project. Work breakdown structure or wbs is a hierarchical tree structure that outlines your project and breaks it down into smaller, more manageable portions. 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. T he wbs dictionary is a project management document that provides detailed information about each component in the work breakdown structure wbs. Risk breakdown structure rbs is a hierarchical representation of risks according to their risk categories. A work breakdown structure is a deliverableoriented hierarchical decomposition. A project will take longer than the scheduled time if a wbs is not available. A wbs is not a todo list consisting of everything that needs to be done on the project. The work breakdown structure is both a model and a work measurement baseline tool for project management. A work breakdown structure wbs is a deliverableoriented grouping of project. The development of work breakdown structure involves subdividing the major project activities or subactivities into smaller, more manageable activities until the activities are defined in sufficient detail to support the management and development of project works. What is wbs work breakdown structure in project management.
This paper examines how project managers can appropriately use a wbs to. Statement of work sow vs project scope statement for pmp. The work breakdown structure wbs serves as a guide for defining work as it relates to a specific projects objectives. In order to produce these deliverables, work must be performed. A brief synopsis and work breakdown structures in both word and excel and a pdf appendix of the work breakdown structure wbs example for bicycle, environmental management, government designbidbuild, oilgaspetrochemical, pharmaceutical, process improvement, process plant construction, service industry outsourcing.
A work breakdown structure is a key project deliverable that organizes the teams work into manageable sections. Its an important part of the scope management plan which is a subsidiary of the project management plan. Project management practices 2 work breakdown structure rev e, june 2003 measurablecan be used to measure progress. T he work breakdown structure wbs is a hierarchical breakdown of the complete project scope. The wbs dictionary template provided below is a somewhat comprehensive one. To save the time and to facilitate of process for creating the work breakdown structure, we have compiled the several templates that are free to download. 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. The lowest levels of wbs shows the project deliverables. The concept of work breakdown structure developed as part of the.
Project managers create a work breakdown structure wbs to define project deliverables and establish the structure to manage work to completion. Level 3 shows the major deliverables and level 4 is the. The wbs organizes the total scope of a project and reflects the work specified for the approved project scope. The importance of the wbs experienced project managers know there are many things that can go wrong in projects. This zip file contains the white paper the work breakdown structure. Work breakdown structure practice standard projectwbs vs. Pdf the work breakdown structure in software project management. The project management institute pmi defines the wbs as follows. Work breakdown structures wbs are a guide for defining work as it relates to a specific projects objectives.
Introduction to pmi numbering system for a work breakdown. Its creation process is the 4th process of scope management, coming after create scope management plan process, collect requirements process and define scope process. Report on application of project planning techniques. This book supplies project managers and team members with direction for the preliminary development and the implementation of the wbs. Adaptablesufficiently flexible so the additionelimination of work scope can be readily accommodated in the wbs framework.
Pdf the work breakdown structure in software project. Simplifying project management neellohit burghate dept. Project management institute practice standard for work. As a hierarchical decomposition of the project work, each descending level of the wbs is increasingly detailed.
The rule that states that no single element of a work breakdown structure should be less than 8 hours, or greater than 80 hours. Project managementwork breakdown structure quizlet. Feb 26, 2020 work breakdown structure the wbs is a hierarchical decomposition of the total scope of work to be carried out by the project team to accomplish the project objectives and create the required deliverables. What is work breakdown structure in project management. The work breakdown structure wbs is a vehicle for breaking an engineering project down into subproject, tasks, subtasks, work packages, and so on. Applying the work breakdown structure to the project. Nov 26, 2019 what pmi and the guide to the project management body of knowledge, the pmbok guide, says a work breakdown structure is deliverableoriented hierarchical decompositions so that were breaking something apart of the work to be executed by the team to accomplish the project objectives and create the required deliverables. Mar 19, 20 the work breakdown structure is to the project what the blueprints are to the product, a guide for getting it realized. 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. Looking for report on application of project planning techniques.
Jun 01, 2005 nasa work breakdown structure wbs handbook page viii preface p. Project professionals use a wbs to define project deliverables and establish the structure. Due to ever changing circumstances, the work breakdown structure dictionary is. Work breakdown structure relativistic heavy ion collider. Work breakdown structure wbs the building blocks of a schedule start with a work breakdown structure wbs. The practice standard for work breakdown structuressecond edition supplies project managers and team members with direction for the preliminary development and the implementation of the wbs. Even though the term work breakdown structure has been used as a label for all project scope hierarchical diagrams, there are, in practice, many types other than deliverable oriented structures. A wbs shows the complete scope of the project broken down into manageable deliverables. The 100% rule is an essential part of work breakdown structure methodology, in that application of this rule and its related concepts is critical in assuring the usefulness and accuracy of its application.
A work breakdown structure defines all the things a project needs to accomplish, organized into multiple levels, and displayed graphically. In wrike, you can build a wbs by creating folders and subfolders, and can even go further to divide individual tasks into subtasks. Its creation process is the 4th process of scope management, coming after create scope management plan process. The wbs is a hierarchical reflection of all the work in the project in terms of deliverables. The scope of a project and the totality of the work are defined in the wbs, and failing to do so early can result in rework, schedule impacts, resource misallocations. The work breakdown structure is to the project what the blueprints are to the product, a guide for getting it realized. Nasa work breakdown structure wbs handbook page 3 set of goals and objectives which must be met in order for the project objectives to be met. The project management institute pmi project management body of knowledge pmbok defines a. This is a way of describing the work so that the team knows exactly what work is. The work breakdown structure wbs has long served as a valuable tool in helping project managers plan deliverables and detail project scope. How to create a work breakdown structure wbs in project.
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 items at the lowest level of a branch are known as work packages. Work breakdown structure certified associate in project. Practice standard for work breakdown structures third edition 2019. The wbs organizes the projects total scope while reflecting. The wbs dictionary includes entries for each wbs component that briefly defines the scope or statement of the work, defines deliverables, contains a list of associated activities, and provides a list of. In the similar vein, the level of the detail will vary, but one the option is to follow the 880 rule, which means that lowest. The work breakdown structure wbs has long served as a valuable tool in helping. The work breakdown structure wbs is a foundation tool for effective project management and yet its creation is often undertaken without appropriate team involvement or buyin. It is the connecting point for work and cost estimates, schedule information, actual work effortcost expenditures, and accountability. Hanna 3 work breakdown structure example level level work breakdown structure. Understanding breakdown structures in project management. Develop standard pm wbs templates for all types of infrastructure and non infrastructure projects, based on the onq methodology and.
Typically, a project work breakdown structure is a framework that combines data, product or services or a culmination of all. Practice standard for work breakdown structures 2006. A workbreakdown structure wbs in project management and systems engineering, is a deliverableoriented breakdown of a project into smaller components. Although i have listed the wbs under scope management, because it helps prevent unnecessary changes to the project also known as preventing scope creep, but it helps in every knowledge area. A guide to the project management body of knowledge pmbok guide sixth edition. Building on that work, pmi publishedthe pmbokstandards in 1987. Note also that the project scope statement together with work breakdown structure wbs and wbs dictionary form the scope baseline. Work breakdown structures mosaic project services pty ltd.
Preferably an identification number, for reference. Practice standard for work breakdown structures second edition. These two terms are often confused in realworld practice as project managers may use the two terms interchangeably to refer to documentation containing all the work to be done for the project. It provides guidance and universal principles for the initial generation, subsequent development, and application of the work breakdown structure wbs. Activities by cindy berg, pmp, and kim colenso, pmp pm network, april 2000. How to create a work breakdown structure lucidchart blog. Is it completely separate from the dependency network, with nothing in common, or do these two key project management tools share some common elements.
Specifically, the planning process group begins with three essential steps. What pmi and the guide to the project management body of knowledge, the pmbok guide, says a work breakdown structure is deliverableoriented hierarchical decompositions so that were breaking something apart of the work to be executed by the team to accomplish the project objectives and create the required deliverables. A brief synopsis and work breakdown structures in both word and excel and a pdf appendix of the work breakdown structure wbs example for bicycle, environmental management, government designbidbuild, oilgaspetrochemical, pharmaceutical, process improvement, process plant construction, service. 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. Unfortunately, the business pressures driving projects have often prevented project managers from developing a comprehensive wbs. Practice standard for work breakdown structures mba.
This work breakdown structure example shows that all the elements are listed under wbs levels. The following discussion will examine the current trends and practice regarding work breakdown structures. Practice standard for work breakdown structures third. Sep 06, 2017 work breakdown structure is the especially useful for the bigger projects that involve in the many elements. 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. As seen in the pmp training, work breakdown structure of a project shows the hierarchy of the project work and deliverables in a project. Thinking in detail is critical when planning your project, but you also need to consider the big picture. 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. Rather than focusing on individual actions that must be taken to accomplish a project, a wbs generally focuses on deliverables or concrete, measurable milestones. How to draw a work breakdown structure in less than a minute duration. It should be consulted before commencing any work component in order to insure that proper standards, procedures, and quality control measures are being followed. Tasks and activities will be grouped under these lowest levels. This structure paves the way for a lot of important tasks that can be charted before the start of a project.
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