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WORK BREAKDOWN STRUCTUREWORK BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE

Work Sustained physical or mental effort to overcome obstacles and achieve an

objective.

Breakdown To divide in categories

Structure Something arranged in definite pattern organization

WBS as per PMBOK Guide 2002

A deliverable-oriented grouping of Project elements that organizes and defines

the total work scope of the project. Each descending level represents an

increasingly detailed definition of the project work.

The WBS is used in projects to define

The Projects work in terms of deliverable and further decomposition of these

deliverables in smaller components

WBS is basis for

All the effort and cost to be expended

Responsibility assignment

WBS may be

Internally Focused produces deliverables and inputs to other project stepswithin company

Externally Focused produces deliverables and outputs to other project steps

outside company

Characteristics of WBS:

Representative of work as an activity

Arrange in hierarchical structure

Has objective or tangible result

Project Scope Definition

The process required to ensure that the project includes all the work required,

and only the work required, to complete the project successfully.

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Goals of WBS according to above definition

Ensure project includes all work needed

Ensure project doesnt include unnecessary work

WBS is primary input to

Activity Definition

Resource Planning

Cost Estimating

Cost Budgeting

Risk Management Planning

Thought when developing WBS

Think through the entire project

Think deliverables

Think with the end in mind

Think through the production of deliverables.

Steps for general process of WBS generation

Identify final product

Define products major deliverables

Decomposition of major deliverables

Decompose major deliverables to appropriate level of details

Review, refine WBS

Factors to be considered

Each WBS element shows tangible deliverable

Each subordinate belongs to one single parent

Deliverables are logically decomposed

Deliverables are unique and distinct

Deliverables are clearly defined

Deliverables limited in size and definition

All deliverables are explicitly included in WBS

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WBS Level of Details

Is there need to improve accuracy of cost and duration estimate?

Is more than one person or group responsible for WBS element?

Does WBS include more than one type of work process?

Are there dependencies between deliverables within WBS element to another? Do resource requirement changes over time within WBS?

Are clear Criteria missing for measuring progress?

Are there specific risks that require to be focused?

Can a portion of work to be performed in WBS element can be scheduled as unit?

Is the WBS element clearly and completely understood by all stake holders?

Relation between Project Risk and the WBS

Are the deliverables completely and clearly defined?

Will the quality of work be evaluated by testing?

What is the likelihood of change? Is technology is changing faster than the project can be accomplished?

Is excessive contracting expected?

Is management committed to project?

Are requirements defined and approved?

Has a formal change process has been developed?

Have metrics been defined?

Have resource requirement been identified?

Are third part dependency understood?

Have alternate suppliers of required products been identified?