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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?