Work Breakdown Structure

A Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is a critical project management tool that helps in organizing and managing a project’s scope by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable tasks. Here’s a summary of the WBS:

Workplan Overview

• Definition: A dynamic and sequential list of all tasks needed to complete a project.
• Creation Timing: Developed after the project manager has a general understanding of the project’s size and rough schedule.
• Usage: Typically the main component in project management software applications.

Approaches to Creating a WBS

1. Modify Existing or Completed Projects:

   • Use the structure of similar, past projects as a reference.
   • Adapt tasks and elements from previous projects to fit the new project’s requirements.

2. Derive Tasks from Methodology:

   • Follow a specific project management methodology (e.g., Agile, Waterfall) to define tasks.
   • Ensure that the WBS aligns with the chosen methodology’s framework and processes.

Example Work Breakdown Structure Table

Here’s an example table illustrating a Work Breakdown Structure:

Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

Task ID	Task Name	Start Date	Completion Date	Person Assigned	Deliverable(s)	Completion Status	Priority	Resources Needed	Estimated Time	Actual Time
1	Define Project Scope	Jan 1, 2010	Jan 4, 2010	John Doe	Project Scope Document	Complete	High	Document template	8 hours	7.5 hours
2	Perform Economic Feasibility	Jan 5, 2010	Jan 19, 2010	Mary Smith	Cost-benefit Analysis	Complete	High	Spreadsheet software	16 hours	14.5 hours
3	Develop Project Plan	Jan 20, 2010	Feb 5, 2010	Alice Johnson	Project Plan Document	In Progress	Medium	Project management tool	20 hours	-
4	Review and Approve Plan	Feb 6, 2010	Feb 10, 2010	Robert Brown	Approved Project Plan	Pending	High	-	8 hours	-
5	Execute Project Tasks	Feb 11, 2010	Mar 15, 2010	Various	Progress Reports	Not Started	High	Various	-	-
6	Monitor and Control Project	Feb 11, 2010	Mar 15, 2010	David Lee	Status Reports	Not Started	High	Monitoring tools	-	-
7	Project Closure	Mar 16, 2010	Mar 20, 2010	Emily Davis	Final Report	Not Started	Medium	Final report template	12 hours	-

Key Points

• Workplan: Essential for tracking and managing the project, ensuring that all tasks are accounted for and deadlines are met.
• Dynamic Nature: The WBS should be updated regularly as the project progresses and as more information becomes available.
• Task Derivation: Tasks can be derived from previous projects or methodologies to ensure completeness and relevance.

The WBS helps in organizing the project into manageable sections, making it easier to assign tasks, track progress, and ensure that all aspects of the project are addressed.