Nov 02, 2015 the work breakdown structure wbs is used in project management to identify and organize the tasks needed in which to complete a project successfully. Haugan, now retired, has a long history in project management starting with dod projects in 1960. A project network is a graphic flow chart of a project job plan that is developed from the work breakdown structure wbs. Difference between wbs and network erp scm community wiki. The diagram starts with a single box or other graphic at the top to represent the entire project.
Process plant construction work breakdown structure wbs. The term contract work breakdown structure refers to the specific portion of he work breakdown structure that has been associated with a specific project that as been developed and is currently being maintained by the seller in is process of attempting to deliver a subproject or project component to the buyer. Use the method described in the snapshot from practice. Work breakdown structure a tool to effectively manage projects. Project work breakdown structure wbs september 28, 2012. Wbs refers to a deliverableoriented hierarchical decomposition of the work to be executed by the project team to accomplish the project objectives and create the required deliverables. Therefore, one should take creating wbs as a critical step in the process of project management. It made clear the relationship between deliverables and activities but the organization relationship was not at all clear. 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.
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. The work breakdown structure wbs is used in project management to identify and organize the tasks needed in which to complete a project successfully. Description the wbs predecessors field lists the work breakdown structure wbs codes associated with the predecessor tasks on which the task depends before it can start or finish. What is work breakdown structure in project management. An example of this would be the subcontracting of a specific activity. Work breakdown structures bernd bruegge applied software engineering. The network diagram is a schedule but is used primarily to identify key scheduling information that ultimately goes into userfriendly schedule formats, such as milestone and gantt charts the network diagram provides important information to the project team. 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. 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. The project management project summary breakdown structure refers to a project management tool that is used for the purposes of providing the project management team and or the project management team leader with a detailed and designed work breakdown structure for the given project in question. Work breakdown structure is a technique to draw the structure of the process that needs to be done in the project. The primary requirement or objective appears at the top, with increasingly specific elements appearing beneath it. Contract work breakdown structure project management. The efficiency of a work breakdown structure can determine the success of a project.
Construction phase work breakdown structure construction initiation addenda construction operations construction completion asbuilt plans bids advertisement communications project briefing meeting minutes public outreach meeting minutes construction bidx posting of addenda contractor addenda acknowledgement advertising memo bidx posting goals. Is it completely separate from the dependency network, with nothing in common, or do these two key project management tools share some common elements. Project managementwork breakdown structure quizlet. Unfortunately, the business pressures driving projects have often prevented project managers from developing a comprehensive wbs. The work breakdown structure is the tool used to divide the project work content among individ uals and organizations so that ef ciency and effectiveness will be achieved while ensuring the inte gration of work efforts to produce the project required deliverables. The work breakdown structure is the tool used to divide the project work content among individ uals and organizations so that ef ciency and effectiveness will be achieved while ensuring the inte gration of work efforts to produce the projectrequired deliverables. This is done via work breakdown structure elements wbs elements that are located at different levels and structure the project hierarchically an advantage of a hierarchical structure is that within the structure, data can be inherited or distributed in. Within standardized project management practices, the specification of project tasks and activities is referred to as a work breakdown structure wbs. Oct 29, 20 work breakdown structures enable you to map the structure of a project in the sap system.
This module defines and illustrates the work breakdown structure wbs, wbs dictionary, organizational breakdown structure obs and responsibility assignment matrix ram. By viewing a wbs, project stakeholders can visualize and understand the individual work packages that must be completed in order to finish the project and achieve project closure. The yellow sticky approach to create a network for this project. Figures 1 and 2 provide examples of a wbs for the building of a table.
Not so good for displaying work breakdown structures to audiences who are not familiar with the project. Development of hybrid product breakdown structure for nasa. Work breakdown structures enable you to map the structure of a project in the sap system. Work breakdown structures objectoriented software engineering. Use pdf export for high quality prints and svg export for large sharp images or embed your diagrams anywhere with the creately viewer. It is the connecting point for work and cost estimates, schedule information, actual work effortcost expenditures, and accountability. Work breakdown structure guide technical report osti.
A work breakdown structure showing it network upgrade. 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. By using a systematic process of creating a work breakdown structure, project team members can help to ensure they remember all major portions of work to be accomplished. The wbs is an essential project planning deliverable, serving as the very foundation of the project plan. What is the difference between the wbs and the project. The work breakdown structure is normally developed by listing major deliverables and then progressively smaller ones. Building barbies dream house work breakdown structure. Oct 27, 2016 managers use wbs to break down their projects into easily manageable components. You can edit this work breakdown structure using creately diagramming tool and include in your reportpresentationwebsite. Creating the network diagram open textbooks for hong kong. Except for this hierarchical usage, activity is synonymous with task.
A wbs is a productoriented grouping of project elements that organizes and defines the total scope of the project. Approaches to develop work breakdown structures product component approach structure the work based on the work products examples. Project summary breakdown structure project management. The work breakdown structure wbs has long served as a valuable tool in helping project managers plan deliverables and detail project scope. The following discussion will examine the current trends and practice regarding work breakdown structures. Using planned outcomes to formulate your work breakdown structure. This module focuses on the work breakdown structure wbs and other planning elements. Creately diagrams can be exported and added to word, ppt powerpoint, excel, visio or any other document.
A wbs is a subdivision of work into logicalrelated categories based on deliverables. Structure the work based on the work products activityoriented approach structure the work based on development activities and project functions geographical area approach structure the work based on geographical location organizational approach structure the work based on organizational structure. The purpose of this document is to provide project managers and team members with an overview of the requirements for an office relocation. The rule that states that no single element of a work breakdown structure should be less than 8 hours, or greater than 80 hours. The ground operations product breakdown structure needs to be able to identify the. Process plant construction work breakdown structure wbs example. Aug 04, 20 a work breakdown structure is a document that illustrates the work involved in a project, and shows how that work relates to other work on the project. Construction phase work breakdown structure construction initiation addenda construction operations construction completion asbuilt plans bids advertisement communications project briefing meeting minutes public outreach meeting minutes construction bidx posting of addenda contractor addenda acknowledgement advertising. The importance of the wbs experienced project managers know there are many things that can go wrong in projects. Managers use wbs to break down their projects into easily manageable components. Design documents, manuals, the delivered system, functional approach structure the work based on development activities and project functions examples. Merger acquisition joint venture owner a owner b ex comp. Activities by cindy berg, pmp, and kim colenso, pmp pm network, april 2000 does the wbs include activities, or should it.
Decomposing your planned outcomes helps to set the hierarchy of the project so that your stakeholders and team members know what to expect and when. Work breakdown structure element dictionary construction. Despite the nomenclature used by ms project, they are not one and the same. The aggregation of all the work to be performed in a project. Each descending level of the wbs represents an increasingly detailed description. Schedule i cant count the number of times i have been asked to provide a work breakdown structure wbs but what they wanted was a project schedule. The wbs is not a schedule, but it is the basis for it. Project managementwork breakdown structure flashcards.
A brief synopsis, a process plant construction work breakdown structure in both word and excel, and a pdf appendix of the process plant construction work breakdown structure wbs example. Establishing a work breakdown structure, focused on the preparation of a work breakdown structure wbs which serves as the foundation for a final. The document used to define the scope of a project is the work breakdown structure wbs. The wbs provides the foundation for all project management work, including, planning, cost and effort estimation, resource allocation, and scheduling. Work breakdown structure element dictionary construction procedures are subject to change without notice. A wbs diagram expresses the project scope in simple graphic terms.
Continue to break tasks down into manageable work packages. Work breakdown structure practice standard projectwbs vs. One work breakdown structure example that will make it clear. It only calls for those tasks needed, and only those tasks needed, in which to reach a successful outcome pmbok, 20. 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. Each predecessor is linked to the task by a specific type of task dependency and a lead time or lag time. Understanding breakdown structures in project management. Office relocation plan work breakdown structure the. Each level of the wbs represents an increasingly detailed description of the project work by activity. Work breakdown structure or wbs is a hierarchical tree structure that outlines your project and breaks it down into smaller, more manageable portions.
Once the elements of the wbs have been defined, resource requirements are determined for each element. Is the organization breakdown structure the deliverables. These resources are presented from the pmi practice standard for work breakdown. Although the work breakdown structure wbs is one of project managements primary tools for effectively managing a project, many project managers develop their wbss haphazardlyand frequently, without the involvement of their teams and without the support of their senior managers. Module 2 work breakdown structure department of energy. But to confront the challenges of working in todays volatile economic environment, project managers are increasingly using. Work breakdown structure a tool to effectively manage. This office relocation plan document can also be used as a checklist in support of an existing office relocation project. This paper examines how project managers can develop a better wbs through. Applying the work breakdown structure to the project. Typically the project summary breakdown structure is only developed to a. The work breakdown structure wbs provides a view of your project based on activities.
The work breakdown structure wbs is the key in getting to the planned outcome of your project. The technique provides a framework for project management by focusing on the products that are being developed or constructed to. A task may be of any size a project is a very large task. Applying work breakdown structure to project lifecycle. Construction project management flashcards quizlet. It only calls for those tasks needed, and only those tasks needed, in which. These components are further decomposed until a required person from the team can be assigned. Check the capital project delivery website to ensure this is the current version. Wbs is a hierarchical model of all the work required to produce the projects outputs. Project management this article is the completion of a blog published in march which discussed the third critical step necessary for a successful program. The lowest level describes a package of work that can be. Project scope work breakdown structure and the procurement plan.
Work breakdown structureyou can edit this template and create your own diagram. A work breakdown structure is a document that illustrates the work involved in a project, and shows how that work relates to other work on the project. Using planned outcomes to formulate your work breakdown. Lets assume some software consists of 6 components where a, b, c are server side components and d, e, f are clientside components different user interfaces. Proper work breakdown structure full sail partners. It network upgrade editable work breakdown structure. In wrike, you can build a wbs by creating folders and subfolders, and can even go further to divide individual tasks into subtasks. Product breakdown structure is a hybrid in nature in that some aspects of a work breakdown structure will be incorporated and merged with the architecture concept of operations, master subsystem list, customer interface, and assigned management responsibility. Work breakdown structure plugin visualizes projects, tasks, and subtasks in a mind map like form showing decomposition of the work to be executed by the project team. P a g e 3 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.