(WBS) - Work Breakdown Structure

The WBS (work breakdown structure) is a process used in project management to identify the scope of a project and all the associated tasks that must be done to complete the project as defined. For this purpose, a results-oriented hierarchical decomposition of the work is carried out. This technology not only makes the work more accessible and manageable. It also enables the monitoring of different processes of a project, the estimation of costs and schedules and helps with team building. This led to WBS becoming one of the most important project management tools.

In the following, the author presents the different structuring techniques of a work breakdown structure. Furthermore, he describes the process of creating a work breakdown structure, the different forms of presentation as well as the advantages and limitations of a work breakdown structure and will illustrate these with examples.

Backgroud

• U.S Department of Defense 1960´s
• Developed by Nasa
• Project Management Institute (PMI) with the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK)

Fundamentals of the WBS

• Packages
• Control accounts
• Levels & coding
• WBS Dictionary
• 100% Rule

Diffrent Type-structures

• MECE Structure

Deliverable-Based WBS

• Based on tangible items

Phase-Based WBS

• Build around the project life cycle phases

System/Subsystem

• Build arround systems and subsystems that compose those systems

Mixed or Hybrid

• Incorporates two or more of the approaches mentioned above

Types of WBS Charts

• WBS List
• WBS Tree Diagram
• Gantt Chart

How to Create a Work Breakdown

• Top-down
• Bottom-up
• Yo-Yo approach

Benefits and limitation of WBS

Benefits

• Detailed illustration of scope
• Monitor progress
• Cost and schedule estimates
• Build project teams