A brief synopsis and work breakdown structures in both word and excel and a pdf appendix of the work breakdown structure wbs example for bicycle, environmental management, government designbidbuild, oilgaspetrochemical, pharmaceutical, process improvement, process plant construction, service. The wbs is a method for getting a complex, multistep project done. Preparing the project plan and developing the work breakdown structure wbs. Learn work breakdown structure wbs pmp based on pmbok. As seen in the pmp training, work breakdown structure of a project shows the hierarchy of the project work and deliverables in a project. The work breakdown structure wbs provides a structural view into the project. 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. It maps the deliverables of the project with sub deliverables and other components stemming from each major deliverable in a tree or chart format. Project scope statement project management professional. 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. The work breakdown structure wbs is a view into the project which shows what work the project encompasses. In this approach, the wbs is derived by decomposing the overall project into subprojects or lowerlevel tasks. Therefore, there are lots of benefits of using wbs project management.
In wrike, you can build a wbs by creating folders and subfolders, and can even go further to divide individual tasks into subtasks. Create wbs is a process for project scope management. The requirements provide detailed information about the objectives, needs, and expectations. In addition, using a work breakdown structure approach summarizes project information to improve the opportunity for use of historical information, which, can aid in both speed and accuracy of future projects. Successful project management uses planning techniques to define the project objectives in sufficient detail to. Its a way to divide and conquer large projects so you can get things done faster and more efficiently. The pmp certification exam will expect you to have a working knowledge of the create wbs outputs. Its creation process is the 4th process of scope management, coming after create scope management plan process, collect requirements process and define scope process. Wbs has many benefits that will ease project teams work during the project life cycle.
What are the 4 wbs levels and the relationship between them. Lets go over the definition in details deliverable oriented wbs focuses on work to be delivered rather than tasks needed to accomplish the work. This zip file contains the white paper the work breakdown structure. Feb 22, 2014 learn to break project into smaller components which can be managed effectively. 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.
Nov 26, 2019 what pmi and the guide to the project management body of knowledge, the pmbok guide, says a work breakdown structure is deliverableoriented hierarchical decompositions so that were breaking something apart of the work to be executed by the team to accomplish the project objectives and create the required deliverables. The primary aim of create wbs process is to provide a hierarchical organization chart for better depiction of project scope for activities, costs, quality, risks, etc. 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 project schedule should reflect all of the work associated with delivering the project on time. According to the project management body of knowledge pmbok, and the practice standard for work breakdown structures second edition from the project management institute pmi, the work breakdown structure can be used to effectively decompose the project scope, to improve estimating, to better control the project execution and to more. You wont find the problem if you cant isolate the defective part, and you cant fix the problem if the defective part is not separated from the main engine a work breakdown structure wbs represents this division of a project into constituent tasks. Work breakdown structure is the foundation of the project as seen in the project management professional certification training.
The work breakdown structure wbs has long served as a valuable tool in helping project managers plan deliverables and detail project scope. So for the purpose of the pmp exam, just focus on activities as the steps taken to produce the deliverable within each work package. The 100% rule is an essential part of work breakdown structure methodology, in that application of this rule and its related concepts is critical in assuring the usefulness and accuracy of its application. Work breakdown structure wbs, the basic building block. The wbs organizes the projects total scope while reflecting.
But to confront the challenges of working in todays volatile economic environment, project managers are increasingly using. Once you have the pmp, you need to consider how youre applying the processes, tools, and techniques to projects. A wbs defines the total scope of work required to complete the project. Pdf the work breakdown structure in software project. Creating the pmp work breakdown structure wbs if you have ever mapped out a family tree, then in the pmbok process create wbs. What pmi and the guide to the project management body of knowledge, the pmbok guide, says a work breakdown structure is deliverableoriented hierarchical decompositions so that were breaking something apart of the work to be executed by the team to accomplish the project objectives and create the required deliverables. The work breakdown structure is both a model and a work measurement baseline tool for project management. The wbs is a hierarchical decomposition of the total scope of work to be carried out by the project team to accomplish the project objectives and create the required deliverables pmi, 20, p. Learn to break project into smaller components which can be managed effectively.
Project management is like fixing a car you must break it down into parts. In the similar vein, the level of the detail will vary, but one the option is to follow the 880 rule, which means that lowest. You have to understand the pmp exam structure if you are going to attempt the exam. Simplifying project management neellohit burghate dept. Work breakdown structure project management institute pmi. A project will take longer than the scheduled time if a wbs is not available. How to create a work breakdown structure projectengineer.
Although i have listed the wbs under scope management, because it helps prevent unnecessary changes to the project also known as preventing scope creep, but it helps in every knowledge area. A workbreakdown structure wbs in project management and systems engineering, is a deliverableoriented breakdown of a project into smaller components. Feb 26, 2020 work breakdown structure the wbs is a hierarchical decomposition of the total scope of work to be carried out by the project team to accomplish the project objectives and create the required deliverables. It is the same as product breakdown structure, organization breakdown structure. 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. Use the wbs to define the work for the project and to develop the projects schedule. The project schedule is the tool that communicates what work needs to be performed, which resources of the organization will perform the work and the timeframes in which that work needs to be performed. Create work breakdown structure wbs all projects large and small require a wbs.
The project manager and project team use the wbs to develop the project schedule, resource requirements and costs. One means for managing the planning and monitoring of resources, schedules and costs is the work breakdown structure wbs. It is used to develop or confirm a common understanding of project scope. Project success is the ultimate goal for any project manager. Project professionals use a wbs to define project deliverables and establish the structure. It do have different levels similar to work breakdown structure which makes rbs a very strong tool for project managers to use. The bible for the creation of a wbs is the practice standard for work breakdown structures, published by the project management institute pmi. Pmi pba pmp analysis domain work breakdown structure youtube. A wbs shows the complete scope of the project broken down into manageable deliverables. It is a tabular or graphical representation of the tasks. Work breakdown structure is a must to have in any project. What is a work breakdown structure wbs example included.
What is work breakdown structure in project management. Please use blue or black ink and print all information carefully in the boxes using capital letters. The items at the lowest level of a branch are known as work packages. The project management term organizational breakdown structure also referred to by the 3 letter acronym obs refers specifically to a tool that can be utilized by the project management team and or project management team leader in a hierarchal manner for the purposes of conducting and creating a thorough and clearly delineated depiction of the project organization for the purposes of.
Sep 06, 2017 work breakdown structure is the especially useful for the bigger projects that involve in the many elements. Project management professional certification pmp pmi. Learn work breakdown structure wbs pmp based on pmbok 5. Work breakdown structure wbs, the basic building block for a project plan.
Work breakdown structures wbs are a guide for defining work as it relates to a specific projects objectives. A wbs also provides the necessary framework for detailed cost estimating and control along with providing guidance. Pmi prefers that you apply using the online certification system at pmi. The work breakdown structure is to the project what the blueprints are to the product, a guide for getting it realized. Successful project management uses planning techniques to define the project objectives in sufficient detail to support effective management of the project. To effectively accomplish this they must possess a robust toolkit of project management techniques. Project management institute practice standard for work. It is a tool which helps to easily communicate the work and processes involved to execute the project. Practice standard for work breakdown structures 2006.
You should use the additional fields in ms project to provide. Each descending level of the wbs represents an increasingly detailed definition of the project work. The work breakdown structure provides a common framework for the natural development of the overall planning and control of a contract and is the basis for dividing work into definable increments from which the statement of work can be developed and technical, schedule, cost, and labor hour reporting can be established. A wbs is a planning tool that is used after the project charter is finalized. Work breakdown structure certified associate in project. The topdown approach, in my opinion, generates a complete and more accurate wbs. Create wbs vs decomposition for pmp exam updated pmp, pmi. Pmi pba pmp analysis domain work breakdown structure. A wbs defines the total scope of the project hierarchically.
This is a way of describing the work so that the team knows exactly what work is. It is an essential tool for planning and executing the project. The pmp certification establishes a common language among project managers and helps each other work within a common framework. Thinking in detail is critical when planning your project, but you also need to consider the big picture. It is a hierarchical structure of overall project work. Work breakdown structures wbs are a key component in the project planning process, regardless of industry or discipline. Understanding breakdown structures in project management. Its creation process is the 4th process of scope management, coming after create scope management plan process. Oct 01, 2018 there are essentially two ways to create a work breakdown structure the topdown or the bottomup approach.
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. The project scope statement provides an overview of the entire project scope and is important to know for the pmp certification exam. It is the connecting point for work and cost estimates, schedule information, actual work effortcost expenditures, and accountability. There are 9 tricks to creating work breakdown structures that will establish the foundation for a successful project. Work breakdown structure the wbs is a hierarchical decomposition of the total scope of work to be carried out by the project team to accomplish the project objectives and create the required deliverables. Each level represents an increasingly detailed description of the deliverables in the project. Without a full and complete schedule, the project manager will be. Work breakdown structure or wbs is a hierarchical tree structure that outlines your project and breaks it down into smaller, more manageable portions. The development of work breakdown structure involves subdividing the major project activities or subactivities into smaller, more manageable activities until the activities are defined in sufficient detail to support the management and development of project works. Work breakdown structure pmp guide by vishpala kadam, pmp. The work breakdown structure is a repeatable process that can be used as a template for future projects. Different levels helps in streamlining the risks and identifying the risks in a categorical approach where. One means for managing the planning and monitoring of resources, schedules.
Mar 19, 20 the work breakdown structure is to the project what the blueprints are to the product, a guide for getting it realized. Wbs outputs for the pmp certification exam dummies. Work breakdown structure is a deliverable oriented hierarchical decomposition of work to be executed by project team to accomplish the project objective. Here are a couple of samples of a wbs for a childcare center so you can see different approaches. Applying the work breakdown structure to the project management lifecycle shelly a. A guide to the project management body of knowledge pmbok guide sixth edition. To save the time and to facilitate of process for creating the work breakdown structure, we have compiled the several templates that are free to download. Apr 27, 2020 what are the 4 wbs levels and the relationship between them. Understanding the risk breakdown structure rbs for pmp. The project management body of knowledge pmbok 5 defines the workbreakdown structure a hierarchical decomposition of the. Dec 10, 2019 you have to understand the pmp exam structure if you are going to attempt the exam. Practice standard for work breakdown structures third edition 2019. Task 1 develop the work breakdown structure wbs, organizational breakdown structure obs, control accounts ca, and work packages through communication with subject matter experts and stakeholders and analysis of.
A work breakdown structure is a higher level project artifact that supports the creation of schedules and budgets. It helps to better manage, estimate, coordinate and monitor the project. What are the 4 types of breakdown structures defined in pmbok. Scope baseline is a combination of project scope statement and wbs and wbs dictionary. Scope baseline is a part of the project management plan. Norman, pmp, pgmp introduction today, project managers are more frequently finding high value in the creation of work breakdown structures wbs as they begin the process of project management. The number of the levels required for the wbs project management template xls will be depend on the characteristics of the project, but the levels must be sufficient to meet the project managers needs for the accurate estimating and the effective project monitoring. If you fail to identify a major part of your projects work, you wont have the chance to detail it. Applying work breakdown structure to project lifecycle pmi. A brief synopsis and work breakdown structures in both word and excel and a pdf appendix of the work breakdown structure wbs example for bicycle, environmental management, government designbidbuild, oilgaspetrochemical, pharmaceutical, process improvement, process plant construction, service industry outsourcing. Project management free templates by project management docs. Wbs project management subdivides project deliverables and project work. It provides guidance and universal principles for the initial generation, subsequent development, and application of the work breakdown structure wbs.
In pmi terminology these are called work packages that define the amount of work that can be tracked by the. Project management plan 5 baseline 6 requirements management plan 8 change management plan 9 change control system 140 configuration management plan 140 configuration management system 141 process improvement plan 141 summary of steps 142 project documents 144 project management plan approval 144 kickoff meeting 145. Activities involved in decomposition of the total project into wp how can a wbs be structured as. Work breakdown structure wbs project management docs. There are essentially two ways to create a work breakdown structure the topdown or the bottomup approach. Project scope statement project management professional pmp. The work breakdown structure wbs is a vehicle for breaking an engineering project down into subproject, tasks, subtasks, work packages, and so on. The pmp renewal date will be set equal to the existing pgmp renewal date. The pmp exam questions are distributed throughout these phases, in addition to another domain, which is known as professional conduct and code of ethics. Applying the work breakdown structure to the project. The 100% rule is an essential part of work breakdown structure methodology, in that application of this rule and its related concepts is critical in. A work breakdown structure is a key project deliverable that organizes the teams work into manageable sections. Creating a work breakdown structure wbs helps you be both comprehensive and specific when managing a project.
Unfortunately, the business pressures driving projects have often prevented project managers from developing a comprehensive wbs. The deliverables and their component subdeliverables are represented on the. A wbs is a logical grouping of project deliverables arranged in a hierarchical structure. If you have ever mapped out a family tree, then in the pmbok process create wbs.
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