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Project Management – PMBOK®
Work Breakdown Structure
(WBS)
Dr Marc Conrad
Office: D104 – Park Square
Marc.Conrad@beds.ac.uk
13.04.2015
Marc Conrad
University of Bedfordshire
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Project Management Processes
(Initiation)
Project Management Plan
Initiation
Scope
WBS
(definition)
Project Charter
Cost
Time
Human Resources
(estimates, …)
(activity diagrams, …)
(RACI matrix, …)
•
Also to consider: Quality, Risk,
Communication, Procurement, Integration
(PMBOK® knowledge areas)
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The Work Breakdown Structure in the
PMBOK®
From the file
ITO2008.ppt
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The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
•
•
•
•
Used as a basis for a number of processes in
particular to produce the subsidiary plans of the
Project Management Plan.
The WBS is a deliverable-oriented hierarchy of
decomposed project components that organises and
defines the total scope of the project. The WBS is a
representation of the detailed project scope
statement that specifies the work to be
accomplished by the project.
The elements comprising the WBS assist the
stakeholders in viewing the end product of the
project.
The work at the lowest-level WBS component is
estimated, scheduled, and tracked.
13.04.2015
Marc Conrad
University of Bedfordshire
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The Dictionary of the WBS
•
•
•
A WBS dictionary is a companion document to the
WBS that describes each WBS element. For each WBS
element, the WBS dictionary includes a statement of
work, a list of associated activities, and a list of
milestones.
Other information can include the responsible
organisation, start and end dates, resources required,
an estimate of cost, charge number, contract
information, quality requirements, and technical
references.
WBS elements should be cross-referenced as
appropriate.
13.04.2015
Marc Conrad
University of Bedfordshire
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• Redecorate Room
 Prepare materials
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



Example WBS

Prepare room







Remove old wallpaper
Remove detachable decorations
Cover floor with old newspapers
Cover electrical outlets/switches with tape
Cover furniture with sheets
Paint the room
Clean up the room




13.04.2015
Buy paint
Buy a ladder
Buy brushes/rollers
Buy wallpaper remover
Dispose or store left over paint
Clean brushes/rollers
Dispose of old newspapers
Remove covers
Marc Conrad
University of Bedfordshire
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Developing the WBS
• Divide the total work of the project into
major groups...
• ...then subdivide these groups into
tasks...
• ...then divide these tasks into sub-tasks
• Subtasks should be small enough to
permit adequate control and visibility
• But avoid excess bureaucracy!
13.04.2015
Marc Conrad
University of Bedfordshire
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Product Breakdown Structure
• Redecorated Room


• Focus on the product
to be delivered and not
on the work to do.
• Underpins PRINCE2®
“product-based”
approach.
13.04.2015


Removed old wallpaper
Clean room
 Cover for furniture
 Cover for electrical
switches
 Newspapers to cover
floor.
Paint
 Paint on wall
 Leftover paint
Management products
 Ladder
 Brushes and rollers
Marc Conrad
University of Bedfordshire
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“Scope Breakdown Structure”
(Max Wideman’s approach)
•
•
•
•
Geographically discrete components
Time based phases and stages
Intermediate or final major deliverables
Discrete structural, process, system or device
components
• Deliverable elements that can be associated
with distinctive types of people-skills or
resources
• After that, break down the work as in the WBS
Recommended
Reading!
13.04.2015
http://www.maxwideman.com/musings/wbswar.htm
Marc Conrad
University of Bedfordshire
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Scope Breakdown Structure
(Max Wideman redecorates a room)
• Redecorated Room

Painted wall




• Note the noun
phrases on the top
levels (scope
breakdown) and
the activities on
the lower levels!

Buy paint
Buy ladder
Buy brushes or rollers
Paint room
New curtains

…
• Content Family


A clean room


Cover floor with old newspapers
Cover electrical outlets/switches with tape

Cover furniture with sheets
Dinner in a restaurant


13.04.2015
…
Decision on colours
Marc Conrad
 of Bedfordshire
…
University
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Summary
• The WBS is used to define the
activities that are then further
managed.
• Consider alternatives:



Work Breakdown Structure
Product Breakdown Structure
Scope Breakdown Structure
• Use Common Sense in Breakdown the
Project.
13.04.2015
Marc Conrad
University of Bedfordshire
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