Work Breakdown Structure - WBS
No article
WBS 4b
1
Project planning
• One of the first tasks is to break the large
tasks into small tasks.
• find identifiable parts of the tasks
• find deliverables and milestones
• measure progress.
WBS 4b
2
WBS – Tree Structure
•
•
•
•
usually a tree structure.
top level matches the life cycle model
next level should match model
further levels may be used to partition large
tasks
WBS 4b
3
WBS Tree Structure
LC model
PM
tasks
WBS 4b
4
Rule 1- clarity
• Every task and deliverable description
must be understandable and unambiguous
• The purpose of a wbs is communication
with team members. If the team members
misinterpret what the task or deliverable is
supposed to be, there will be problems.
WBS 4b
5
Rule 2 - completion
•
•
•
Every task must have a completion criterion
(often a deliverable)
There must be a way to decide when a task is
completed, because subtasks that have no
definite ending encourage false expectations of
progress.
It may be a deliverable, for example, a complete
design for the project and then a peer review can
decide if it is complete.
WBS 4b
6
Rule 3 - artifacts
•
•
WBS 4b
All deliverables (artifacts) must be
identified
A deliverable must be produced by some
tasks or it won’t be produced.
7
Rule 4 – whole task
•
•
WBS 4b
Positive completion of the tasks must
imply completion of the whole task
The purpose of the wbs is to identify the
subtasks necessary to complete the whole
task. If important tasks or deliverables are
missing, the whole task will not be
accomplished
8
Bread Making Example
• Tasks for Making Bread
• Choose ingredients, Check on
ingredients, Assemble ingredients,
Add liquids, Add yeast, Add small
amount of flour, Make sponge
(yeast and liquids), Let rise
first time, Add remaining flour,
Knead, Let rise second time, Form
into loaves, Let rise third time,
Bake, Slice, Butter, Eat, and
Clean up
WBS 4b
9
LC Model
select
food
assemble
ingredients
cook
food
eat food
clean up
WBS 4b
10
Process Model
cook
ingredients
mix
uncooked
food
cook
food
recipe
WBS 4b
11
WBS Tree
Select food
Check on ingredients
Choose ingredients
Assemble ingredients
Assemble ingredients
Cook food
mix
Cook
Add liquids
Add yeast
Add small amount of flour
Make sponge (yeast and liquids)
Let rise first time
Add remaining flour
Knead
Let rise second time
Form into loaves
Let rise third time
Bake
Eat
Slice
Butter
Eat
Clean up
Clean up
WBS 4b
12
L4bS13 - WBS
• Determine the list of tasks for the following
problem – 15 pts, due Thursday, 6/21
• Tom and Sue are starting a bed-and-breakfast in
a small New England town.
They will have 3
bedrooms for guests.
They want a system to
manage the reservations and to monitor expenses
and profits.
When a potential customer calls
for a reservation, they will check the calendar
and if there is a vacancy, they will enter the
customer name, address, phone number, dates,
agreed upon price, credit card number and room
number(s).
Reservations must be guaranteed by
one day’s payment.
• Reservations will be held without guarantee for
an agreed upon time. If not guaranteed by that
date, the reservation will be dropped.
WBS 4b
13