Defining the Activities
Outline of this Lecture
1. Common Terms
2. Work Breakdown Structure
Definition and Uses
2. Examples
3. Rules for Creating WBSs
1.
3. IEEE 1074

Standard Processes for Life Cycles

good checklist of common activities
Terms
WBS Definition
WBS Examples
WBS Creation
IEEE 1074
Jargon Alert!
Terms
WBS Definition
WBS Examples
WBS Creation
IEEE 1074
Work Breakdown Structure

“Simply stated, a WBS is a hierarchical
list of the work activities to complete a
project.” -- course textbook
Jargon Alert!

Terms
WBS Definition
WBS Examples
WBS Creation
IEEE 1074
Activity – A major unit of work to be completed
in achieving the objectives of a software project.
An activity has precise starting and ending dates,
incorporates a set of tasks to be completed,
consumes resources and results in work products.
An activity may include other activities in a
hierarchical manner.
IEEE Std 1058 – Standard for Software Project Management Plans
Jargon Alert!

Terms
WBS Definition
WBS Examples
WBS Creation
IEEE 1074
Task – The smallest unit of work subject to
management accountability. A task is a well
defined work assignment for one or more project
members. The specification of work to be
accomplished in completing a task is documented
in a work package. Related tasks are
usually grouped to form activities.
IEEE Std 1058 – Standard for Software Project Management Plans
Jargon Alert!

Terms
WBS Definition
WBS Examples
WBS Creation
IEEE 1074
Work Package – A specification for the work to
be accomplished in completing an activity or task.
A work package defines the work product(s), the
staffing requirements, the expected duration, the
resources to be used, the acceptance criteria for
the work products, the name of the responsible
individual, and any special considerations for the
work.
IEEE Std 1058 – Standard for Software Project Management Plans
Jargon Alert!

Terms
WBS Definition
WBS Examples
WBS Creation
IEEE 1074
Project Function – An activity that spans the
entire duration of a software project. Examples
of project functions include project management,
configuration management, quality assurance,
and verification and validation.
IEEE Std 1058 – Standard for Software Project Management Plans
Jargon Summary

A SPMP contains the WBS.

The WBS is made up of a list of Activities.

Activities are made up of Tasks.
Terms
WBS Definition
WBS Examples
WBS Creation
IEEE 1074
WBS Definition - MIL-HDBK-881 - 1998
A product-oriented family tree composed of hardware, software,
services, data, and facilities. The family tree results from systems
engineering efforts during the acquisition of a defense materiel item.
A WBS displays and defines the product, or products, to be
developed and/or produced. It relates the elements of work to be
accomplished to each other and to the end product.
A WBS can be expressed down to any level of interest. However the
top three levels are as far as any program or contract need go
unless the items identified are high cost or high risk. Then, and only
then, is it important to take the work breakdown structure to a lower
level of definition.
Primary use of WBS

Determining Budget

Creating a Schedule
Terms
WBS Definition
WBS Examples
WBS Creation
IEEE 1074
Terms
WBS Definition
WBS Examples
WBS Creation
IEEE 1074
What else is a WBS used for

Insuring that we didn’t forget anything

Matching staff skills to tasks

Assignment of responsibilities

Tracking progress via milestones

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We cannot know that “coding is 90% complete” until
coding is finished
Communicating the big picture
WBS Contents

Product-Oriented WBS

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lots of nouns
Task-Oriented WBS
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lots of verbs
Terms
WBS Definition
WBS Examples
WBS Creation
IEEE 1074
WBS Formats

Tree

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Useful at early stages for big picture
Indented List

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Most popular format
Easy to create and edit (eg Excel)
Terms
WBS Definition
WBS Examples
WBS Creation
IEEE 1074
Terms
WBS Definition
WBS Examples
WBS Creation
IEEE 1074
Example WBS
#
Task Description
Who
Resources
M&S
1
Get to Work
Eat Breakfast
Shower
Get Dressed
Goto Office
SD, WD
SD
SD
SD, BD
bread, coffee
soap
existing clothes
vehicle
$1
$.10
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
2
Daily Communication
2.1 Check Email
$.75
Start
Stop
Example WBS
http://www.hyperthot.com/pm_wbs.htm
Terms
WBS Definition
WBS Examples
WBS Creation
IEEE 1074
Example WBS
Terms
WBS Definition
WBS Examples
WBS Creation
IEEE 1074
WBS Rules

Terms
WBS Definition
WBS Examples
WBS Creation
IEEE 1074
Avoid too much detail

break down until a group can do the activity in a week
or month - a work package

Only specify what you can manage

Limit depth of indention to manageable level

Use regular milestones

Helps measure progress
WBS Rules
Terms
WBS Definition
WBS Examples
WBS Creation
IEEE 1074

Break it down one level at a time

Clearly describe each detailed level

Make it a team effort

Leverage past projects
From http://www.chips.navy.mil/archives/03_spring/webpages/project1.htm
WBS Rules
Terms
WBS Definition
WBS Examples
WBS Creation
IEEE 1074
a. Show all software project work at a level that can be used for
software project tracking and reporting. The WBS must provide the
information that allows the project manager to extract progress
measurement (technical, cost, and schedule) for the project's required
status reporting.
b. Include products, events (e.g., reviews and audits), and processes
(e.g., software qualification) that will show visibility into software
development, testing, deployment, training, and life cycle support (as
required).
c. Assign WBS elements so that they can support risk assessment,
engineering change proposal evaluation, contract change evaluation,
interface management, data management, and configuration control.
d. Provide the ability to extract costs for separate types of software work
effort (e.g., prototype, full scale development, maintenance).
e. Ensure that the WBS is compatible with the available project resources
(e.g., staff) and organization (e.g., independent qualification testing).
http://www.stsc.hill.af.mil/resources/tech_docs/process_plan/prplp104.html
Identifying Work Components



SOW
Experience / Other WBSs
Standards Documents

such as IEEE 1074
IEEE 1074
"IEEE Standard for Developing
Software Process Life Cycles"

contains a good checklist of activities
Terms
WBS Definition
WBS Examples
WBS Creation
IEEE 1074
IEEE 1074 Activity Groups

Software Life Cycle Model Planning

Project Management

Predevelopment

Development

Post-Development

Integral
IEEE 1074
•
•
•
•
•
•
Software Life Cycle Model Planning
Project Management
Predevelopment
Development
Post-Development
Integral
Software Life Cycle Model Planning
1. Map the SLCM to project needs
Project Management
2. Project Initialization
3. Project Monitoring and control
4. Software Quality Management
IEEE 1074
•
•
•
•
•
•
Software Life Cycle Model Planning
Project Management
Predevelopment
Development
Post-Development
Integral
Predevelopment
5. Concept Exploration
6. System Allocation
Development
7. Requirements – detailed later
8. Design
9. Implementation – detailed later
IEEE 1074
•
•
•
•
•
•
Software Life Cycle Model Planning
Project Management
Predevelopment
Development
Post-Development
Integral
Post-Development
10. Installation
11. Operation and Support
12. Maintenance
13. Retirement
IEEE 1074
•
•
•
•
•
•
Software Life Cycle Model Planning
Project Management
Predevelopment
Development
Post-Development
Integral
Integral
14. Verification and Validation
15. Software Configuration Management
16. Documentation Development
17. Training
IEEE 1074 Activities
Development
7. Requirements
24. Define and Development Software Requirements
25. Define Interface Requirements
26. Prioritize and Integrate Software Requirements
9. Implementation
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
Create Test Data
Create Source Code
Generate Object Code
Create Operating Documentation
Plan Integration
Perform Integration
Next Time…

Before we can build a work plan, we
need to know how much time
everything will take, how many people
we need, how much money…

In other words, estimating