Body of knowledge and it is the entire collection of processes, best practices, terminologies, and guidelines. This task listing is called a work breakdown structure, or wbs. The main application of the wbs dictionary is that it helps to create the product that will be obtained with the execution of the project work packages are the lowest level of the wbs. The work breakdown structure wbs the first step in scheduling your project the use of computerised scheduling tools has detrimentally diluted the importance of the wbs. According to the project management body of knowledge pmbok, a work breakdown structure wbs is a hierarchical decomposition of the total scope of work to be carried out by the project team to. The body of knowledge evolves over time and is presented in a guide to the project management body. Rational unified process, rational software corporation 19872001.
When you manage similar projects, the work breakdown structure gets better with every project and can become the basis for improved delivery management. To my knowledge there is no single good software that encompasses all of its requirements. Work breakdown structure vs project schedule vs project plan. The activity wbs come from the origin of project management body of knowledge. The work breakdown structure wbs has long served as a valuable tool in helping project managers plan deliverables and detail project scope. This beginnerfriendly guide will help you understand the work breakdown structure and create one on your own. The work breakdown structure wbs the first step in scheduling your project. The work breakdown structure is to the project what the blueprints are to the product, a guide for getting it realized. Tausworthe jet propllsiotl lrrhoultop the work breakdown structure wbs is a vehicle for breaking an engineering project down.
Create work breakdown structure wbs implies taking the deliverables listed in the scope statement and subdividing them into smaller, more manageable. What is wbs work breakdown structure in project management. The project management body of knowledge pmbok 5 defines the workbreakdown. Many people have mistaken wbs as a list of tasks, a schedule or an organization chart. The project management body of knowledge pmbok defines the work breakdown. Wbs templates in project management free download programs. A wbs is the most important artifact in project management.
This paper examines how project managers can adopt agile planning to outline milestones and measure success beyond the typical triple constraint. Applying work breakdown structure to project lifecycle. Planning a project s delivery date and final cost is a complex process. Click here editable work breakdown structure wbs template with both tree and tab views. The work breakdown structure in software project management robert c. Wbs 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.
The work breakdown structure wbs is a vehicle for breaking an engineering project down into subproject, tasks, subtasks, work packages, and so on. Work breakdown structure wbs is a fundamental project deliverable that arranges the teams work into manageable divisions. What is work breakdown structure wbs in project management. What is a work breakdown structure wbs project management. One work breakdown structure example that will make it clear. Therefore, there are lots of benefits of using wbs.
Businesses, large and small, unquestionably juggle numerous projects, plans, tasks and people. Pdf the work breakdown structure in software project. The work breakdown structure wbs is essential for getting a project off the ground. Software as a service saas wbs level 1 a wbs dictionary contains more detailed information about elements within a work breakdown structure wbs. Top 6 myths of work break down structure wbs project. However, in practice these are generally one and the same. In those circumstances, wbs enable the performance a summary of the estimated costs for all subsequent. The activity wbs come from the origin of project management body of knowledge pmbok which used as a hierarchical decomposition of the subtask work executed in the project. Applying work breakdown structure to project lifecycle pmi.
In doing so, it overviews the basic tools for planning projectsbaselines, overestimation, padding, and slack. 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. In reality, wbs is a simple and easy visual breakdown of deliverables for product, result, or service. How to create a work breakdown structure projectengineer. Work breakdown structure wbs project management docs. Welcome to microsoft project and pmi pmbok better together learning portal this web site is designed to save you time and make you look famous amongst your peers. Using this technique will improve work definition and speed up the planning process. The industrystandard definition of a work breakdown structure is a deliverableoriented. Free work breakdown structure templates smartsheet.
Creating a work breakdown structure wbs helps you be both comprehensive and specific when managing a project. But it was introduced in 1987 by the project management institute, through the pmbok project management body. Unfortunately, the business pressures driving projects have often prevented project managers from developing a comprehensive wbs. It is a tool which helps to easily communicate the work and processes involved to execute the project. In that spirit, the pmbok requires the decomposition of the project into phases and tasks also called activities. Work breakdown structure information, software and wbs samples. Xmind also includes gantt capabilities so you can use that if youre so inclined. The pmbok, as its name states is a body of knowledge for the project management field. Wbs hierarchical list of projects work activities t wo formats outline indented format graphical tree organizational chart uses a decimal numbering system ex. A work breakdown structure wbs is a deliverable oriented hierarchical decomposition of the work to be executed by the project team pmbok. Work breakdown structure wbs projects have the potential to be very large and very complex. In this section, a detailed work breakdown structure is created, which is a break down of the deliverables into smaller, more. This paper examines how project managers can appropriately use a wbs to.
Pmbok software to ensure that each tasks in a project are completed on time and within budget. Pmbok work breakdown structure your project manager. Although i have listed the wbs under scope management, because it. A guide to the project management body of knowledge pmbok, created by the project management institute pmi, is the sum of knowledge within the profession of project management. Wbs and activity mudassir iqbal, professional skills trainer. Project management knowledge areas bring a project to life, but that life can be chaotic and complex, which is why a project manager needs a tool to help manage all these moving parts of a. Wbs is the foundation component in project management. Simply put the work breakdown structure technique divides projects into smaller more manageable chunks that can be more easily estimated and controlled.
The work breakdown structure is a project management classic, its a visual tool thats used in the planning phase of the project. What is the best software based in the pmbok 5th edition. Pmbok 5 defines the workbreakdown structure as a a hierarchical decomposition of the total scope of work to be carried out by the project team to. A project is made more manageable by breaking it down into components. Work breakdown structures wbs for software development. Fortunately, project managers have tools that can help them. If youre interested, our resident expert, jennifer bridges, pmp, hosts this tutorial video. The project manager and project team use the wbs to develop the project schedule, resource requirements and costs.
What is a work breakdown structure in project management. If you are a project manager and you want to stretch your tasks correctly, then you need to create what is known as a work breakdown structure for your project. 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 use of computerised scheduling tools has detrimentally diluted the. The project management body of knowledge is a set of standard terminology and guidelines a body of knowledge for project management.
A work breakdown structure defines all the things a project needs to accomplish. According to project management body of knowledge pmbok, a. A guide to the project management body of knowledge, 2008. The work breakdown structure is a fundamental tool of project management which is formed as an output of the process 5.
The project management body of knowledge pmbok contains two separate processes related to task lists. The intention of the pmbok was that the wbs contain project phases for the purpose of defining the scope, and the activity list defines the project tasks for schedule development and control. Because of this it is useful to have a tool to break project work down into manageable pieces. The primary purpose of project management software is to help managers plan, execute and control all. The work breakdown structure is based on nasa practices. If you apply the wbs methodology in the pmbok, future projects can leverage the work. A workbreakdown structure wbs in project management and systems engineering, is a. The work breakdown structure wbs is a view into the project which shows what work the project encompasses. Fixing the broken wbs agile concepts in project planning.