The wbs is designed to help break down a project into manageable chunks that can be effectively estimated and supervised. The work breakdown structure wbs is essential for getting a project off the ground. The wbs provides the foundation for all project management work, including, planning, cost and effort estimation, resource allocation, and scheduling. I believe there is nothing wrong with this practice, as there only needs to be one official breakdown of the project work. The wbs can then be used to estimate the cost of the project, schedule resources, and plan quality gates. A work breakdown structure or wbs for short is a chart or document used to organize project work into a list of focus areas so that all work stays on track to meet project goals. The process of developing a wbs is primarily concerned with defining outcomes or deliverables rather than the capture of actionoriented details, that may bloat the scope of the project with too much detail. May 07, 2018 before starting any project, teams need to use their project scope to create a work breakdown structure. Work breakdown structure software work breakdown structure wbs. Work breakdown structure example with annotations click to see a larger version. The intent of this simple project structure is to illustrate use of the diagram techniques not to offer a complete model for the implementation of third party software. Plan and schedule development create a work breakdown structure. A wbs is arranged in a hierarchy and constructed to allow for clear and logical groupings, either by activities or deliverables.
As with most things in project management, lets start by looking at. This is an example of a work breakdown structure wbs for a traditional waterfall approach to software development. Describe the software requirements for the project e. Always express work breakdown structure activities at the lowest levels of granularity in verb form. Here i give you an example and the process to understand how to create a product oriented work breakdown structure. The project management institutes practice standard for work breakdown structures states that the wbs elements are to be defined using adjectives and nouns, but not verbs. But to confront the challenges of working in todays volatile economic environment, project managers are increasingly using. Free work breakdown structure templates smartsheet. Use pdf export for high quality prints and svg export for large sharp images or embed your diagrams anywhere with the creately viewer. Through this wbs of software development, viewers can get a comprehensive understanding about this process.
Design principles when constructing work breakdown structures. There are no set criteria governing how the wbs must be produced, how much detail it contains, the number of components or. Breakdown structure for project management visual paradigm. One work breakdown structure example that will make it clear. An example would be the finished design model for a ship. 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 scope baseline for your project or program is defined as the approved project scope statement, the work breakdown structure, and the wbs dictionary. Company owners and project managers use the work breakdown structure wbs to make complex projects more manageable. What is the difference between product breakdown structure pbs and a work breakdown structure wbs. How to create a work breakdown structure projectengineer. An important point to remember is that in design decomposition, only the lower.
You can use the links bellow to try the tool without a login or register to have your own account. Work breakdown structure essay example graduateway. Document the work breakdown structure you can either use a template or software tool to document the wbs tasks captured. The entire project is broken down into successive subcomponents considered as manageable subdivisions based on size, duration and responsibility. The table below lists the steps for developing a work breakdown structure. Typically in these wbs examples, there is great detail describing the task or. Wbs work breakdown structure is a method to make complex projects more manageable. I followed this process to create a work break down structure for a recommendation system this process is applicable to any kind of project how to create a product oriented work breakdown structure for a recommendation system. Use breakdown structure as a project management tool. A work breakdown structure element may be a product, data, a service, or any combination. It breaksdown the project into lowlevel subtask units of work that will be scheduled, executed and controlled.
The structure is graphically presented by using a tree chart showing a subdivision of tasks that are required to complete phase 1 of a particular undertaking. A work breakdown structure wbs is a decomposition of all the work necessary to complete a project. While there are many different ways of documenting a wbs, my preferred method is using excel or ms project. Work breakdown structure example based on deliverables now let us consider the same software development project example to create wbs by deliverables. Of the dozens of work breakdown structure software programs available, few tools blend the functionality of a drawing tool with additional features for optimizing your wbs like cost calculation, integration with ms office ms project and the ability to attach files to your wbs. This document provides project managers with a work breakdown structure wbs, which defines all of the application development projects critical deliverables. Even though the term work breakdown structure has been used as a label for all project scope hierarchical diagrams, there are, in practice, many types other than deliverable oriented structures. Work breakdown structures bernd bruegge applied software engineering.
New project manager training for developers 50,893 views. A wbs will typically be a phase for analysis, and others for design, development, testing, release, etc. The hierarchy structure is suitable for visualization, but i personally find the table approach more useful. The project management institutes pmi a guide to the project management body.
Work breakdown structures give you a highlevel understanding of the project and its progress. A work breakdown structure wbs is a hierarchical outline of the tasks needed to deliver the projects product or service. Pdf the work breakdown structure in software project management. Plan development task identification and work breakdown. A beginnerfriendly guide to work breakdown structures wbs. Work breakdown structure practice standard projectwbs vs. Work breakdown structures wbs are a fundamental building block of practicing. The work breakdown structure wbs is the decomposition of a software project into low level work tasks. 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.
Jan 27, 2010 i naturally want to use verbs in my work breakdown structure wbs, but its wrong. What is a work breakdown structure in project management. Wbs of sdlc editable work breakdown structure template. Now enters the concept of the work package that seems to contradict the quotes stated above. Free work breakdown structure wbs template work breakdown. A beginnerfriendly guide to work breakdown structures. Pdf the work breakdown structure in software project. Work breakdown structures wbs for software development.
This is usually practiced by project managers to simplify the process of execution of tasks during the scope of the project. What is wbs work breakdown structure in project management. This beginnerfriendly guide will help you understand the. Now let me show you a wbs example with annotations. Wbs for software testing breaking down the testing tasks requires understanding the process of testing the software that is being coded by the build team, and the full scope of the testing work. 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 deliverables. It is used to identify all project deliverables and necessary activities. Check other wbs examples at bright hub pm and expert project management. Instead, wbs provides useful inputs for cost estimating and budgeting, scope control, activity definition, and more. This article will give a few work breakdown structure examples and will give you an overview of how wbs can. We show what a work breakdown structure is and how it can help in the organization and execution of a project. Like this example below, the structure is organized and clear.
If there are any verbs in your wbs, then youre doing something wrong. Many of these phases and subtask produce interim deliverables and are the responsibility of a specialist role. Jan 12, 2015 a wbs will typically be a phase for analysis, and others for design, development, testing, release, etc. What are some software for creating and displaying a 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. The following chart is a part of a sample web project.
In reality, wbs is a simple and easy visual breakdown of deliverables for product, result, or service. Create the work breakdown structure to the level of project detail you understand. I naturally want to use verbs in my work breakdown structure wbs, but its wrong. The best way to understand how work breakdown structures work is by looking at different wbs examples. Developing the work breakdown structure the wbs is usually drafted jointly by the project manager, the project team, and the stakeholders. Seeing how complex projects are actually broken down can help you do the same in your projects. Wbs also provides the necessary framework for detailed cost estimating and control along with providing guidance for schedule development and control. This is an example of a work breakdown structure wbs for a. Project management what is work breakdown structure in. Structure the work based on development activities and project functions. A product breakdown structure pbs is a hierarchical structure of things that the project will make or outcomes that it will deliver. Come along as we define the wbs and look at some of. After that, youll get a reallife example from a small software development project.
Work breakdown structure leading to work packages or activities with the associated precedence relationships are treated in detail. Sep 29, 2014 one of the pillars of any project is the work breakdown structure wbs and the accompanying wbs dictionary. It does not elaborate about individual tasks or the order of execution in detail. Work breakdown structures in large projects how detailed should a wbs be. Here the complete project is decomposed into multiple deliverables such as requirements specification, design document, code base, test completion report, deployment report. In planning a project, it is normal to find oneself momentarily overwhelmed and confused, when one begins to grasp the details and scope of even a modest size. The two main types of project work breakdown structures wbs posted on april 22, 2017 november 3, 2018 by adroit a work breakdown structure wbs provides a hierarchical or a breakdown structure that decomposes the project scope into more discrete and manageable work components 1. Work breakdown structure and network diagram project. The best way to understand work breakdown structures is by means of some.
Oct 03, 2018 you can see a clearly defined wbs for a project involving the development of the computer at the following image. To download the above as a 20k zip file in msproject 2002. Therefore, one should take creating wbs as a critical step in the process of project management. I think its better to show it once rather than trying to explain it in different words. Deliverables are described by nouns and adjectives, while the work required to. Wbs creation 10 golden rules work breakdown structure duration. The tool works with any webbrowser with the adobe flash plugin installed. Primavera p6 application consulting primavera p6 knowledge transfer, mentoring. Since work packages are the very small part of a wbs that is deliverable to the customer, these must be explained clearly to the project stakeholders.
The wbs lists your work breakdown, the task list is. Mar 15, 2018 the best way to understand how work breakdown structures work is by looking at different wbs examples. Online project management software allows project managers to track project schedules, resources, budgets and project related assets in real time. It is a tabular or graphical representation of the tasks that make up the projects scope. While work breakdown structures are technically supposed to focus on deliverables, not activities i. A work breakdown structure showing android application. To explain work packages in detail, work breakdown structure dictionary is used. Wbs that you may come across during your study of project management.
The wbs will detail the full scope of the work necessary to finish the project. The efficiency of a work breakdown structure can determine the success of a project. The end product is described as a noun without a verb. When constructing work breakdown structures there are a couple of guiding principles you need to know to keep you on track. The work breakdown structure wbs has long served as a valuable tool in helping project managers plan deliverables and detail project scope. The terms work breakdown structure and task list are, in my experience, often used interchangeably. The two main types of project work breakdown structures wbs. In this lesson, well briefly define and explore the dynamics of the work breakdown structure, or wbs. The project schedule can be viewed and updated by team members associated with the project, keeping everyone well informed on the overall project status. A work breakdown structure is a higher level project artifact that supports the creation of schedules and budgets. What are the 4 wbs levels and the relationship between. Quickly get a headstart when creating your own wbs diagram. If you want your wbs chart to be unique and visually impressive, you can try custom shapes. You can edit this work breakdown structure using creately diagramming tool and include in your reportpresentationwebsite.
Work breakdown structure wbs sample skeleton wbs for software hardware system development. The schedule and budget is then created and tracked by task. Applying work breakdown structure to project lifecycle. This web page explains how to create a work breakdown structure wbs using mindviews wbs software. Wbs example mind map style a fast way to create a wbs diagram is using the mind map tool. How to create a work breakdown structure workfront. This is an example of a work breakdown structure wbs for. The work breakdown structure wbs organizes and defines 100% of the scope of project work to be accomplished and displays it in a way that relates work elements to each other and to the projects goals. A good rule of thumb is to describe elements using nouns rather than verbs. This is a way of describing the work so that the team knows exactly what work is needed in order to meet the goals of the project. How to create a product oriented work breakdown structure. Two types of work breakdown structures wbs pmc lounge. A work breakdown structure wbs represents this division of a project into constituent tasks. The first word in a given wbs element usually is a verb, such as, design, develop, optimize, transfer, test, etc.
Application development project work breakdown structure. A wbs uses nouns and adjectives to define work, not verbs. Work packages only state nouns and name of the deliverable. At the top of the structure, theres always the final product, service or. The bottom line is by using a work breakdown structure it reduces the number of surprises and improves the ability to better estimate future projects. Work breakdown structure examples and overview of wbs. 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. The work breakdown structure wbs is widely used by project managers and stakeholders, yet the purpose and content of this important tool is widely misunderstood. If you have a small project, you may be able to start entering tasks into project and organize them on the fly.
The sow, input from the testing team, past similar projects. Sep 28, 2015 now enters the concept of the work package that seems to contradict the quotes stated above. Determining work and tasks sizes work breakdown structure wbs different approaches for developing a wbs notations for work breakdown structures heuristics and examples starting with templates how to identify work what do we do with risky tasks. The work breakdown structure approach allows us to visually see the work that is needed in order to complete a project. It organizes and defines the total scope of the project. The pmbok guide defines work package as the work defined at the lowest level of the work breakdown structure for which cost and duration can be estimated and managed. The project management institutes pmi a guide to the project management.
A free customizable wbs of software development template is provided to download and print. Again taking the same example registration page is a noun but write bad password lockout logic uses a verb at the beginning. Verb type designbuildtestimplement methodology or lifecycle phase focus. Work breakdown structure of a software life cycleyou can edit this template and create your own diagram. The project management institutes practice standard for work breakdown structures states that the wbs elements are to be defined using adjectives and nouns, but not. If the project spans a long period of time, it is difficult to identify the detailed tasks for work a year or more in the future.
Separating the task list and work breakdown structure can be appropriate for larger projects. Android application editable work breakdown structure. Wbs for a traditional waterfall approach to software development. Feel free to ask any questions about work breakdown structure for it projects below. Defining a work breakdown structure a work breakdown structure wbs is defined as a hierarchy of tasks that are representative of the real work flow of a construction project. The work breakdown structure is fundamentally a deliverableoriented system. As an example here is a work breakdown structure wbs i got from the principle based project management information and training. Creating effective work breakdown structures or how to recognize. Heuristics and examples starting with templates how to identify work. Unfortunately, the business pressures driving projects have often prevented project managers from developing a comprehensive wbs. The next topic is about scheduling of the activities which requires the estimation of activity durations. The work breakdown structure in software project management article pdf available in journal of systems and software. Work breakdown structure wbs sample skeleton wbs for softwarehardware system development. How to create a work breakdown structure webucator.
Work breakdown structure a work breakdown structure is a key project deliverable that organizes the teams work into manageable sections. 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. In this article, youll find a work breakdown structure example from real life. The pmbok describes the work breakdown structure as a deliverableoriented hierarchical decomposition of the work to be executed by the team.
Work breakdown structure wbs software project management. Essentially the wbs will enable you to better manage your project. A wbs is a deliverableoriented hierarchy of the work to be done on a project. Wbs tool is a free web software for building project work breakdown structures wbs, wbs charts, organograms and other types of hierarchies. Many people have mistaken wbs as a list of tasks, a schedule or an organization chart. Arif ul haq student of mba class of 2010 according to project management body of knowledge fourth edition 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. Follow these steps and best practices to ensure your teams work is 100% accounted for, fully visualized, and accurately prioritized. That means you graphic depiction must focus on the outcomes rather than the activities required to produce them. Think of the wbs as a visual model of the project that identifies each piece of the scope of work and how its delivered to the customer. The output of scope management is a specification that may be presented as a product breakdown structure pbs showing the deliverables and a work breakdown structure wbs showing the work required to produce them. Detailed planning is essential for successful deployment of custom software. A work breakdown structure wbs is a graphical chart which shows all the parts a project has to deliver in order to meet the project goal.