Tool 220: Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

AKA

Work Breakdown Diagram

Classification

Planning/Presenting (PP)

Tool description

A work breakdown structure (WBS) is a necessary division of the overall project into major categories of work. Major categories, in turn, are broken down into more defined, specific elements, and then finally down to a work package level. This process provides project management the ability to schedule, assign resources, and report work package completion status.

Typical application

• To break down a total project's work into definable, manageable, and reportable work packages.

• To reduce the complexity of a project so that interrelated activities and work elements can be clearly understood.

• To identify work packages and resource requirements, and to schedule for completing project activities.

Problem-solving phase

→	Select and define problem or opportunity
→	Identify and analyze causes or potential change
→	Develop and plan possible solutions or change
	Implement and evaluate solution or change
	Measure and report solution or change results
	Recognize and reward team efforts

Typically used by

	Research/statistics
	Creativity/innovation
2	Engineering
1	Project management
	Manufacturing
	Marketing/sales
	Administration/documentation
	Servicing/support
	Customer/quality metrics
3	Change management

links to other tools

before

• Comparison Matrix

• Project Prioritization Matrix

• Action Plan

• Objectives Matrix

• Responsibility Matrix

after

• Trend Analysis

• Gantt Chart

• Activity Network Diagram

• Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)

• Major Program Status

Notes and key points

• A WBS typically consists of five or more levels of breakdown to reduce a project's scope and complexity:

  Level	Description	Designation Example
  1	Project	10
  2	Category	10.1
  3	Subcategory	10.1.1
  4	Work element	10.1.1.1
  5	Work package	10.1.1.1.1
  6	Deliverables	10.1.1.1.1.1

Step-by-step procedure

• STEP 1 The first step for a project manager's team is to identify the major categories of work to be completed. See example WBS for Adding an Assembly Line.

• STEP 2 A designation or accounting schema is then established to be able to account for or schedule work. The numbering system used is arbitrary—see example shown.

• STEP 3 All work categories are broken down into a lower level of detail. This process continues down to the basic work package level. Typically, five or more levels are diagrammed.

• STEP 4 The final WBS diagram should reflect all required work and is used as a resource document for the planning and scheduling of the overall project.

Example of tool application