Whether you’re starting a new project or reworking an old one, a work breakdown structure can help you organize your team’s work into manageable sections. It helps you avoid confusion, improves risk management, and enables you to effectively manage your project.
Rules for creating a work breakdown structure
Using work breakdown structure is a project management technique that helps break down a project into smaller components, like deliverables and tasks. It can also help manage project time, resources, and scope.
A project’s work breakdown structure is one of the first documents in a project’s lifecycle. It outlines the major deliverables of the project and how they are delivered. A well-made WBS will contain no overlap and have clear responsibilities and a comprehensive list of activities.
A work breakdown structure can be created in many different ways. Common visual methods include timelines and Kanban boards. A good WBS should follow the 100% rule, which means that work represented by the WBS should include 100% of the work required to meet an overarching goal.
A good way to follow this rule is to define the WBS elements in terms of the outcomes they produce. This helps to increase creativity and ingenuity.
A work breakdown structure should be a logical and hierarchical decomposition of the project’s total scope. Typically, the first level of the WBS will contain a parent task. The child tasks that are needed to complete the parent task are organized into dependencies.
Deliverable-oriented decomposition of the work to be executed by the project team
Creating a deliverable-oriented decomposition of the work to be executed by the project team is a good way to demonstrate the link between the project’s deliverables and the scope of the effort. A deliverable is a “unique product” or “capability to perform a service” that varies from project to project and client to client. The deliverable-oriented decomposition of the WBS demonstrates the interplay between these two entities and the corresponding responsibilities.
There are a number of different ways to implement a deliverable-oriented decomposition. The best way is to choose a decomposition method based on the needs of the project. A phased WBS is one such method. The WBS is used to divide long-term projects into major phases. In doing so, the resulting tasks can be grouped in the same fashion as WBS elements.
A deliverable-oriented WBS demonstrates the link between the deliverables and the scope of the effort. The most important task is determining the relevant deliverables. The next step is to determine the requisite work packages. The shortest, and most logical, work package should be no more than 80 hours. If the work package takes longer than that, the WBS should be broken up into a number of sub-packages. The trick is to make sure that the resulting sub-packages are mutually exclusive, with no dependency on the other elements.
Improves risk management
Having a work breakdown structure (WBS) helps improve risk management. It breaks down large projects into small, logical tasks. It also enables managers to identify potential issues and allocate resources appropriately. It can be created by using project management software or spreadsheets.
WBS is typically used in commercial and residential construction projects. It is also used by defense organizations and aerospace companies. It is usually developed by the entire team.
The WBS process includes an analysis of the scope, timeframe, and budget. It is also used to determine the most appropriate estimate for the project. The WBS also identifies communication points and major deliverables.
The WBS is often used to assess risks before any work begins. It can help eliminate problems and keep the project within budget. It can also give the customer investor a better idea of the project.
It is an easy-to-use tool that enables a project manager to evaluate the potential impact of risks on the project. The WBS can be created for projects of any size. It can be developed in a variety of ways, including using spreadsheets, project management software, or a whiteboard.
Edraw Max helps you in every phase of project planning
Whether you are planning a complex project or a simple flowchart, Edraw Max can help you create a plan that helps you visualize and manage your work. With a wide range of tools, templates, and visualization options, you can design a Gantt chart, PERT chart, or a flowchart.
You can also use the Edraw Max online version to build diagrams on your computer. This software runs on Windows and Mac OS X. It features a simple user interface and offers you a variety of visualization choices. The results can be presented as documents, slides, or a presentation. In addition, you can share your designs with other Edraw users via social media or email.
It allows you to visualize your data through a series of dynamic connectors. You can choose to create two-way links or just display it in a single-way format. The app is easy to use, and you can easily collaborate with colleagues and stakeholders.
If you are looking for a more advanced diagramming tool, you should consider using SmartDraw. This more sophisticated software uses an artificial intelligence system to find the best elements for a diagram. The system can save you time. It costs $9.95 a month for each user.
