We have seen that wbs can be structured by project phases or by major deliverables. Work breakdown structure example with annotations click to see a larger version. The work breakdown structure is a fundamental part of defining project scope. The project manager and project team use the wbs to develop the project schedule, resource requirements and costs. The project manager uses the work breakdown structure to control the project and the work of the team. See wbs schedule pro for details wbs schedule pro wbs version to meet the needs of users who only need wbs charts, we have created the wbs schedule pro wbs version software. This zip file contains the white paper the work breakdown structure. To understand what i mean by specific, take this example. The wbs is usually divided into levels with the 1st level being the project itself, the 2nd level the projects major deliverables and the 3rd level the projects supporting deliverables. Example from milhdbk881, which illustrates the first three levels of a typical aircraft system. It is a tool which helps to easily communicate the work and processes involved to execute the project. A work breakdown structure is your map through more complicated projects. Introduction into software engineering summer 2007 2 where are we.
A workbreakdown structure wbs in project management and systems engineering, is a deliverable oriented breakdown of a project into smaller components. Wbs examples for a software project, construction projects, a conference, finding a job, selling a house, planning permission and other real projects. A work breakdown structure element may be a product, data, a service, or any combination. 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 accomplish the project objectives and create the required deliverables. Using the work breakdown structure, you can break tasks down into subtasks and individual work packages. Now let me show you a wbs example with annotations. This document provides project managers with a work breakdown structure wbs, which defines all of the application development projects critical deliverables 1. Organization structure dedicated project team structure for setting up restaurant resources are borrowed from departments of the organization. Another common source of confusion for beginners is the difference between the work breakdown structure, project schedule, and project plan. The work breakdown structure in software project management robert c. In project management, wbs stands for work breakdown structure. By allocating time and cost estimates to specific sections of the work breakdown structure, a project schedule and budget can be quickly developed. Procurement projectyou can edit this template and create your own diagram. The only way to ensure that your testing efforts will provide the necessary coverage that makes your product enduser ready is through careful planning using a work breakdown structure for software testing.
Tasks and activities will be grouped under these lowest levels. Work breakdown structure examples and overview of wbs. Work breakdown structure vs project schedule vs project plan. Microsoft office format of systems upgrade work breakdown structure. You can edit this work breakdown structure using creately diagramming tool and include in your reportpresentationwebsite. The project schedule can be viewed and updated by team members associated with the project, keeping everyone well informed on the overall project status. Application development project work breakdown structure. Building restaurant work breakdown structure creately. Restaurant management system work breakdown structure. In case it is about a new product it could be a first product structure of the new product. It is useful to create a work breakdown structure to identify and break down the deliverables in the project. As an example, consider a construction repair project. Use pdf export for high quality prints and svg export for large sharp images or.
A work breakdown structure wbs is a visual tool for defining and tracking a project deliverable and all the small components needed to create it. Write them down on sticky notes and put them on a whiteboard. A work breakdown structure, commonly abbreviated wbs, is a key project deliverable that is utilized to organize a project teams work and responsibilities into compact sections that. Wbs hierarchical list of projects work activities t wo formats outline indented format graphical tree organizational chart uses a decimal numbering system ex. Company owners and project managers use the work breakdown structure wbs to make complex projects more manageable. The concept is used each time a new project is designed and is created before entering any data into a microsoft project file. A work breakdown structure showing new service blueprint fine dining restaurant. Wbs software work breakdown structure wbs chart pro. Used to identify the project deliverables, the wbs starts at a high level and decomposes the project deliverables to a. Through this wbs of software development, viewers can get a comprehensive understanding about this process. Wbs schedule pro can be used by itself as a standalone project planning and. Work breakdown structure wbs sample skeleton wbs for softwarehardware system development. To create a work breakdown structure you start from the end product in its entirety and work downwards to increasing levels of detail.
What are some software for creating and displaying a work. Detailed planning is essential for successful deployment of custom software. Top tips for developing a work breakdown structure wbs. This is an example of a work breakdown structure wbs for. Have you encountered work breakdown structures and wondered how they can help in your project management efforts.
A brief synopsis, a web design work breakdown structure in both word and excel, and a pdf appendix of the web design work breakdown structure wbs example. Wbs schedule pro overview wbs work breakdown structure. If you dont want to pay for software, use ms excel. Tausworthe jet propulsion laboratory the work breakdown structure wbs is a vehicle for breaking an engineering project down into subproject, tasks, subtasks, work packages, and so on. It allows you to take a project and decompose it into planable and controllable elements. Creately diagrams can be exported and added to word, ppt powerpoint, excel, visio or any other document. These resources are presented from the pmi practice standard for work breakdown structures. A work breakdown structure in project management and systems engineering, is a deliverable oriented decomposition of a project into smaller components.
While these three things often describe the same thing what is to be achieved in the project they vary greatly in scope and details. Work breakdown structure or wbs is a hierarchical tree structure that outlines your project and breaks. Get the team together and brainstorm all the deliverables in the project, in no particular order. Use the work breakdown structure wbs diagram to manage your projects efficiently. Work breakdown structures wbs tactical project manager. Mindview is ideal for this because it allows you to enter elements quickly and then arrange them into a structure that makes sense for your particular project. The work breakdown structure wbs provides the foundation on which a project manager works. If youre planning to open a restaurant, the top line of the work breakdown. A work breakdown structure is a key project deliverable that organizes the team. One work breakdown structure example that will make it clear. Systems upgrade work breakdown structure the project diva. Planning a project using a work breakdown structure and. Project scope document includes information such as project description, major deliverables, milestones, assumptions, cost figures, constraints and so on. The work breakdown structure wbs provides exactly this.
In the tree structure of a wbs, project deliverables and activities are broken down into manageable parts, making it easier to estimate required resources and costs, create a realistic schedule, and control each stage of a. Wbs example teacher training software projects, find a job, project. Work breakdown structure rev e, june 2003 work breakdown structure a project work breakdown structure wbs is a deliverable or product oriented grouping of project work elements shown in graph ical display to organize and subdivide the total work scope of a project. Quickly get a headstart when creating your own wbs diagram. After that, youll get a reallife example from a small software development project. A project budget can be allocated to the top levels of the work breakdown structure, and department budgets can be quickly calculated based on the each projects work breakdown structure. A work breakdown structure is a key project deliverable that organizes the teams work into. A work breakdown structure wbs proposes a graphical nature that helps project managers predict results based on various scenarios. All about work breakdown structures wbs smartsheet. One project may include several phases, or also smaller, subprojects. Wbs schedule pro this software contains all of the features of wbs chart pro combined with network charts and gantt charts to form a more complete project planning tool. We show what a work breakdown structure is and how it can help in the organization and execution of a project. Its a way to divide and conquer large projects so you can get things done faster and more efficiently. The wbs is designed to help break down a project into manageable chunks that can be effectively estimated and supervised.
Creating a work breakdown structure wbs helps you be both comprehensive and specific when managing a project. An example would be the finished design model for a ship. Wbs examples for a software project, construction projects, a conference, finding a job, selling a house, planning. The development of work breakdown structure involves subdividing the major project activities or subactivities into smaller, more manageable activities until the activities are defined in sufficient detail to support the management and development of project works. The work breakdown structure in software project management article pdf available in journal of systems and software.
Work breakdown structure example click on image to modify online. The wbs is a method for getting a complex, multistep project done. This work breakdown structure example shows that all the elements are listed under wbs levels. A work breakdown structure is a critical project management tool designed to break. Even subprojects can be broken down into smaller bits. Much of the information to derive accurate time and cost estimates is not. The wbs exclusively focuses on all the work that has to be.
Just like a good recipe it sets out the required ingredients, equipment, methods, timing and performance indicators. Steps for developing a work breakdown structure your business. A wbs is to a project manager what a recipe is to a chef. In so doing, you gain clarity into the details needed to accomplish every aspect of your project. Building restaurant work breakdown structure use createlys easy online diagram editor to edit this diagram, collaborate with others and export results to multiple image formats. The work breakdown structure wbs is a view into the project which shows what work the project encompasses. The aggregation of all the work to be performed in a project. To download the above as a 20k zip file in msproject 2002. The breakdown of the work into smaller chunks is called work breakdown structure wbs and the result should look like hierarchical chart or a tree. This web page explains how to create a work breakdown structure wbs using mindviews wbs software.
Wbs schedule pro is windowsbased project management software that combines a work breakdown structure wbs chart, a network chart, a gantt chart, a task sheet plus numerous additional features to produce a featurerich yet easytouse tool to plan and manage projects. The lowest levels of wbs shows the project deliverables. Tips and basic templates for creating a project network diagram process. How to create a work breakdown structure lucidchart blog. A free customizable wbs of software development template is provided to download and print. Work breakdown structure and project cost estimation. How to create work breakdown structure wbs from project. This objective could be anything from developing a new software feature to building a missile. Pdf the work breakdown structure in software project. There is nothing that 90% of the population of customers love spending their money on than good food. You may also see operational plan for restaurant examples.
A work breakdown structure showing restaurant management system. What is work breakdown structure in project management. With a work breakdown structure, you can stay focused on what you need to accomplish. Online project management software allows project managers to track project schedules, resources, budgets and project related assets in real time. This is an example of a work breakdown structure wbs for a traditional waterfall approach to software development. Free work breakdown structure templates smartsheet. Scrum is one of several agile methodologies for developing software rapidly. If the project is not about a new building but about a new company, this could be a first organisational chart of the new company.
You can edit this template and create your own diagram. The lectures on software lifecycle modeling and project management addressed the following questions. A work breakdown structure or wbs is a common term in project management. A work breakdown structure wbs is a chart where the project tasks are illustrated to reflect their relations to each other and the project in general.
What is wbs work breakdown structure in project management. Thinking in detail is critical when planning your project, but you also need to consider the big picture. Wbs for a traditional waterfall approach to software development. At the top of the structure, theres always the final product, service or. Now you derive a work breakdown structure wbs from this. Presenting a work breakdown structure wbs as a chart helps project managers and their teams to visualize the hierarchy of a project. Work breakdown structure examples and overview brighthub.
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