work breakdown structure trees - spencer hill

8/14/2019 Work Breakdown Structure Trees - Spencer Hill

1/30

Work BreakdownStructure Trees

by Spencer Hill


2/30

What will be covered

Work Breakdown Structure Trees (WBST) defined

A brainstorming exercise: How can WBST be used in yourorganization?

Nuts and Bolts: WBST explained

How it works

A real world example

An exercise

Summary

Suggested reading


3/30

WBST are instrumental in. . .

Identifying all the tasks for a particular project

Organizing those items into levels (categorized asphases, deliverables, activities, and tasks)

Creating a framework as the first step in

constructing a detailed project plan and schedule


4/30

WBST defined

Work Breakdown Structures Trees function as

a hierarchical framework to organize aproject

Level 1

Level 2 Level 2

Level 3 Level 3

Level 4 Level 4

Level 3


5/30


6/30

WBST benefits

WBST are instrumental in creating an

organized structure of a complex project,which may include:

Multiple phases

Several team members working together


7/30

How can Work Breakdown Structure

Trees benefit your organization?


8/30


Level 1 Phases

Phase


9/30


Level 2Major deliverables and related

milestones

Phase

Deliverable Milestone


10/30


Level 3 Activities

Phase


Activity ActivityActivity


11/30


Level 4 Tasks

Phase


Activity Activity

Task Task

Activity


12/30


More detail levels are required for projects

that are: Complex

Larger in scope

New to your group (or organization)

More susceptible to change


13/30


When do you know when you have enough detail?

When one owner can be assigned When clearly defined outputs exist on the task

level

When quality can be monitored based on the

criteria established on the lowest level When each task is small enough that realistic time

requirements can be applied


14/30


A general rule:

The lowest level tasks should each have a durationof 2-20 days and an effort level that requires nomore than one week of one persons time


15/30


Possible omissions from your WBST that could leadto delays:

Project review and approvals

Testing

Training

Meeting with management Meeting with customers

Quality review and troubleshooting


16/30

How it works

To create to a work breakdown structure tree:

Involve the entire project team

Create each level collaboratively

Publish a draft for the team to review

Solicit feedback


17/30

A real world example

Creating a promotional DVD


18/30


For creating a promotional DVD one might

choose these Level 1 phases: Creating the concept

Designing the DVD

Creating the DVD prototype Selecting a vendor

Producing and mailing


19/30

LEVEL 1

Creating a

promotional

DVD

Creating the

concept

Designing

the DVD

Creating the

DVD

prototype

Selecting a

vendor

Producing

and mailing


20/30


Level 2. Deliverables and Milestones.

If we focus on the third Level 1 item: Creating the

DVD prototype, we find that there are two Level

2 deliverables/milestones:

Content creation and editing

DVD testing


21/30

Creating a

promotional

DVD

Creating the

concept

Designing

the DVD

Creating the

DVD

prototype

Selecting a

vendor

Producing

and mailing

Content

creation and

editing

DVD testingLEVEL 2


22/30


Level 3: Activities.

For example, Content creation and editing includesthese activities:

Developing the video

Developing the narrative

Reviewing the prototype


23/30

Creating a

promotional

DVD

Creating the

concept

Designing the

DVD

Creating the

DVD

prototype

Selecting a

vendor

Producing

and mailing

Content

creation and

editing

DVD testing

LEVEL 3

Content Creation

and Editing

Developing the

video

Developing the

narrative

Reviewing the

prototype


24/30


Level 4: Tasks.

Developing the video may include:

Filming

Reviewing the filmed scenes Editing the filmed segments

Compiling the edited segments together


25/30

Creating apromotional

DVD

Creating the

concept

Designing

the DVD

Creating the

DVD

prototype

Selecting a

vendor

Producing

and mailing

Content

creation andediting

Develop-

ing the

video

Develop-

ing the

narrative

Reviewing

the

prototype

DVD Testing

Filming

Reviewing

the filmed

scenes

Editing the

filmed

segments

Compiling

the edited

segmentstogether

Developing

the video

Filming

Reviewing

the filmed

segments

Editing the

filmed

segments

Compiling

the edited

segments

together

LEVEL 4


26/30

An exercise

Create the first two levels of the Work

Breakdown Structure Tree for creating awebsite


27/30

Summary

Work Breakdown Structure Trees are instrumentalin creating an organized project

Level 1 Phases

Level 2Milestones and Deliverables

Level 3 Activities

Level 4 Tasks

Make sure the amount of detail fits with theoverall complexity of the project


28/30

Suggested reading 'Breaking Down' The Work Breakdown Structure. By: Clark, James J.;

Littrel, Philip D.. Program Manager, Mar/Apr2002, Vol. 31 Issue 2,p104, 4p, 3 diagrams, 1c

Significance of WBS in Contingency Modeling. By: Zhao, JohnGengxin. AACE International Transactions, 2006, p5.1-5.5, 5p

The Keys to Forecasting--#2 Work Breakdown Structure. By: Baar,James E.; Jacobson, Stephen M.. Cost Engineering, Mar2004, Vol. 46Issue 3, p12-14, 3p

Work Breakdown Structures. By: Winn, Michael Tim. ContractManagement, May2007, Vol. 47 Issue 5, p16-21, 6p, 1 chart, 1diagram;


29/30

Suggested reading (continued) Use of a WBS Matrix to Improve Interface Management in Projects.

By: Chua, David K. H.; Godinot, Myriam. Journal of ConstructionEngineering & Management, Jan2006, Vol. 132 Issue 1, p67-79, 13p,1 chart, 10 diagrams; DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(2006)132:1(67);

Work and Resource Breakdown Structures for Formalized Bottom-UpEstimating. By: Rad, Parviz F.; Cioffi, Denis F.. Cost Engineering,Feb2004, Vol. 46 Issue 2, p31-37, 7p

Managing the Project. By: Linton, Jonathan. Circuits Assembly,

Jun2006, Vol. 17 Issue 6, p12-14, 3p


30/30

Suggested reading (continued)

Haugen, Gregory T. (2002).Effective Work Breakdown Structures.Management Concepts.

Project Management Institute (October 2006). Project ManagementInstitute Practice Standard for Work Breakdown StructuresSecondEdition. Project Management Institute.

(optional CD-ROM available)

Online: Project Management Institute (www.pmi.org) Online: http://www.projectconnections.com/templates/detail/plan-

development-work-breakdown.html
http://www.pmi.org/http://www.pmi.org/

work breakdown structure trees - spencer hill

Documents