Work Breakdown Structure Example

A work breakdown structure is your map through more complicated projects.

Work breakdown structure example. Figure 1 below depicts a sample work breakdown structure with three levels defined. This helps to identify all of the elements and deliverables that are required to organize a project as a whole. What is a work breakdown structure. It organizes and defines the total scope of the project.

Constructing a work breakdown structure to start out the project manager and subject matter experts determine the main deliverables for the project. Are you looking for a work breakdown structure example. Let s simplify things further. Work breakdown structure wbs the work breakdown structure wbs provides a structural view into the project.

A work breakdown structure is often presented in the form of a chart it is a visual representation of all team. It is applicable to all projects among all industries. The work breakdown structure is used for project control and management purposes such as planning scheduling reporting cost control etc. A work breakdown structure defines all the things a project needs to accomplish organized into multiple levels and displayed graphically.

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 in the tree structure of a wbs. In so doing you gain clarity into the details needed to accomplish every aspect of your project. Wbs work breakdown structure is a deliverable oriented hierarchical decomposition of the work to be executed by the project team to accomplish the project objectives and create the required deliverables. It is an essential tool for planning and executing the project.

A work breakdown structure is just one of many project management forms. One project may include several phases or also smaller sub projects. Even sub projects can be broken down into smaller bits. Use the wbs to define the work for the project and to develop the project s schedule.

It is used to identify all project deliverables and necessary activities. The work breakdown structure visually defines the scope into manageable chunks that a project team can understand as each level of the work breakdown structure provides further definition and detail. Basically the work breakdown structure is a subdivision of the project s scope of work as a hierarchical structure. This method is frequently used in project management to break a project down into activities tasks and subtasks.

An example would be the finished design model for a ship.