How to Develop a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

Andreas Apostolopoulos

Agenda

Apr 2013

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Objectives
By the end of this session youll be able to Identify WHERE and HOW WBS fits into the project cycle Understand WHAT a WBS is and WHY to use it in a project

Develop a WBS of a project that is assigned to you

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Where a WBS fits into the project cycle ?

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What is the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)?

The WBS 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 PMBOK 4th Edition Guide pg. 116
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Hierarchical Decomposition Work to be Executed Project Team

Project Objectives & Deliverables

WBS
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Why the WBS Organizes & Defines Total Scope of the Project ?
Inputs
Project Scope Statement Requirements Documentation Organizational Process Assets

Tools & Techniques

Decomposition

Outputs

WBS WBS Dictionary Scope Baseline Project Document Updates

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Apr 2013

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WBS vs WBS Dictionary

WBS

WBS Dictionary

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Discussion Topic
As an Abbey IT project manager you are assigned a project to Install a computer network into an enterprise. You plan to create the WBS. For what information and resources you will ask for? How do you start?
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WBS Styles

Top-down Tree

Mind Map

Outline
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How Many Decomposition Levels?

Level 1
Project Level/ Summary Level Project

Level 2
Deliverable or Phase

Task 1

Task 2

Level 3
Sub-deliverables or Sub-phases Subtask 1 Subtask 2

Level 4
Work Package (Activity Level)
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Work Package 1

Work Package 2
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Common Mistakes to Avoid?

Using the WBS as a task list Organizing the WBS by organizational structure Time-phasing the WBS

A lack of traceability to the WBS

No leverage for change control

No support activities

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Independent Case Study: Develop a WBS for your Personal Web site

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IT Project Group Case Study Marconi Intranet Project

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Review

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Questions - Feedback Questions ??

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Software Tools
Mind Mapping

Further Study
PMBOK 5th Edition Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures

Post-it

WBS Tools

Ms-Visio

http://www.matchware.com

http://www.pmi.org

Ms-Excel

MsWord

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Thank You

Andreas Apostolopoulos aaposto62@gmail.com www.aaposto.weebly.com

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Appendix A: Solution to Independent Case Study

About Me

Carrier History

Education

Skills

Interests

Contact

Company 1

Company 2

Company 3

MSc

Bachelor

IT

Languages

Role A

Role B

Java

C++

Unix

French

Greek

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Appendix B:
WBS diagram for practical exercise (BLANK)

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Appendix C: Solution to Group Case Study

Marconi Web site

About us

Products/Services

Purchase

Contac us

History

Mission

Employment

How to Order

Order Form

Price List

Telephone

Fax

Online

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