1.

WBS-Construction of House (Example)

2. WBS Dictionary
3. Organization Breakdown Structure (OBS)





1
WBS-Construction of House
Decide individual tasks necessary
to complete the house
Lecture by Junaid Arshad Department of
Engineering Management
Abridged and adapted by A. M. Al-Araki,
sept. 2013
The individual tasks necessary to complete the house.
2
Level 1
NOTE: We assume that the design is
complete, all permits issued, all material
ordered and inspection happens
Level 1: is the highest level where the
project (house) will be summarized.
Level 2 is identified at the project level: House. It correspond
to Level 1. In this case, the code is 1.1.
Level 1
Level 2
Divide the work into the major elements needed to build a house. You
divide Level 3 into six elements: concrete, framing, plumbing,
electrical, interior and roofing. These are both major deliverables and
milestones for managing the project. They also enable the project by task.
Each codes at level 3 is unique to the project and starts with the WBS code
from the level above (11.11.1.1).
Do we need another level?
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
3
4
Level 4 of the WBS will enable us to manage the project as desired. All
of our contractors fit into specific elements at level 4, and so do all
specific departments. Organization Breakdown Structure (OBS)

Level 4
Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
The WBS is complete. It does include the necessary components to
manage the project by task.

5
Housing Corporation
1.1 New Home Construction
1.1.1 Concrete
1.1.1.1 Pour Foundation
1.1.1.2 Install Patio
1.1.1.3 Pour Stairway
1.1.2 Framing
1.1.2.1 Frame Exterior Walls
1.1.2.2 Frame Interior Walls
1.1.2.3 Install Roofing Trusses
1.1.3 Plumbing
1.1.3.1 Install Water Lines
1.1.3.2 Install Gas Lines
1.1.3.3 Install B/K Fixtures
1.1.4 Electrical
1.1.4.1 Install Wiring
1.1.4.2 Install Outlets/Switches
1.1.4.3 Install Fixtures
1.1.5 Interior
1.1.5.1 Install Drywall
1.1.5.2 Install Carpets
1.1.5.3 Install Painting
1.1.6 Roofing
1.1.6.1 Install Felt
1.1.6.2 Install Shingles
1.1.6.3 Install Vents
WBS Dictionary
The WBS dictionary is a narrative documentation of the effort needed to
accomplish all work defined in the WBS. The WBS dictionary is
developed for the lowest level element in the WBS only.

To better understand how a WBS and a WBS dictionary work, lets
compare it to a book and the books table of contents:

The WBS is the table of contents for the project. It captures the
contents in an organized fashion (chapters, subchapter).

The WBS dictionary is the book itself. It tells the story. In our case
the story is what work will be accomplished and what outputs will
be produced in each of the WBS elements. The total of these
descriptions is how a house will be built and what is needed to
build the house.

The WBS dictionary will often lead to the development of the Scope of
work (SOW) for the project.
6
WBS Dictionary
WBS Dictionary describes each component of
the WBS e.g.
Milestone
Deliverables
Activities
Scope
Resources
Quality
Cost
Sometime dates

7
Organization Breakdown Structure (OBS)
Development of WBS is developed demands the assignment of
appropriate resources and responsibilities.

Develop the Organizational Breakdown Structure (OBS) for the
project. This indicates the organizational relationships and is
used as the framework for assigning work responsibilities. See
next slide.

The OBS is structured by Responsible Department and then
by Performing Department at the lowest level. This
Performing Department level is where the responsibility and
resource needed to accomplish the project will be assigned.
With the relationships and responsibilities defined, second
and final step is to merge the WBS and OBS.
8
Organization Breakdown Structure (OBS)
9
CONCRETE
PERF DEPT 6010
M. Manning
MASONRY
PERF DEPT 6020
T. Greams
TEST
PERF DEPT 6030
K. Neumann
CIVIL
RESP DEPT
R. Kelly
CARPENTRY
PERF DEPT 5010
R. Sites
ROOFING
PERF DEPT 5020
Y. Taylor
DRYWALL
PERF DEPT 5030
D. Smith
STRUCTURAL
RESP DEPT
P. Tate
PERF DEPT 4010
S. Johnson
HOOKUP/TIE-IN
PERF DEPT 4020
P. Ottis
ELECTICAL
RESP DEPT
J. Sims
WATER/SEWER
PERF DEPT 3010
K. Wells
GAS
PERF DEPT 3020
R. Oriely
PLUMBING
RESP DEPT
R. Lee
PROJECT OFFICE
RESP
DEPT
B. Smithers
WIRING
10
WBS-Construction of House cont.
Earlier topics: [WBS], [Dictionary of WBS] and [OBS]
Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM)
Technical Approach, Scope of Work, Specifications, Risk
Management and Resource Allocation based on WBS
Multiple Ways to Develop WBS
The 100% Rule
Continuation: