The wbs is key to project planning and increases visibility once work gets. The difference between a wbs and a work package is that the latter is the granular form of the former. A work breakdown structure is a key project deliverable that organizes the teams work into manageable sections. The wbs dictionary, in addition to expanding on the simple one line description of the wbs elements, connects the wbs. In the project scope management knowledge area, the scope baseline is said to be a combination of the project scope statement, the work breakdown. Element level wbs title description 1 6500m hov a4500. Work breakdown structure dictionary was controlled and tracked. A deliverable or project work component at the lowest level of each branch of the work breakdown structure. Wbs package id an identifier to identify the work package. The wbs is key to project planning and increases visibility once work gets underway.
The work breakdown structure wbs has long served as a valuable tool in helping project managers plan deliverables and detail project scope. Learn how to create compelling work breakdown structure wbs. But to confront the challenges of working in todays volatile economic environment, project managers are increasingly using. Developing wbs dictionary in a project reflects an advance project management practice for this project. Applying work breakdown structure to project lifecycle. What is work breakdown structure in project management. The wbs dictionary contains all the details of the wbs which are necessary to successfully complete the project. This work package includes all engineering, planning, and. All about work breakdown structures wbs smartsheet. Because they look like projects themselves, they are often thought of as subprojects within a larger project. The work package is that level of work that can be reliably estimated by the project manager.
The work breakdown structure in software project management. Element level wbs title description 1 6500m hov a4500 2 project management 3. Check the capital project delivery website to ensure this is the current version. A work package is a group of related tasks within a project. Work breakdown structure wbs different approaches for developing a wbs notations for work breakdown structures heuristics and examples starting with templates how to identify work what.
How to create a work breakdown structure lucidchart blog. A work breakdown structure wbs is a key project deliverable that organizes the teams work into manageable sections. You might have noticed that work breakdown structure has bare minimum information such as work package id and the work package name in it. Creating and maintaining a wbs dictionary simplilearn. Continue adding and indenting list items until you reach the work package level. A work breakdown structure wbs is a deliverable oriented grouping of the work involved in a project that defines its total scope 11. A wbs element is any element in the wbs, a work package, on the other hand, is a leaf element in the wbs an element belonging to the last level in the wbs. Create a work breakdown structure outline, diagram, or dictionary template. The wbs dictionary is usually a spreadsheet that lists the wbs, the wbs element name, a description of the work in that element at a minimum.
A work breakdown structure dictionary entry of the work package not only enables you to identify and track the work package, but also provides complete information about the work package to the team. It relates the elements of work to be accomplished to each other and to the end product. A work package can be thought of as a mini project, that when combined with other work package units, form the completed project. In the work breakdown structure wbs, each work package is mentioned very precisely. Wbs work breakdown structure is a deliverableoriented hierarchical decomposition of the work to be executed by the project team to accomplish the project objectives and create the required deliverables. If the wbs element names are ambiguous, a wbs dictionary can help clarify. One work breakdown structure example that will make it clear. Most importantly it contains a definition of each work package which can be thought of as a. The wbs dictionary contains all the details of the work breakdown structure which are necessary to successfully complete the project. Defining a work breakdown structure wbs dictionary. A work package represents one component of the product that the project aims to deliver. The work breakdown structure wbs has long served as a valuable tool in helping. Unfortunately, the business pressures driving projects have often prevented project managers from developing a comprehensive wbs. A work breakdown structure wbs is a deliverable oriented grouping of the work involved in a project that.
A wbs dictionary is a document that provides detailed information about each element in the wbs, including work packages and control accounts. Work breakdown structure dictionary project management. Completion of work packages can be dependencies for other work packages. The work breakdown structure wbs is a vehicle for breaking an engineering project down into subproject, tasks, subtasks, work packages, and so on. What is a wbs dictionary and why you need one pm certification. Hence, this study will address benefits of wbs, wbs process and common pitfalls. Dec 26, 2019 a work breakdown structure wbs milstd881d is a tool used to define a project in discrete work elements in a hierarchical format. The tool can be as detailed as the it project manager wants it to be to help manage the project. The wbs is developed during the create wbs planning. This work package includes all work required to generate, administer and implement project control functions and reporting tasks including risk mitigation, scheduling.
As with other concepts in project management, such as the objective and the work breakdown structure, the focus with a work packages shouldnt be the activities that create it, but the outcome, the product, or the deliverable. Use the table below to provide the version number, the author implementing the version, the date of the version, the name of the person. What are the differences between work package and planning. A wbs dictionary is a document that provides detailed information about each element in the wbs, including work packages and control. Explanation and examples of work package and activity. What is wbs dictionary in project management wbs dictionary contains all the details of each of the work packages in the project.
Ultimately, for each work package that exists in our wbs, we should maintain a corresponding wbs dictionary. They represent the list of tasks in order to produce the particular unit of work. A wbs package is usually estimated in cost and time and assigned to one or more. The wbs dictionary includes entries for each wbs component that briefly defines the scope or statement of the work, defines deliverables, contains a list of associated activities, and provides a list of. The project management body of knowledge pmbok defines the work breakdown structure as a deliverable oriented hierarchical decomposition of the work to be executed by the project team. In order to understand the difference between work package.
So, in other words, every wbs package is a wbs element, but not every wbs element is a wbs package. The work package represents the list of tasks or todos to produce the specific unit of. The work package includes the schedule activities and schedule. A work package is a portion of the work breakdown structure that allows project management to define the steps necessary for completion of the work package. Work breakdown structures wbs for software development projects. Sometimes, you may have more information about each work package, that you wanted to record. The wbs is a method for getting a complex, multistep project done.
Work breakdown structures wbs for software development. In reality, wbs is a simple and easy visual breakdown of deliverables for product, result. According to pert which developed the wbs, a work package is the work required to complete a specific job or process, such as a report, a design, a documentation requirement or portion thereof, a piece of hardware, or a service. It follows the same structure as your hierarchies and should include a brief description of each work package so there are no miscommunications. What is wbs work breakdown structure in project management. What is the difference between a wbs and a work package. In wbs there are levels and wbs dictionary is associated with the work packages level of a work breakdown structure. In project management, wbs stands for work breakdown structure. Keep reading for practical tips to create your wbs to get tasks under control. The project management body of knowledge defines the. A clearly defined work breakdown structure allows you to make sure every detail and phase of a project is accounted for before you begin.
Work packages are in the third wbs level and they are very small parts of the wbs. It will also try to demonstrate on how to develop a simple and easy wbs to implement for software development projects. Jun 02, 2014 if you are a project manager and you want to stretch your tasks correctly, then you need to create what is known as a work breakdown structure for your project. Wbs is a hierarchical and incremental decomposition of the project into phases, deliverables and work packages. The wbs dictionary, in addition to expanding on the simple one line description of the wbs elements, connects the wbs to the statement of work sow. Nov 28, 2018 the main application of the wbs dictionary is that it helps to create the product that will be obtained with the execution of the project work packages are the lowest level of the wbs.
When documenting a project, a wbs dictionary is often included in addition to a visualization of. A wbs dictionary provides supporting information to the work. This way, the project team, and stakeholders will not be compelled to search for any information. Work packages are the smallest unit of work that a project can be broken down to when creating your work breakdown structure wbs. Work breakdown structure relativistic heavy ion collider. It serves as a more detailed supporting document and crucial reference to the visually centered wbs. The wbs forms the basis of the project plan, decomposing the main project into stages, then workpackages then into subactivities per work package. Applying work breakdown structure to project lifecycle pmi.
It displays and defines the product, or products, to be developed andor produced. The number of the levels required for the wbs project management template xls will be depend on the characteristics of the project, but the levels must. Use the table below to provide the version number, the author implementing the version, the date of the version, the name of the person approving the version, the date that particular version was approved, and a brief description of the reason for creating the revised version. Work breakdown structure wbs project management docs. A wbs dictionary describes the scope of each work element, and includes a brief description of each work package. How to create your project work breakdown structure. Ms project 20 work breakdown structure wbs youtube. Sep 06, 2017 the number of the levels required for the wbs project management template xls will be depend on the characteristics of the project, but the levels must be sufficient to meet the project managers needs for the accurate estimating and the effective project monitoring.
A wbs dictionary is merely a supporting document, which provides the definitions for each component contained in the work breakdown structure. It visually communicates the big picture, and helps everyone stay on. User acceptance testing uat is the last phase of software testing, in which. Most importantly it contains a definition of each work package which can be thought of as a mini scope statement. Once you have all the work packages and wbs dictionary, its time to create the wbs. A scope definition is necessary to decide what all should and should not be covered with in the project. The wbs is a useful resource for project management and should be consulted for. Oct 04, 2019 it is a good practice to include the wbs and the wbs dictionary in the same document. For each wbs element, the wbs dictionary may include a brief definition of the scope or statement of work, defined deliverable s, a list of associated activities, and a list of milestones. The wbs dictionary includes entries for each wbs component that briefly defines the scope or statement of the work, defines deliverables, contains a list. A workbreakdown structure wbs in project management and systems engineering, is a. The work represented by the activities in each work package must add up to. Software as a service saas wbs level 1 a wbs dictionary contains more detailed information about elements within a work breakdown structure wbs. Assign each work package to a specific team or individual.
Its a way to divide and conquer large projects so you can get things done faster and more efficiently. Work breakdown structure information, software and wbs samples. This objective could be anything from developing a new software feature to building a missile. Dec 22, 20 explanation and examples of work package and activity. Work breakdown structure element dictionary final design procedures are subject to change without notice. The work package level is the lowest level of a work breakdown structure wbs.
It organizes and defines the total scope of the project. What is a work breakdown structure in project management. Difference between a wbs element and a work package. Many people have mistaken wbs as a list of tasks, a schedule or an organization chart. Its origins stem from us military defense projects. A wbs dictionary provides a highlevel visualization of your wbs. How to use work breakdown structure wbs in microsoft project 2016 part 1 duration. So it will have the sufficient information of our wbs.
According to pert which developed the wbs, a work package is the work required to complete a specific job or process, such as a report, a design, a. Rational unified process, rational software corporation 19872001. Similar to the product log, a wbs dictionary can be produced in conjunction with the wbs to store relevant detailed information in support of the planning process. In order to understand the difference between work package and planning package, first we need to realize the concept of progressive elaboration of scope. The wbs dictionary template provided below is a somewhat comprehensive one. This type of dictionary is often recommended as a reference resource material for taskoriented projects comprising several work phases. As with other concepts in project management, such as the objective and the. A work breakdown structure is an outline of key project deliverables and the work needed to get there. The work breakdown structure provides a common framework for the natural development of the overall planning and control of a contract and is the basis for dividing work into definable increments from which the statement of work can be developed and technical, schedule, cost, and labor hour reporting can be established. 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. The main application of the wbs dictionary is that it helps to create the product that will be obtained with the execution of the project work packages are the lowest level of the wbs. When complete, the work breakdown structure lowest level components called work packages can be. 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.
How to create a work breakdown structure workfront. The terms work package and activity are often used interchangeably, although on the exam, they are very distinct concepts and should not be confused. Its an important part of the scope management plan which is a subsidiary of the project management plan. In the similar vein, the level of the detail will vary, but one the option. Difference between a wbs element and a work package project. Free work breakdown structure templates smartsheet. Wbs package name name of the work package in a precise and simple readable form. T he wbs dictionary is a project management document that provides detailed information about each component in the work breakdown structure wbs.
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