WBS Explained

WBS stands for “Work Breakdown Structure”. Simply put, it delineates the work required to complete the project. A WBS makes a Project Managers life easier, and it ensures a complete understanding of the work required to complete the task at hand. A WBS is the delineation of the scope into work packages and activities required to complete successfully. It represents total project scope as well as product scope.

I have witnessed during my time as a Project Manager many a practicing project manager not using the WBS correctly or at all. Many find it burdensome; others think it’s useless, and others just do not understand how it. What’s worse is when management sees no value in the exercise of putting a WBS together.

A WBS is easy to understand and quite easy to create. It has immense effectiveness serving as an anchor for many a successful completed project. There are numerous publications that can guide you in developing a WBS. I will focus on the importance of a WBS to the project and some detail on writing one.

A WBS takes time, thought, and collaboration. It should have a method for identifying the hierarchy in either a hierarchical chart or as an outline. It should include a WBS Dictionary that explains in detail how to complete each package/activity. The dictionary spells out the expectation of the deliverable.

  • A WBS can receive information from:
    • The scope management plan
    • The scope statement
    • The requirements document
  • The WBS is related to:
    • WBS dictionary
    • Scope baseline
  • It provides information to
    • Activity list
    • Activity cost estimates
    • Project budget
    • Risk register
    • Accepted deliverables

What is the difference between a deliverable and activity?
A deliverable is the result or outcome of series of activities. The activity represents a small portion of the total work package and deliverable.

Why is WBS important?

  1. WBS is a hierarchical representation of the scope of a project; it represents the total scope of work required.
    • A WBS represents the total scope and hence it can act as a checklist for the project.
  2. A Project Manager can easily see the completed work and what is work remains in the project.
    • The deliverable represented by the WBS is easily monitored and tracked.
    • Each successive level of WBS provides a basis for more precise estimation of remaining effort, duration, resources and cost in which to complete the project.
  3. A WBS can serve as a template for future similar projects – specifically for repetitive processes thus making future projects easier and faster to plan.
  4. Activities are easily assigned to team members making accountability easier.

A WBS can reduce project risk.

Remember:

  1. A WBS uses nouns and adjectives to define work.
  2. The key is that we are talking about the nouns, the (mostly) tangible objects created through project work.
  3. Always put deliverables in the first couple of levels
  4. Only move from deliverables to tasks when you’ve pushed down several levels, and have gotten to packages that are reasonably small and estimable.
  5. The tasks to be performed are always in support of a deliverable.

Controlling Scope

Controlling scope is a process that lives up to it’s title. It’s all about maintaining control by preventing scope change requests from overwhelming the project.

I can remember numerous times where because we didn’t maintain control of the change request process we ended up doing work that was outside of the scope of the project and we didn’t get paid for our efforts. Shame on us for allowing that to happen.

The primary reason for controlling scope is to ensure that all change requests are processed. It is to make sure you understand the underlying causes for the change and just exactly how it will effect the project.

Will the requested change increase costs? Will it increase the amount of time it takes to complete the project? Will it require extra resources? Where will the money or the resources or the time come from? Making a change to the scope is not as simple as one would like it to be.

Controlling scope is an ongoing process that begins once the scope baseline is created. From that point on all change requests are approved or denied through the Perform Integrated Change Control process.

Here is how it works:

1) Inputs

a) Project Management Plan – It contains the scope baseline and the management plan which consists of the WBS, WBS Dictionary, and the Project Scope Statement. The Project Management Plan is the documented source for what the project team is supposed to produce. The scope baseline describes what the Project Manager is supposed to control.

b) Work Performance Information (WPI) – These are similar to the performance reports the Project Manager receives on a regular basis as to the status of the project. These WPI’s provide information on all aspects of the work completed and how it relates to the project.

c) Requirements Documentation – These are the documents you should consult to understand and evaluate the change compared to the original scope.

d) Requirements Traceability Matrix – This document connects the dots from the requirement to either the reason for the requirement or to whom requires the requirement.

e) Organizational Process Assets (OPA) – These are forms or report requirements, paperwork that are unique to the company that you will need to use in order to process these change requests.

2) Tools – The only tool used here is Variance Analysis. We’re using two types of variance measuremnt here:

a) Schedule Variance (SV) = Earned Value (EV) – Planned Value (PV)

b) Cost Variance (CV) = Earned Value (EV) – Actual Cost (AC)

Both are used to measure the differences between what was defined in the scope baseline and what was created. Variance Analysis can be used to as a way to investigate the root causes behind those differences.

3) Outputs

a) Work Performance Measurements – An important part of monitoring and controlling processes is collecting and understanding work performance data and whether it differs from the baseline. If it differs, then corrective action will need to be taken. These measurements are collected and used as part of the Communications process with stakeholders, and as part of the Report Performance process.

b) OPA updates – Any corrective actions requires that organizational process assets be updated. The reason behind this is that you may have discivered that a standard company practice proved to be inadequate for what your project needed. As a result of this discovery you now need to change company documents to reflect this new reality.

c) Change Requests – What a surprise that change requests are part of the output for scope control. As these changes are made to the scope baseline you will need to reflect these changes in other documentation as well: The WBS, WBS Dictionary; scope management plan; project management plan.

d) Project Management Plan updates – As mentioned above, changes have to be recorded and documents need to be changed to reflect the new reality.

e) Project Document Updates – See c & d above.

Project Management: 42 processes in order

These are the 42 PMBOK processes all in order of occurrence…in a perfect world…my hope is that this compilation helps someone else who is studying for the PMI PMP test. Please let me know if I missed anything. I will be updating this tool as I move along in my studies. I hope this will be useful to others studying for the PMP certification.

42 Processes In Order Of Occurrence
Process Group Knowledge Area 42 Processes Inputs Tools Outputs
Initiation
Integration Management Develop Project Charter Project statement of work; business case; Enterprise environmental factors (EEF); Organizational Process Assets (OPA) Expert Judgment Project Charter
Integration Management Identify Stakeholders Project Charter; Procurement Documents; EEF; OPA Stakeholder Analysis; Expert Judgement Stakeholder Register; Stakeholder Management Strategy
Planning
Integration Management Develop Project Management Plan Project Charter; Outputs from planning processes; EEF; OPA Expert Judgment Project Management Plan
Scope Collect Requirements Project Charter; Stakeholder Register Interviews; Focus Groups; Facilitated Workshops; Group Creativity Techniques; Group Decision making techniques; Questionnaires and Surveys; Observation; Prototypes Requirements documentation; requirements management plan; requirements traceability matrix
Scope Define scope Project Charter; Requirements documentation; OPA Expert Judgment; Product analysis; alternatives identification; facilitated workshops Project scope statement; project document updates
Scope Create WBS Project scope statement; requirements documentation; OPA Decomposition WBS; WBS Dictionary; scope baseline; Project documents updates
Time Define Activities Scope baseline; WBS; WBS Dictionary; EEF; OPA Decomposition; Rolling wave planning; templates; Expert judgment Activity List; Activity attributes; milestone list
Time Sequence activities Activity List; Activity attributes; milestone list; Project Scope Statement; OPA Precedence Diagram Method (PDM); Dependency Determination; Apply leads & lags Project Schedule Network Diagrams
Time Estimate activity resources Activity Lists; Activity Attributes; Resource Calendar; EEF; OPA Expert Judgement; Alternatives analysis; Published estimating data; Bottom-up Estimating; PMIS Activity Resource Requirements; Resource breakdown structure; Project document updates
Time Estimate activity durations Activity Lists; Activity Attributes; Activity resource requirements; Resource Calendar; Project Scope Statement; EEF; OPA Expert Judgement; Analogous estimating; Parametric estimating; Three-point estimating; reserve analysis Activity duration estimates; Project document updates
Time Develop schedule Activity Lists; Activity Attributes; Project schedule network diagrams; Activity resource requirements; Resource Calendar; Activity Duration estimates; Project Scope Statement; EEF; OPA Schedule network analysis; Critical Path Method (CPM); Critical Chain Method; Resource leveling; What-if-scenerio analysis; Applying leads & lags; Schedule compression Project schedule; Schedule baseline;
Costs Estimate costs Scope Baseline; Project schedule; HR Plan; Risk Register; EEF; OPA Analogous estimating; Parametric estimating; Bottom-up estimating; three-point estimates; reserve analysis; cost of quality; PMIS; Vendor bid analysis Activity cost estimates; Basis of estimates; project document updates
Costs Determine budget Activity cost estimates; Basis of estimates; Scope baseline; Project Schedule; Resource calendars; contracts; OPA Cost aggregation; reserve analysis; expert judgement; Historical Relationships; Funding Limit Reconciliation Cost Performance Baseline; Project Funding Requirements; Project Document Updates
Quality Plan quality Scope Baseline; Stakeholder register; Cost performance baseline; schedule baseline; risk register; EEF; OPA Cost-Benefit Analysis; Cost of Quality; control charts; benchmarking; design of experiments; statistical sampling; flowcharting Quality Management Plan; Quality Metrics; Quality Checklists; Process Improvement Plan; Project Document Updates
Human Resources Develop Human Resources Plan Activity resource requirements; EEF; OPA Org charts and position descriptions; matrix charts; networking; org theory HR Plan
Communications Plan communications Stakeholder register; Stakeholder Management Strategy; EEF; OPA Communication Requirements Analysis; Communication Models; Communications Management Plan; Project Document Updates
Risk Plan risk management Project scope statement; Cost Management Plan; Schedule Management Plan; Communications Management Plan; EEF; OPA Planning Meetings & Analysis; Risk Management Plan
Risk Identify risks Risk Management Plan; Activity Costs Estimates; Activity Duration Estimates; Scope Baseline; Stakeholder Register; Cost Management Plan; Schedule Management Plan; Quality Management Plan; Project Documents; EEF; OPA Documentation Reviews; Information Gathering Techniques; Checklist analysis; Assumptions Analysis; Diagramming techniques; SWOT; Expert Judgment; Risk Register
Risk Perform Qualitative Risk Analysis Risk Register; Risk Management Plan; Project Scope Statement; OPA Risk Probability and Impact Assessment/Probability and Impact Matrix; Risk data quality assessment; Risk categorization; risk urgency assessment; expert judgement Risk Register Updates
Risk Perform Quantitative Risk Analysis Risk Register; Risk Management Plan; Cost Management Plan; Schedule Management Plan; OPA Data Gathering and Representation Techniques; Probability Distributions; Quantitative Risk Analysis and Modeling Techniques Risk Register Updates
Risk Plan risk response Risk Register; Risk management plan Strategies for negative risks or threats; Strategies for positive risks or opportunities Risk register updates; Risk related contract decisions; project plan updates; project document updates
Procurement Plan procurements Scope Baseline; Requirements Documentation; Teaming agreements; Risk Register; Risk related contract decisions; Activity resource requirements; project schedule; activity costs estimates; cost performance baseline; EEF; OPA Make or Buy Analysis; Expert Judgment; Contract Types; Procurement Management Plan; Procurement Statement of Work; Make or buy decisions; Procurement Documents; Source selection criteria; Change requests
Execution
Integration Management Direct and manage project execution Project Management Plan; Approved Change Requests; EEF; OPA Expert Judgment; PMIS Deliverables; Work Performance Information (WPI)
Quality Perform quality assurance Project Management Plan; Quality Metrics; WPI; Qaulity control measurements Plan quality and perform quality control tools and techniques; quality audits; process analysis OPA updates; change requests; project management plan updates; project document updates
Human Resources Acquire project team Project management plan; EEF; OPA Pre-assignment; negotiation; acquisition; virtual teams Project staff assignments; resource calendars; project management plan updates
Human Resources Develop project team Project staff assignments; resource calendars; project management plan Interpersonal skills; training; team building activities; ground rules; co-location; recognition and rewards; Team performance assessments; EEF;
Human Resources Manage project team Project staff assignments; project management plan; Team performance assessments; Performance Reports; OPA Observation & conversation; Project performance appraisals; conflict management; Issue Log; Interpersonal skills; EEF Updates; OPA updates; Change requests; Project Management Plan Updates
Communications Distribute information Project management plan; performance reports; OPA; Communication methods; Information distribution tools; OPA updates
Procurement Conduct procurements Project Management Plan; Procurement Documents; Source Selection Criteria; Qualified Sellers List; Make or Buy Decisions; Teaming Agreements; OPA Bidder Conferences; Proposal Evaluation Techniques; Independent Estimates; Expert Judgement; Advertising; Internet Search; Procurement Negotiations Selected Sellers; Procurement Contract Award; Resource Calendar; Change Requests; Project Management Plan Updates; Project Document Updates
Monitor & Control
Integration Management Monitor & control project work Project Management Plan;Performance Reports; EEF; OPA Expert Judgement Change Requests; Project Management Plan Updates; Project Document Updates
Integration Management Perform integrated change control Project Management Plan; WPI; Change Requests; EEF; OPA Expert Judgement; Change Control Meetings Change Request Status Updates; Project Management Plan Updates; Project Document Updates
Scope Verify scope Project management plan; Requirements documentation; Requirements traceability matrix; Validated deliverables Inspection accepted deliverables; Change requests; project document updates
Scope Control scope Project management plan; WPI; Requirements documentation; Requirements traceability matrix; OPA Variance analysis Work performance measurements (WPM); OPA updates; Change Requests; Project management plan updates; Project document updates
Time Control schedule Project Management Plan; Project Schedule; WPI; OPA Performance Reviews; Variance Analysis; PMIS; Resource leveling; what-if-scenerio analysis; Adjusting leads & lags; schedule compression; scheduling tool Work performance measurements; OPA updates; Change requests; Project Management Plan Updates; Project Document Updates
Costs Control costs Project Management Plan; Project Funding Requirements; WPI; OPA Earned Value Measurement;(CV & CPI); Forecasting (EAC; ETC; TCPI; EV); Performance Reviews; Variance Analysis; PMIS Work Performance Measurements; Budget Forecasts; OPA Updates; Change Requests; Project Management Plan Updates; Project Document Updates
Quality Perform quality control Project management plan; quality metrics; quality checklists; Work performance measurements; approved change requests; deliverables; OPA Cause and Effect Diagrams; Control charts; flow charting; histogram; Pareto chart; run chart; Scatter diagram; statistical sampling; inspection; approved change requests review Qaulity control measurements; Validated changes; Validated deliverables; OPA updates; Change requests; Project Management Plan Updates; Project Document Updates
Communications Manage stakeholder expectations Stakeholder Register; Stakeholder management strategy; Project management Plan; Issue Log; Change Log; OPA Communications methods; Interpersonal skills; Management skills OPA updates; change requests; project management plan updates; project document updates
Communications Report performance Project Management Plan; Work Performance Information; Work Performance Measurements; Budget Forecast; OPA Variance Analysis; Forecasting Methods (EAC; ETC); Communications Methods; Reporting Systems Performance Reports; OPA Updates; Change Requests
Risk Monitor & control risks Risk Register; Project Management Plan; Work Performance Information; Performance Reports Risk assessment; Risk audits; Variance and trend analysis; Technical performance measurement; Reserve Analysis; Status Meetings Risk Register Updates; OPA Updates; Change Requests; Project Management Plan Updates; Project Document Updates
Procurement Administer procurements Procurement Documents; Project Management Plan; Contract; Performance Reports; Approved Change Requests; Work Performance Information; Contract Change Control System; Procurement Performance Reviews; Inspections and Audits; Performance Reporting; Payment Systems; Claims Administration; Records and Management System Procurement Documentation; OPA Updates; Change Requests; Project Management Plan Updates
Close
Integration Management Close project or phase Project Management Plan; Accepted Deliverables; OPA Expert Judgement Final Product, Service, or result
Procurement Close procurements Project management Plan; Procurement Documentation Procurement Audits; Negotiated Settlements; Records Management System; Closed Procurements; OPA Updates