Project management

1. 1
24.05.2023
Marc Conrad
University of Bedfordshire 1
Project Management – PMBOK®
Work Breakdown Structure
(WBS)
Dr Marc Conrad
Office: D104 – Park Square
Marc.Conrad@beds.ac.uk

2. 2
Scope
(definition)
Project Management Processes
(Initiation)
Initiation
Cost
(estimates, …)
WBS
Time
(activity diagrams, …)
Human Resources
(RACI matrix, …)
• Also to consider: Quality, Risk,
Communication, Procurement, Integration
(PMBOK® knowledge areas)
Project Charter
Project Management Plan

3. 3 The Work Breakdown Structure in the
PMBOK®
From the file
ITO2008.ppt

4. 4
24.05.2023
Marc Conrad
University of Bedfordshire 4
The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
• Used as a basis for a number of processes in
particular to produce the subsidiary plans of the
Project Management Plan.
• The WBS is a deliverable-oriented hierarchy of
decomposed project components that organises and
defines the total scope of the project. The WBS is a
representation of the detailed project scope
statement that specifies the work to be
accomplished by the project.
• The elements comprising the WBS assist the
stakeholders in viewing the end product of the
project.
• The work at the lowest-level WBS component is
estimated, scheduled, and tracked.

5. 5
24.05.2023
Marc Conrad
University of Bedfordshire 5
The Dictionary of the WBS
• A WBS dictionary is a companion document to the
WBS that describes each WBS element. For each WBS
element, the WBS dictionary includes a statement of
work, a list of associated activities, and a list of
milestones.
• Other information can include the responsible
organisation, start and end dates, resources required,
an estimate of cost, charge number, contract
information, quality requirements, and technical
references.
• WBS elements should be cross-referenced as
appropriate.

6. 6
24.05.2023
Marc Conrad
University of Bedfordshire 6
• Redecorate Room
 Prepare materials
 Buy paint
 Buy a ladder
 Buy brushes/rollers
 Buy wallpaper remover
 Prepare room
 Remove old wallpaper
 Remove detachable decorations
 Cover floor with old newspapers
 Cover electrical outlets/switches with tape
 Cover furniture with sheets
 Paint the room
 Clean up the room
 Dispose or store left over paint
 Clean brushes/rollers
 Dispose of old newspapers
 Remove covers
Example WBS

7. 7
24.05.2023
Marc Conrad
University of Bedfordshire 7
Developing the WBS
• Divide the total work of the project into
major groups...
• ...then subdivide these groups into
tasks...
• ...then divide these tasks into sub-tasks
• Subtasks should be small enough to
permit adequate control and visibility
• But avoid excess bureaucracy!

8. 8
24.05.2023
Marc Conrad
University of Bedfordshire 8
Product Breakdown Structure
• Redecorated Room
 Removed old wallpaper
 Clean room
 Cover for furniture
 Cover for electrical
switches
 Newspapers to cover
floor.
 Paint
 Paint on wall
 Leftover paint
 Management products
 Ladder
 Brushes and rollers
• Focus on the product
to be delivered and not
on the work to do.
• Underpins PRINCE2®
“product-based”
approach.

9. 9
24.05.2023
Marc Conrad
University of Bedfordshire 9
“Scope Breakdown Structure”
(Max Wideman’s approach)
• Geographically discrete components
• Time based phases and stages
• Intermediate or final major deliverables
• Discrete structural, process, system or device
components
• Deliverable elements that can be associated
with distinctive types of people-skills or
resources
• After that, break down the work as in the WBS
http://www.maxwideman.com/musings/wbswar.htm
Recommended
Reading!

10. 10
24.05.2023
Marc Conrad
University of Bedfordshire 10
Scope Breakdown Structure
(Max Wideman redecorates a room)
• Redecorated Room
 Painted wall
 Buy paint
 Buy ladder
 Buy brushes or rollers
 Paint room
 New curtains
 …
• Content Family
 A clean room
 Cover floor with old newspapers
 Cover electrical outlets/switches with tape
 Cover furniture with sheets
 Dinner in a restaurant
 …
 Decision on colours
 …
• Note the noun
phrases on the top
levels (scope
breakdown) and
the activities on
the lower levels!

11. 11
24.05.2023
Marc Conrad
University of Bedfordshire 11
Summary
• The WBS is used to define the
activities that are then further
managed.
• Consider alternatives:
 Work Breakdown Structure
 Product Breakdown Structure
 Scope Breakdown Structure
• Use Common Sense in Breakdown the
Project.