Differences between the wbs and the activity list liliana. A wbs dictionary is merely a supporting document, which provides the definitions for each component contained in the work breakdown structure. Unfortunately, the business pressures driving projects have often prevented project managers from developing a comprehensive wbs. A work package can be thought of as a mini project, that when combined with other work package units, form the completed project.
The work breakdown structure wbs is developed to establish a common understanding of project scope. The wbs defines all the work that the project will deliver, while the activity list and the schedule define the tasks that you will need to deliver all wbs components or work packages. A unique identifier assigned to each element in a work breakdown structure for the purpose of designating the elements hierarchical location within the wbs. The difference between a wbs and a work package is that the latter is the granular form of the former. A work package can be thought of as a mini project, that when combined with other work. The goal of a wbs is to make a large project more manageable. In programs or large projects, a work package may be at a level requiring further decomposition into its own work breakdown structure. 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 package vs activity learn in detail about the difference between work. Description of the work to be delivered in sufficient detail to ensure a common understanding by stakeholders.
The wbs dictionary template provided below is a somewhat comprehensive one. The first question that someone should ask is why use a work breakdown structure wbs at all. 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. The breakdown of the work package might then be done by the project team for that work package or even an external vendor. 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. Given the emphasis on a solid wbs it surprises me that its actually so hard to find a decent bit of software aligned with the need. You can refer to max wideman glossary to read some other standard definitions.
For instance, sample activities for the servers or software application work package can be. This work package includes all engineering, planning, and. What is the difference between a wbs and a work package. A work package is a group of related tasks within a project. What are the 4 wbs levels and the relationship between them. 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 hierarchical list of projects work activities t wo formats outline indented format graphical tree organizational chart uses a decimal numbering system ex. Aug 21, 2018 wbs package id an identifier to identify the work package. What are the differences between work package and planning. Applying work breakdown structure to project lifecycle pmi. The work breakdown structure wbs has long served as a valuable tool in helping. 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. Mar 11, 2017 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. Wbs dictionary is the place where you document all additional information pertaining to the work packages in the project.
Its origins stem from us military defense projects. Its an important part of the scope management plan which is a subsidiary of the project management plan. Besides the project scope statement and the wbs, there are quite a few questions about the wbs dictionary, in the pmp certification exam. A work breakdown structure wbs is a key project deliverable that organizes the teams work into manageable sections. Work breakdown structure dictionary project management. The wbs is a useful resource for project management and should be consulted for. 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. Work packages are the smallest components of the work breakdown structure. 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 terms work package and activity are often used interchangeably, although on the exam, they are very distinct concepts and should not be confused.
A work package is a deliverable or work component at the lowest level of its wbs branch. In wbs there are levels and wbs dictionary is associated with the work packages level of a work breakdown structure. Because they look like projects themselves, they are often thought of as subprojects within a larger project. 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. But to confront the challenges of working in todays volatile economic environment, project managers are increasingly using. 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. Alpha, beta, release candidate are the stages of software development. Ultimately every work package should produce a product, even if some products are largely internal to the project, and every product requires work to be performed in its creation.
Element level wbs title description 1 6500m hov a4500 2 project management 3. The work package is that level of work that can be reliably estimated by the project manager. The work breakdown structure visually defines the scope into manageable. 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 do we do with risky tasks. The project management body of knowledge defines the work breakdown structure as a deliverable oriented hierarchical decomposition of the work to be executed by the project team. So, in other words, every wbs package is a wbs element, but not every wbs element is a wbs package. Work breakdown structure wbs forms the baseline of project. Difference between a wbs element and a work package project. Oct 31, 2012 differences between the wbs and the activity list one of the topics that readers of my secrets to mastering the wbs in realworld projectssecond edition book pmi, 2010 and 20 enjoy is when i write about the four typical confusions that individuals have about the work breakdown structure wbs.
Read more on wbs dictionary vs sequence activities pm prepcast forum. It displays and defines the product, or products, to be developed andor produced. The bottom line is by using a work breakdown structure it reduces the number of surprises and improves the ability to better. One work breakdown structure example that will make it clear. The work breakdown structure, usually shortened to wbs, is a tool project managers use to break projects down into manageable pieces. I think the most important part of it should be an integrated wbs dictionary. Difference between a wbs element and a work package. The wbs is developed during the create wbs planning.
Most project professionals recognise the importance and benefits of a wbs in outperforming projects without one. 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. Its a way to divide and conquer large projects so you can get things done faster and more efficiently. The work breakdown structure approach allows us to visually see the work that is needed in order to complete a project. A deliverable is a tangible outcome that gives satisfaction to one or more project stakeholders. The importance of work packages in project scope management. Work breakdown structures in large projects how detailed should a wbs be. Difference between wbs and wbs dictionary checkykey. For each wbs element, the wbs dictionary may include a brief definition of the scope or. This work package includes all work required to generate. Measuring work package performance with earned value management. Actually, activities are the tasks that must be assigned to project team members to complete the work package.
The work package level is the lowest level of a work breakdown structure wbs. Work breakdown structure dictionary was controlled and tracked. Featuredriven software projects may use a similar technique which is to. In this article, youll find a work breakdown structure example from real life. Applying work breakdown structure to project lifecycle.
They represent the list of tasks in order to produce the particular unit of work. If your software does not allow you to create a hierarchy diagram easily, dont do it in ms word, please. Work packages only state nouns and name of the deliverable. The work package includes the schedule activities and schedule milestones required to complete the work package deliverable or project work component. The work breakdown structure wbs has long served as a valuable tool in helping project managers plan deliverables and detail project scope. The wbs is a method for getting a complex, multistep project done. All the work contained within the wbs is to be identified, estimated, scheduled, and budgeted. 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. 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. This type of dictionary is often recommended as a reference resource material for taskoriented projects comprising several work phases. Dec 22, 20 work package vs activity work package definition. Ultimately every workpackage should produce a product, even if some products are largely internal to the project, and every product requires work to be performed in its creation. In wrike, you can build a wbs by creating folders and subfolders, and can even go further to divide individual tasks into subtasks.
A wbs dictionary provides supporting information to the work. One of the pillars of any project is the work breakdown structure wbs and the accompanying wbs dictionary. Once you have all the work packages and wbs dictionary, its time to create the wbs. The tool can be as detailed as the it project manager wants it to be to help manage the project. What is a work breakdown structure in project management. Work breakdown structure or wbs is a hierarchical tree structure that outlines your project and breaks it down into smaller, more manageable portions. The wbs has to do with the projects what, while the. A deliverable or project work component at the lowest level of each branch of the work breakdown structure. The work breakdown structure dictionary is a useful resource for project management, and should be consulted for relevant information on each component of the work breakdown structure wbs. When documenting a project, a wbs dictionary is often included in addition to a visualization of the wbs.
This is an example of a work breakdown structure wbs for a. Software as a service saas wbs level 1 a wbs dictionary contains more detailed information about elements within a work breakdown structure wbs. The wbs forms the basis of the project plan, decomposing the main project into stages, then workpackages then into subactivities per work package. Xmind also includes gantt capabilities so you can use that if youre so inclined. 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.
Project scope statement was created together with wbs and wbs dictionary in one. 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 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. Apr 27, 2020 work packages only state nouns and name of the deliverable. If they are looking at the wbs, all the information that the wbs holds will be available to them in the wbs dictionary, right there, inside the same document. Oct 04, 2019 it is a good practice to include the wbs and the wbs dictionary in the same document. Since the activity list is based off the wbs work packages, what would be the difference between an activity lists and attributes vs wbs dictionary. 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.
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. Completion of work packages can be dependencies for other work packages. The work defined at the lowest level of the work breakdown structure for which cost and duration can be estimated and managed. Feb 09, 2014 the work breakdown structure, usually shortened to wbs, is a tool project managers use to break projects down into manageable pieces.
This is an example of a work breakdown structure wbs for. Work packages are in the third wbs level and they are very small parts of the wbs. To explain work packages in detail, work breakdown structure dictionary is. It is the start of the planning process and is often called the foundation of project planning. How to create a work breakdown structure lucidchart blog. In the work breakdown structure wbs, each work package is mentioned very precisely. 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.
This work package includes all engineering, planning, and documentation required to develop a purchase specification. Sometimes, you may have more information about each work package, that you wanted to record. Element level wbs title description 1 6500m hov a4500. It relates the elements of work to be accomplished to each other and to the end product.
A wbs is the cornerstone of effective project planning, execution, controlling, monitoring, and reporting. T he wbs dictionary is a project management document that provides detailed information about each component in the work breakdown structure 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 structure wbs, and the work breakdown structure dictionary wbs dictionary. Wbs package id an identifier to identify the work package. Product versus work breakdown structure project manager. What is wbs work breakdown structure in project management. The real difference between a wbs and a pbs is how the elements that combine to make up the completed project deliverable are described. The performance of a work package can be measured by the earned value management measurement technique, a commonly used performance measurement metric. A wbs package is usually estimated in cost and time and assigned to one or more. But what needs to be delivered must be explained in detail and that is achieved by wbs dictionary. A workbreakdown structure wbs in project management and systems engineering, is a.
Wbs package name name of the work package in a precise and simple readable form. What is work breakdown structure in project management. In order to understand the difference between work package and planning package, first we need to realize the. We have then looked into what is included in a typical wbs dictionary in the form of a wbs dictionary template. Creating and maintaining a wbs dictionary simplilearn. In practice, i include in the dictionary only down to the work package level, in which i have the loaded budget, resources, materials, dependencies, owner, etc. 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 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. The wbs dictionary includes entries for each wbs component that briefly defines the scope or statement of the work, defines deliverables, contains a list.
This is where all the work component descriptions are documented. A wbs dictionary is formatted like the hierarchical structure, but it includes a brief description of each work package. Wbs should not take too much effort to create and maintain it. The tasks or activities that make up a work package should flow organically. A workbreakdown structure element may be a product, data, service, or any. A work breakdown structure is a key project deliverable that organizes the teams work into manageable sections. On the third level, you may have either interim deliverables or work packages. A wbs dictionary is a document that provides detailed information about each element in the wbs, including work packages and control accounts. Component or fullproject failures, when they do occur, can often be traced to a. It integrates project scope, cost, and schedule measures to help the project management team assess and measure project. 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.
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