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Intricacies of Work Break Down Structure(WBS)
The WBS is used in the project as given below:-
Developing WBS is an essential step during the initial project phases: as soon as the basic scope has been identified the initial WBS can be created with limited scope , as additional scope information is developed or made available by more complete analysis of the project work to be performed the WBS can be updated through the formal change control process.
A project is made more manageable by breaking it down into individual components and this facillates other project management processes such as estimating, scheduling , resource allocation , risk analysis and measurement and control of a project.
Some terms associated with WBS is control account which is a management control point where scope budget, actual cost and schedule are integrated and compared to earned value for performance measurement. Control accounts and placed at selected management points of the WBS.
The 100% Rule
The 100% rule is the core characteristic of the WBS. This rule states that the WBS includes 100% of the work defined by the project scope and captures all deliverables.
RBS-The Resource Breakdown Structure describes the projects resource organization and can be used in conjunction with WBS to define work package assignments. The link between work package and RBS can be used to verify that all members of the project team has been appropriately assigned work packages and all work packages have owners.
The Technique of decomposition as it is applied to activity definition involves subdividing the project work packages into smaller more manageable components called schedule activities.
WBS Development tools:-
There are a number of project management tools that can be used to assist a project manager with the development of WBS. These tools include organization charts , fishbone and brainstorming techniques and top down and bottom up development strategies. Given below is a sample Bottom up Estimating template.
WBS creation methods are 1]Top Down 2]Bottom Up 3]WBS templates.
BOTTOM-UP COST ESTIMATING WORKSHEET
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If the quality of the WBS is defective it can upset the other processes of project management.
To be retrospective WBS plays a very important role in the phases of Project Management and also the knowledge areas of Project management , for queries an comments the Author Suresh Menon can be contacted at suresh@digitalstream.in.
