Work Breakdown Structures

Eric S. Norman, PMP, PgMP, is a strategic project and program management consultant. Shelly A. Brotherton, PMP, is a senior project and program management leader. Robert T. Fried, PMP, is a director responsible for project and program management with a globally recognized enterprise management software company.

"This book is written for everyone responsible for project management or product development work. The topic of the book is a critically useful and important technique for describing and understanding any new product or project development. I applaud the efforts of the authors in showing not just the relevance of a WBS (Work Breakdown Structures) and WBS dictionary to planning a project but also to its execution. A significant contribution of this book is the prominent highlighting the scope of the project management function itself as one of the deliverables in the WBS." (Journal of Product Innovation Management, 2010; 778-783)

• ContentsPreface viiForeword xvPart I Introduction To WBS Concepts 11 Background and Key Concepts 3Chapter Overview 3Work Breakdown Structures 4Defining Work Breakdown Structures 5Importance of the WBS 7WBS Lesson Learned: A Brief Illustration 8WBS Concepts 12Describing the WBS 12The House Metaphor–A Consistent Example 14Chapter Summary 152 Applying WBS Attributes and Concepts 19Chapter Overview 19WBS Attributes 19WBS Core Characteristics 20WBS Use-Related Characteristics 25WBS Decomposition 28WBS in Projects, Programs, Portfolios, and the Enterprise 30WBS Representations 32WBS Tools 36Chapter Summary 38Part II WBS Application In Projects 413 Project Initiation and the WBS 43Chapter Overview 43Project Charter 44Preliminary Project Scope Statement 46Contracts, Agreements, Statements of Work (SOW) 49Chapter Summary 504 Defining Scope through the WBS 53Chapter Overview 53Product Scope Description 53Project Scope Statement (Scope Definition) 54Work Breakdown Structure 55Beginning with the Elaborated WBS 60Use-Related Characteristics 62WBS Dictionary 65Deliverable-Based Management 67Activity-Based Management 67Scope Baseline 68Acceptance Criteria 68Chapter Summary 705 The WBS in Procurement and Financial Planning 75Chapter Overview 75Build versus Buy Decisions 75Cost Estimating 77Cost Budgeting 79Cost Breakdown Structure 80Chapter Summary 816 Quality, Risk, Resource and Communication Planning with the WBS 85Chapter Overview 85Approaching Quality, Resource and Risk Planning 87Using Existing Templates and Processes 89Creating Processes to Support the Project 92Utilizing the WBS as a Basis for Process Development 92Employing the WBS and WBS Dictionary 94The Whole is not Greater than the Sum of its Parts— it Developing the Communications Plan 101The Communications Matrix 102The Hierarchy of Information 103The Meeting Matrix 107Chapter Summary 1097 The WBS as a Starting Point for ScheduleDevelopment 111Chapter Overview 111Demystifying the Transition from the WBS to the Project Schedule 113Putting These Concepts to Work 117The WBS in Hierarchical Outline Form 118Identifying Dependencies between Scope Elements 119Representing Scope Sequence and Dependency 119Creating a High-Level Scope Sequence Representation 120The Concept of Inclusion 121The Scope Relationship Diagram 125Creating a Scope Dependency Plan 129Chapter Summary 1328 The WBS in Action 137Chapter Overview 137Acquiring the Project Team 138Directing and Managing Project Execution and Integrated Change Management 140Performing Scope Management 141Scope Management and the Triple Constraint 142Reviewing the Relationship with Other Project Management Processes 143Performing Quality Assurance 144Performing Scope Verification 144Chapter Summary 1459 Ensuring Success through the WBS 147Chapter Overview 147Project Performance Management 148Scope 149Schedule 149Cost 150Planned versus Actual 151Stakeholder Management 152Chapter Summary 15310 Verifying Project Closeout with the WBS 155Chapter Overview 155Project Closeout 155Acceptance / Turnover / Support / Maintenance 156Contract Closure 156Project Closeout 157Chapter Summary 157Part III WBS For Project Management Decomposition 15911 A Project Management WBS 161Chapter Overview 161Organization Options for a Project Management WBS 162Project Management WBS Components Aligned with the PMBOK Guide—Third Edition 165Project Management WBS Lite 168Chapter Summary 170A Final Word 170Appendix A Project Charter Example 173Appendix B Project Scope Statement Example 179Appendix C Project Management WBS Examples 187Appendix D Answers to Chapter Questions 253Index 275