Question

Describe the function of Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) that used for your PMBOK assignment and how does it relate to project schedule and project budget?

Answer 1

Describe the function of Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) that used for your PMBOK.

First we should know about, what is WBS (Work Breakdown Structure) ?

A work-breakdown structure in project management and systems engineering, is a deliverable-oriented breakdown of a project into smaller components. A work breakdown structure is a key project deliverable that organizes the team's work into manageable sections.

The upper levels of the WBS typically reflect the major deliverable work areas of the project, decomposed into logical groupings of work. The content of the upper levels may vary, depending on the type of project and industry involved. The lower WBS elements provide appropriate detail and focus for support of project management processes such as schedule development, cost estimating, resource allocation, and risk assessment. The lowest-level WBS components are called work packages and contain the definitions of work to be performed and tracked. These can be later used as input to the scheduling process to support the elaboration of tasks, activities, resources, and milestones which can be cost estimated, monitored, and controlled.

This figure shows the outline of the WBS in any particular project.

These are the some functions of WBS used as benifits of the WBS into the projects.

It defines and organizes the work required

It facilitates the quick development of a schedule by allocating effort estimates to specific sections of the WBS

It can be used to identify potential scope risks if it has a branch that is not well defined

It provides a visual of entire scope

It can be used to identify communication points

It provides a visual of impacts when deliverables are falling behind

It can be used to show and assign accountabilities and responsibilities

It can show control points and milestones

It provides a way to estimates project costs

It ensures no important deliverables are forgotten

It can assist with resource allocation

It provides a proven and repeatable approach to planning projects

It provides a tool for team brainstorming and collaboration

It provides an opportunity to engage the team and make them feel invested in the planning

How does WBS relate to project schedule and project budget?

It's a helpful tool that defines a detailed cost or time estimate and provides guidance for schedule development and control. Essentially, using a work breakdown structure enables you to take a top-down look at your project and break it into the tasks and subtasks that will get you to completion.