Question

Assume you are hosting a gathering for 20-25 people. What are five activities that might be in your work breakdown structure? Please number these and give them in order of what would happen first, second, etc. Which of these activities do you believe to be most important and why?

Answer 1

Let us first begin with understanding the meaning of work breakdown structure (WBS). Work breakdown structure is a project management technique which is used while managing the projects which include multiple tasks to be accomplished. It means breaking down the entire work into small tasks, and then arranging them on the basis of priority. Further, mentioning the important factor under each task is what is done while making the WBS.

In order to host the gathering for 20- 25 people following five activities can be a part of the work breakdown structure:

• Planning: the first and the most important task that becomes a part of the WBS is planning. Here planning the entire gathering in terms of budget, the hall to be selected, the decorations, the date and time of the party. Planning will help with carrying out other activities with ease.  
• Guest list: next comes arranging for the guest list and making sure that no important friend/ relative is left uninvited. Setting up a guest list will help in organizing for the food and deciding what its quantity will be.
• Arranging/ setting the menu: after the guest list have been decided, next comes selecting the menu on the basis of number of guests invited. Looking for different kinds of food will add on to the variety in the menu.
• Staff allocation: after doing all the arrangements, next comes looking at who will serve the guests while the party goes on, the staff at the bar counter to serve the drinks, how skilled and fit he is for the job. It is important because staff interacting directly with the guests throw a big impact on how the party will go.
• Transportation: in the end arranging for the transportation of the guests and booking out one or two vehicles to drop the guests back to their places, if in case they come without their own vehicle. This adds on to the level of hospitality.

According to me, the most important activity is planning. Without proper planning the budget will not be set, the guests to be invited, the menu and everything will go off the track. Planning helps in showing the right direction while arranging for each item and fulfilling every task assigned under the work breakdown structure (WBS).