Building a standard work breakdown structure
A work breakdown structure is a deliverable that decomposes the project into smaller components.
Getting ready
Before starting, it is important to have an understanding of your project methodology and determine:
- Your new work practices
How to do it...
Your work practices have new productions and processes outlined. Start up a tool such as Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Project, and begin recording these work practices and their associated products and processes:
- Open a spreadsheet application.
- Create a tab called DW WBS:
- Start by entering your work practice names or project phases:
- Start to decompose the phases with the major products and processes from your work practices:
- Assign a number to each major product or process identified within your work practices.
- Further decompose these products and processes to the major deliverable components or work tasks required by the project:
How it works...
By decomposing your work practices to products and processes, and then to tasks and components, you get a comprehensive view of the activities for the project.
There's more...
Try not to decompose the deliverables and tasks beyond a manageable level. A good rule of thumb—the detail is sufficient if you can record the time and cost to it, without creating a burden on the project. For example, staging tables is a sufficient level of detail, and it is not required to list each individual staging table.