A work breakdown structure (WBS) is a visual, hierarchical and deliverable-oriented deconstruction of a project. It is a helpful diagram for project managers because it allows them to break down their project scope and visualize all the tasks required to complete their projects.
All the steps of project work are outlined in the work breakdown structure chart, which makes it an essential project planning tool. Project managers use a WBS for many purposes, such as finding the critical path or creating a Gantt chart.
Inputs
1. Scope management plan
2. Project scope statement
3. Requirements documentation
4. Enterprise environmental factors
5. Organizational process assets
Tools &Techniques
1. Decomposition
2. Expert judgment
Outputs
1. Scope baseline
2. Project document updates
Decomposition
A technique used for dividing and subdividing of project scope and project deliverables into smaller, more manageable parts, until the works and deliverables are defined to the work package level.
WBS Levels
• The Top Level of the WBS is Project Title.
• The First Level is most commonly the same as the Project Phases.
• The Second & Later levels break the project into smaller pieces.
• The Lowest Level that the project manager will manage the project to, is called the Work Package. This Work may be broken down again by the person or persons completing the work.
WBS Dictionary
WBS Dictionary is a document that provides detailed information about deliverables, activity and scheduling of each component in the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS).
The WBS Dictionary describes each component of the WBS with milestones, deliverables, activities, scope, and sometimes dates, resources, costs, quality.
Used correctly, the WBS Dictionary becomes much more than a document that describes the work. It becomes a project kaleidoscope that allows you to look at your project data in an infinite number of ways.
The main application of the WBS dictionary is to define the work in detail to help create the product that will be obtained with the execution of the project. Work Packages are the lowest level of the WBS. They represent the list of tasks in order to produce the particular unit of work.
How to Create a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) in Excel
Step 1:
Open Microsoft Excel on your computer. One of the ways to create a basic level of work breakdown structure in Excel is by using SmartArt Graphics. To create a work breakdown structure using SmartArt Graphics, follow the process below.
Step 2:
Click the Insert tab and navigate to the Illustrations section. After that, select SmartArt Graphics. A dialogue box will open that has different SmartArt Graphics categories, and you can choose a suitable shape for your work breakdown structure in Excel.
Step 3:
Next, go to the Hierarchy section and select a SmartArt Graphic to construct your work breakdown structure in Excel. After selecting a SmartArt Graphic, click the OK button.
The SmartArt Graphic will revamp on the Excel sheet. You can see the Hierarchy SmartArt Graphic revamped on the Excel sheet below.
Step 4:
Type the title of the first task in the top box of the Excel WBS SmartArt Graphic. The editor will appear beside the SmartArt Graphic, and you can type the content to be displayed in the WBS Excel. Then, move to the boxes below and type the description of the subtask in the editor window.
You can manipulate the boxes in the editor window to add new boxes to define more tasks in your work breakdown structure. You can assign different colors to each box as well. Select the box and then click the Change color button.
You can use “Right Click Menu” on any box to add new one (before/ after/ above/ below)