Work Breakdown Structures: The Foundation for Project Management Excellence

Contents

Preface vii

Foreword xv

Part I Introduction To WBS Concepts 1

1 Background and Key Concepts 3

Chapter Overview 3

Work Breakdown Structures 4

Defining Work Breakdown Structures 5

Importance of the WBS 7

WBS Lesson Learned: A Brief Illustration 8

WBS Concepts 12

Describing the WBS 12

The House Metaphor–A Consistent Example 14

Chapter Summary 15

2 Applying WBS Attributes and Concepts 19

Chapter Overview 19

WBS Attributes 19

WBS Core Characteristics 20

WBS Use-Related Characteristics 25

WBS Decomposition 28

WBS in Projects, Programs, Portfolios, and the Enterprise 30

WBS Representations 32

WBS Tools 36

Chapter Summary 38

Part II WBS Application In Projects 41

3 Project Initiation and the WBS 43

Chapter Overview 43

Project Charter 44

Preliminary Project Scope Statement 46

Contracts, Agreements, Statements of Work (SOW) 49

Chapter Summary 50

4 Defining Scope through the WBS 53

Chapter Overview 53

Product Scope Description 53

Project Scope Statement (Scope Definition) 54

Work Breakdown Structure 55

Beginning with the Elaborated WBS 60

Use-Related Characteristics 62

WBS Dictionary 65

Deliverable-Based Management 67

Activity-Based Management 67

Scope Baseline 68

Acceptance Criteria 68

Chapter Summary 70

5 The WBS in Procurement and Financial Planning 75

Chapter Overview 75

Build versus Buy Decisions 75

Cost Estimating 77

Cost Budgeting 79

Cost Breakdown Structure 80

Chapter Summary 81

6 Quality, Risk, Resource and Communication Planning with the WBS 85

Chapter Overview 85

Approaching Quality, Resource and Risk Planning 87

Using Existing Templates and Processes 89

Creating Processes to Support the Project 92

Utilizing the WBS as a Basis for Process Development 92

Employing the WBS and WBS Dictionary 94

The Whole is not Greater than the Sum of its Parts— it Developing the Communications Plan 101

The Communications Matrix 102

The Hierarchy of Information 103

The Meeting Matrix 107

Chapter Summary 109

7 The WBS as a Starting Point for Schedule

Development 111

Chapter Overview 111

Demystifying the Transition from the WBS to the Project Schedule 113

Putting These Concepts to Work 117

The WBS in Hierarchical Outline Form 118

Identifying Dependencies between Scope Elements 119

Representing Scope Sequence and Dependency 119

Creating a High-Level Scope Sequence Representation 120

The Concept of Inclusion 121

The Scope Relationship Diagram 125

Creating a Scope Dependency Plan 129

Chapter Summary 132

8 The WBS in Action 137

Chapter Overview 137

Acquiring the Project Team 138

Directing and Managing Project Execution and Integrated Change Management 140

Performing Scope Management 141

Scope Management and the Triple Constraint 142

Reviewing the Relationship with Other Project Management Processes 143

Performing Quality Assurance 144

Performing Scope Verification 144

Chapter Summary 145

9 Ensuring Success through the WBS 147

Chapter Overview 147

Project Performance Management 148

Scope 149

Schedule 149

Cost 150

Planned versus Actual 151

Stakeholder Management 152

Chapter Summary 153

10 Verifying Project Closeout with the WBS 155

Chapter Overview 155

Project Closeout 155

Acceptance / Turnover / Support / Maintenance 156

Contract Closure 156

Project Closeout 157

Chapter Summary 157

Part III WBS For Project Management Decomposition 159

11 A Project Management WBS 161

Chapter Overview 161

Organization Options for a Project Management WBS 162

Project Management WBS Components Aligned with the PMBOK Guide—Third Edition 165

Project Management WBS Lite 168

Chapter Summary 170

A Final Word 170

Appendix A Project Charter Example 173

Appendix B Project Scope Statement Example 179

Appendix C Project Management WBS Examples 187

Appendix D Answers to Chapter Questions 253

Index 275