Discover How the WBS (Work Breakdown Structure) Can Transform Your Project Planning!
What Is a WBS?
The WBS, or Work Breakdown Structure, is a hierarchical breakdown of all the work required to complete a project. In French, it's referred to as "SDP" (Structure de Découpage de Projet), even though the word “work” is not explicitly mentioned—it is, of course, implied.
What Is the Purpose of the WBS?
- Visualize all the work
- Everything included in the WBS will be done—nothing more, nothing less.
- Ensure nothing is forgotten
- Breaking down into small work packages ensures every task is identified.
- Estimate and schedule
- Once the work packages are defined, you can assign duration, cost, and resources to them and then derive the overall schedule.
- Track progress
- Each work package becomes a checkpoint: completed, in progress, or upcoming.
- Clarify responsibilities
- Each work package is assigned to a resource (person or team), ensuring everyone knows exactly what they’re responsible for.
How to Build a WBS?
- Level 0 – The Overall Project
- Represents the entire project (e.g., "Website Creation").
- Level 1 – Deliverables or Phases
- Option 1: by deliverable
- If focused on results, list the main deliverables (Design, Content, Infrastructure…).
- Option 2: by phase
- For sequential tracking, break it down into phases (Planning, Design, Development, Testing, Production).
- Option 1: by deliverable
- Level 2 – Work Packages
- Break down each deliverable or phase into small, manageable work units (e.g., "Writing the design brief", "Integrating the contact module", "Mobile functional testing").
- When to stop decomposing
- Too detailed → unmanageable and oversized
- Too general → lacks clarity and realistic estimates
- Goal: work packages of uniform size and clearly understood by the team.
Examples of Related Structures
| Acronym | Usage |
|---|---|
| OBS | Organizational Breakdown Structure |
| Who does what in the organization. | |
| PBS | Product Breakdown Structure |
| What the deliverable is made of. | |
| CBS | Cost Breakdown Structure |
| Cost distribution per work package or budget item. | |
| RBS | Risk Breakdown Structure |
| Risk classification by category or work package. |
Best Practices
- Involve the team from the start: each domain’s expertise enhances the WBS.
- Review and validate the WBS with key stakeholders to avoid omissions.
- Update the WBS throughout the project if new tasks arise.
- Use a visual tool (spreadsheet, dedicated software) to make it easier to manage and share.
