Created by Katy Koenen © Microsoft Corporation WBS Training Deck Created by Katy Koenen © Microsoft Corporation

Plan & Schedule Development Scope Establish Project Scope WBS Assign Resources Identify Dependencies Estimate Work Effort and Costs Schedule Manage Trade-offs and Risks Create Project Plan Document Create Project Schedule

Create a Work Breakdown Structure The Road to Success Create a Work Breakdown Structure Objectives of a WBS: Develop objective, rational view of amount of work required Provide a basis for identifying skills & resources needed Provide a framework for defining work & delegating responsibility Lay a foundation for analyzing dependencies and managing risks Lay a foundation for developing a bottom-up project schedule

Benefits of a WBS No Forgotten Work Solid Estimates of Effort and Time Requirements

WBS Criteria Only one owner per task Tasks have clearly-defined deliverables Tasks have clearly-defined success criteria When work at one level is complete, work at the next level up can begin Activities listed clearly describe the work to be accomplished to the person responsible Activities are limited enough that it is easy to estimate the level of effort required for each Level of effort/duration for each activity is <5% of the overall project effort

Work to Include Project Planning Tasks Approval Cycle Tasks Key Project Meetings Management & Customer Meetings Training Project Management Tasks Test Planning Test Development Test Execution Quality Control/Defect Repair Tasks Project Reviews Project Closing Tasks

Create a WBS Identify the major areas of work to form the top-level of the WBS Identify the next level of work in each major group Identify the next level of work under each item in Level 2 Continue to break-down the required work until you reach the individual-task level #1: See list presented in Slide #6 #2 -#4: Structure it like this: Level 1 Level 2 item 1 Level 3 item 1 Level 3 item 2 Level 2 item 2

WBS Example PROTOTYPE AND TEST DVD (Phase) DVD Prototype (Deliverable) Develop Video (Activity) Shoot sections Review video Edit video sections Edit video – full sequence Develop Narrative (Activity) Write narrative text Review and update text Record voice-over narrative Review prototype DVD (Activity) Update prototype DVD (Activity) Tested DVD (Deliverable) (Detailed activities go here) SELECT VENDOR (Phase) DVD Fulfillment Vendor commitment (Deliverable) Research options (Activity) Define selection criteria Identify potential vendors Select and sign vendor (Activity) Send requirements to fulfillment houses Get quotes and sample contracts Decide fulfillment house Sign contract PRODUCE AND SEND (Phase) DVD First-Article for QA (Deliverable) (Activity detail here) (Activity) DVD First Mailing Out (Deliverable) (Activity detail here) (Activity)

How Much is Enough? Ensure that all the work needed to meet the project’s objectives is recognized and planned for from the outset. Need attribution for notes here Check for Completeness Consider project scope Does the WBS express all work required to meet every aspect of the project scope? If not, what additional activities are needed? Consider project stakeholders Does the WBS express all activities related to needs/concerns of all stakeholders? If not, what elements are required to address those needs and concerns? Consider Project “Influencers” – Those who can have a positive or negative impact on the project Does the WBS express all activities related to needs/concerns of project influencers? Look at team roles & responsibilities Are activities for all cross-functional groups on the team included? Have all necessary groups been included in the WBS? What groups are missing and what needs to be added?