Work Breakdown Structure 2-Project Managment-Handouts, Lecture notes of Project Management

Download Work Breakdown Structure 2-Project Managment-Handouts and more Lecture notes Project Management in PDF only on Docsity! Project Management –MGMT627 VU © Copyright Virtual University of Pakistan 159 LESSON 23 WORK BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE BROAD CONTENTS Preparation Guides for Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Checklists for Preparing Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Methods for Structuring Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Why Do Plans Fail? 23.1 Preparation Guides for Work Breakdown Structure (WBS): We have already discussed the preparation guides for the Statement of Work (SOW). Similarly there are several preparation guides for the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). These are as follows: • Firstly, develop the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) structure by subdividing the total effort into discrete and logical sub elements. Usually a program subdivides into projects, major systems, major subsystems, and various lower levels until a manageable -size element level is reached. Wide variations may occur, depending upon the type of effort (e.g., major systems development, support services, etc.). Include more than one cost center and more than one contractor if this reflects the actual situation. • It is important to check the proposed Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and the contemplated efforts for completeness, compatibility, and continuity. • Determine that the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) satisfies both functional (engineering/ manufacturing/ test) and program/project (hardware, services, etc.) requirements, including recurring and nonrecurring costs. • Remember to check to determine if the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) provides for logical subdivision of all project work. • Establish assignment of responsibilities for all identified effort to specific organizations. • Finally, check the proposed Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) against the reporting requirements of the organizations involved. 23.2 Checklists for Preparing Work Breakdown Structure (WBS): In addition to the preparation guides, there are also checklists that can be used in the preparation of the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS): • Focus to develop a preliminary Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) to not lower than the top three levels for solicitation purposes (or lower if deemed necessary for some special reason). • Remember to assure that the contractor is required to extend the preliminary Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) in response to the solicitation, to identify and structure all contractor work to be compatible with his organization and management system. • Following negotiations, the Contract Work Breakdown Structure (CWBS) included in the contract should not normally extend lower than the third level. • It is essential to assure that the negotiated Contract Work Breakdown Structure (CWBS) structure is compatible with reporting requirements. • Assure that the negotiated Contract Work Breakdown Structure (CWBS) is compatible with the contractor's organization and management system. docsity.com Project Management –MGMT627 VU © Copyright Virtual University of Pakistan 160 • Review the Contract Work Breakdown Structure (CWBS) elements to ensure correlation with the following: o The specification tree o Contract line items o End-items of the contract o Data items required o Work statement tasks o Configuration management requirements • Also, define Contract Work Breakdown Structure (CWBS) elements down to the level where such definitions are meaningful and necessary for management purposes (WBS dictionary). • Clearly specify reporting requirements for selected Contract Work Breakdown Structure (CWBS) elements if variations from standard reporting requirements are desired. • Always assure that the Contract Work Breakdown Structure (CWBS) covers measurable effort, level of effort, apportioned effort, and subcontracts, if applicable. • Lastly, Assure that the total costs at a particular level will equal the sum of the costs of the constituent elements at the next lower level. In case of simple projects, the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) can be constructed as a "tree diagram" or according to the logic flow. The tree diagram can follow the work or even the organizational structure of the company (i.e., division, department, section, unit). The second method is to create a logic flow and cluster certain elements to represent tasks and projects. In the tree method, lower-level functional units may be assigned to one, and only one. Figure 23.1: Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Elements 23.3 Methods for Structuring Work Breakdown Structure (WBS): It is seen that a tendency exists today to develop guidelines, policies, and procedures for project management, but not for the development of the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). Since it must have flexibility built into it, the tendency is to avoid limiting the way the Work docsity.com