Work Based Assi

Project Management Practices

Rev E, June 2003

U.S. Department of Energy

Office of Management, Budget and Evaluation

Work Breakdown

Structure

Initiated by: Office of Engineering and Construction Management

WORK BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE

A project work breakdown structure (WBS) is a deliverable or product-oriented grouping of

project work elements shown in graphical display to organize and subdivide the total work

scope of a project.

The WBS is a particularly important project tool. Considerable thought and planning should

be given to its development and implementation so that subsequent changes are minimized.

Major revisions to a WBS require both substantial effort and resources, due to its application

to a wide array of project activities. Project WBSs, which are driven by the scope of a

project, should not be confused with other uses of WBS-like systems. MIL-HDBK-881 is

the accepted standard on WBS.

1.0

WBS DEVELOPMENT

A WBS is the cornerstone of effective project planning, execution, controlling, statusing,

and reporting. All the work contained within the WBS is to be identified, estimated,

scheduled, and budgeted. The WBS is the structure and code that integrates and relates all

project work (scope, schedule, and cost). Therefore, the WBS contains the project’s scope

baseline necessary to achieve the technical objectives of the work described. The WBS is

used as a management tool throughout the life cycle of a project to identify, assign, and

track its total work scope. When initial project funding is received, the Project Director (PD)

develops a WBS that identifies necessary funds according to the schedule and needs of the

tasks in the WBS elements. The WBS is generally a multi-level framework that organizes

and graphically displays elements representing work to be accomplished in logical

relationships. The PD is to structure the project work into WBS elements (work packages)

that are:

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Definable—can be described...