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Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). Farrokh Alemi, Ph.D. Lee Baliton. Why break up?. Improve work management Understand resource and time constraints Set milestones for progress See alternative sequencing of components of work. Definition of WBS. Breaks the project scope Inter-related
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Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Farrokh Alemi, Ph.D. Lee Baliton
Why break up? • Improve work management • Understand resource and time constraints • Set milestones for progress • See alternative sequencing of components of work
Definition of WBS • Breaks the project scope • Inter-related • Discrete tasks • Hierarchical tree structure
Definition of WBS Clear starts and ends • Breaks the project scope • Inter-related task • Discrete tasks • Hierarchical tree structure
Definition of WBS Four possible relationships • Breaks the project scope • Inter-related • Discrete tasks • Hierarchical tree structure
Definition of WBS Four possible relationships • Breaks the project scope • Inter-related • Discrete tasks • Hierarchical tree structure • Finish to Start: Start second task after first one is finished
Definition of WBS Four possible relationships • Breaks the project scope • Inter-related • Discrete tasks • Hierarchical tree structure • Finish to Start • Start to Start: Start second task same time as first one
Definition of WBS Four possible relationships • Breaks the project scope • Inter-related • Discrete tasks • Hierarchical tree structure • Finish to Start • Start to Start • Finish to Finish: Start second task so both finish at same time
Definition of WBS Four possible relationships • Breaks the project scope • Inter-related • Discrete tasks • Hierarchical tree structure • Finish to Start • Start to Start • Finish to Finish • Start to Finish: Second task cannot finish before first one starts
Definition of WBS Lower level tasks inherit the relationships among higher level tasks • Breaks the project scope • Inter-related task • Discrete tasks • Hierarchical tree structure
Hierarchy of Activities Level 1: The root of the tree is the project name A
Hierarchy of Activities EHR implementation A
Hierarchy of Activities EHR implementation Level 2: Components of the entire project A B C D
Purchase system Train users Configure system Hierarchy of Activities EHR implementation A B C D
Purchase system Train users Configure system Hierarchy of Activities EHR implementation A Level 3: Each level 2 tasks is broken into its subcomponents B C D E F
Hierarchy of Activities EHR implementation A Purchase system B C D Train users Configure system E F Purchase training material Detail employees
E Purchase training material Hierarchy of Activities EHR implementation A Purchase system B C D Train users Configure system F Detail employees
E Purchase training material Hierarchy of Activities EHR implementation A Purchase system B C D Train users Configure system F Detail employees
A D C E B Hierarchy of Activities EHR implementation F Detail employees Train users Purchase training material Configure system Purchase system
Approaches to Developing Work Breakdown • Guidelines • Analogy • Bottom up • Mind mapping
Approaches to Developing Work Breakdown • Guidelines • Analogy • Bottom up • Mind mapping
Approaches to Developing Work Breakdown • Guidelines • Analogy • Bottom up • Mind mapping
A D C E B Hierarchy of Activities EHR implementation F Detail employees Train users Purchase training material Configure system Purchase system
EHR implementation A Train users D F Detail employees Purchase training material C Configure system E Purchase system B Hierarchy of Activities
Approaches to Developing Work Breakdown • Guidelines • Analogy • Bottom up • Mind mapping
Task • Mutually exclusive • Exhaustive
EHR implementation A D Train users C Configure system B Purchase system Task • Mutually exclusive • Exhaustive Purchase of systems and organizing training may not be mutually exclusive if the purchase includes training
Task • Mutually exclusive • Exhaustive
Breadth .vs. Depth • Focus on breadth • Let details emerge • Progressive elaboration • Creativity
Breadth .vs. Depth • Focus on breadth • Let details emerge • Progressive elaboration • Creativity
EHR implementation A Train (detail)users D C Configure system Purchase system B Numbering Convention 1.1.2 Purchase training material E
EHR implementation A Train (detail)users D C Configure system Purchase system B Numbering Convention 1.1.2 Purchase training material E
EHR implementation A Train (detail)users D C Configure system Purchase system B Numbering Convention 1.1.2 Purchase training material E
EHR implementation A Train (detail)users D C Configure system Purchase system B Numbering Convention 1.1.2 Purchase training material E
Work Breakdown Is Not … • We need to clarify some common mistakes …
A Task Is … • Not a goal
A Task Is … • Not a goal • Not a process
Work Breakdown Is … • Not an exhaustive list of work
Work Breakdown Is … • Not an exhaustive list of work • Not a chronology
Work Breakdown Is … • Not an exhaustive list of work • Not a chronology • Not an organization structure
Work Breakdown Is … • Not an exhaustive list of work • Not a chronology • Not an organization structure • Not to be changed often
Good Work Breakdowns • Easy to understand • Corresponds to job descriptions • Not too detailed • Preserve the most important relationships among the tasks • Does not add to length of project
Take Home Message Think Carefully through Work Breakdown Structure