WBS DEVELOPMENT STEPS

Simply stated, development of a WBS involves grouping all project elements into several (between three and nine) categories, called level one (see Figure 2-1). Each level one item will be divided into three to nine level two items, each of the level two items will be divided into three to nine level three items, and so on. It is crucial that, at each juncture, the basis of division be the same for all parts of the project.

Ideally, a reasonable consistency is maintained in the degree of detail at the lowest level elements. Not all branches need to go to the same level, but the significance of all of the lowest level items in the overall project should be similar. Therefore, depending on the project, some branches may go to level two, some to level three, and some even to level five.

This process is continued until the project has been divided into manageable, discrete, and identifiable items requiring simple tasks to complete. A rule of thumb: Keep dividing the project until the elements cannot be divided realistically. This point varies from company to company and among project managers within the same company. The contents of each level of detail are not only company-specific, but they are also specific to the nature of deliverables involved in each project. The degree of detail at the lowest level of each branch must be in line with the size of the project and in conformance with the company’s operational philosophies.