Project Managers use a work breakdown structure (WBS) to define and organize the tasks needed to compete the project. Building a work breakdown structure takes a systematic analysis of the elements needed to complete the project.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: Varies depending on the size and complexity of the project
Here's How:
- Determine the desired project results. Once you know what the desired end result is you can list the steps needed to get there.
- List the major steps. When you figure out the major steps first, it gives you a framework that you can use to think about and organize the smaller tasks.
- Define the smaller tasks of each major step. Analyze each each of the major steps in turn. Figure out what tasks have to be completed to complete that step.
- Continue the process. Continue to analyze each of these smaller tasks to identify the component tasks of each.
What You Need
- You can build the WBS from either end, but it is easier to start from the end.
- Some tasks/steps have more sub-tasks than others.
- The more levels of detail you add the better.
