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188<div class="content-wrapper"> 189 <section class="bg-primary text-white" style="background: url('/wp-content/themes/workbreakdownstructure/img/banners/hero-bg.png') center/cover;"> 190 <div class="container py-4"> 191 <div class="row align-items-center"> 192 <!-- Left Content --> 193 <div class="col-md-6 py-4 pe-md-3 pe-lg-5"> 194 <h1 class="text-secondary mb-2">Work Breakdown Structure</h1> 195 <div class="divider-dotted pb-3"></div> 196 <p class="text-white m-0 py-2">This web site is designed to provide information about Work Breakdown Structures that will help you create and benefit from them.</a></p> 197 <!-- CTA Box --> 198 <div class="d-flex flex-column flex-md-row align-items-center bg-dark bg-opacity-75 p-3 mt-4"> 199 <p class="text-header-h4 col-md-6 rounded text-center text-white text-md-start m-0 pb-3 pb-md-0 fw-semibold">Create your WBS today!</p> 200 <div class="col-md-6 text-center text-md-end"> 201 <div class="d-inline-flex"> 202 <a class="btn btn-success btn-lg fs-18 d-flex align-items-center" href="https://accounts.matchware.com/DemoSignup?culture=en&ui=wbs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 203 Free 30-Day Trial 204 <img class="ms-3" src="/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/cta_arrow.png" alt="Arrow Right" style="width: 25px; height: auto;" /> 205 </a> 206 </div> 207 </div> 208 </div> 209 </div> 210 <!-- Right Image --> 211 <div class="d-none d-sm-flex col-md-6 ps-md-3 ps-lg-5 justify-content-center"><img class="img-fluid" style="max-height: 400px;" src="/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/wbs-software-demo-e1756147816912.png" alt="Work breakdown structure of home construction"/></div> 212 </div> 213 </div> 214</section> 215 216<!-- What is Work Breakdown Section --> 217<section> 218 <div class="container py-4"> 219 <div class="row align-items-center"> 220 <div class="col-md-6 py-4 pe-md-3 pe-lg-5"><img class="img-fluid" src="/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/what-is-a-wbs.png" alt="What is a WBS" /></div> 221 <div class="col-md-6 py-4 ps-md-3 ps-lg-5"> 222 <h2 class="text-header-h3">What is a Work Breakdown Structure?</h2> 223 <p>Breaking work into smaller tasks is a common productivity technique used to make the work more manageable and approachable. For projects, the <strong>Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)</strong> is the tool that utilizes this technique and is one of the most important project management documents. It singlehandedly integrates scope, cost and schedule baselines ensuring that project plans are in alignment.</p> 224 <p>The Project Management Institute (PMI) Project Management Book of Knowledge (PMBOK) defines the Work Breakdown Structure as a âdeliverable oriented hierarchical decomposition of the work to be executed by the project team.â There are two types of WBS: 1) <a href="#wbsdeliverables">Deliverable-Based</a> and 2) <a href="#wbsphasebased">Phase-Based</a>. The most common and preferred approach is the Deliverable-Based approach. The main difference between the two approaches are the <strong>Elements</strong>
224 identified in the first Level of the WBS.</p> 225 </div> 226 </div> 227 </div> 228</section> 229 230<!-- Deliverable-Based Work Section --> 231<section class="bg-light-yellow"> 232 <div class="container py-4"> 233 <div class="row"> 234 <div class="col-md-6 py-4 pe-md-3 pe-lg-5"> 235 <h3 id="wbsdeliverables" style="scroll-margin-top: 75px;">Deliverable-Based Work Breakdown Structure</h3> 236 <p>A Deliverable-Based Work Breakdown Structure clearly demonstrates the relationship between the project deliverables (i.e., products, services or results) and the scope (i.e., work to be executed). Figure 1 is an example of a Deliverable-Based WBS for building a house. Figure 2 is an example of a Phase-Based WBS for the same project.</p> 237 <p>In Figure 1, the Level 1 Elements are summary deliverable descriptions. The Level 2 Elements in each Leg of the WBS are all the unique deliverables required to create the respective Level 1 deliverable.</p> 238 </div> 239 <div class="col-md-6 py-4 d-flex align-items-center ps-md-3 ps-lg-5"><img class="img-fluid" src="/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/deliverable-based-wbs.png" alt="Deliverable based wbs" /></div> 240 241 <div class="col-xs-12"> 242 <h3 id="wbsphasebased" style="scroll-margin-top: 75px;" class="pt-3">Phase-Based Work Breakdown Structure</h3> 243 <p>In Figure 2, a Phase-Based WBS, the Level 1 has five Elements. Each of these Elements are typical phases of a project. The Level 2 Elements are the unique deliverables in each phase. Regardless of the type of WBS, the lower Level Elements are all deliverables. Notice that Elements in different Legs have the same name. A Phase-Based WBS requires work associated with multiple elements be divided into the work unique to each Level 1 Element. A WBS Dictionary is created to describe the work in each Element.</p> 244 <p>A good WBS is simply one that makes the project more manageable. Every project is different; every project manager is different and every WBS is different. So, the right WBS is the one that best answers the question, âWhat structure makes the project more manageable?â.</p> 245 </div> 246 <div class="col-xs-12 py-5 d-flex justify-content-center"><img class="img-fluid" style="max-height: 310px;" src="/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/construction-of-a-house-wbs.png" alt="WBS construction of house" /></div> 247 </div> 248 </div> 249</section> 250 251<!-- How to Make a Work Section --> 252<section class="bg-peach"> 253 <div class="container py-4"> 254 <div class="py-2 col-xs-12 text-center"> 255 <h3 class="mb-2">How to Make a Work Breakdown Structure</h3> 256 <p>A good Work Breakdown Structure is created using an iterative process by following these steps and meeting these guidelines</p> 257 </div> 258 </div> 259</section> 260 261<!-- Steps Section --> 262<section class="bg-light-yellow"> 263 <div class="container py-4"> 264 265 <div class="row py-4 align-items-center"> 266 <div class="col-md-6 py-4 pe-md-3 pe-lg-5"> 267 <div class="badge badge-secondary py-2 fs-18 mb-3">Step 1</div> 268 <h3 class="mb-3">Gather Critical Documents</h3> 269 <ul class="icon-list icon-list--check-black"> 270 <li>Gather critical project documents.</li> 271 <li>Identify content containing project deliverables, such as the Project Charter, Scope Statement and Project Management Plan (PMP) subsidiary plans.</li> 272 </ul> 273 </div> 274 <div class="col-md-6 py-4 ps-md-3 ps-lg-5"> 275 <img class="img-fluid" style="" src="/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/project-scope-wbs.png" alt="Step 1"/> 276 </div> 277 </div> 278 279 <div class="row py-4 d-flex align-items-center"> 280 <div class="col-md-6 order-2 order-md-1 py-4 pe-md-3 pe-lg-5 d-flex justify-content-center"> 281 <img class="img-fluid" style="max-height: 200px;" src="/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/key-team-members.png" alt="Step 2" /> 282 </div> 283 <div class="col-md-6 order-1 order-md-2 py-4 ps-md-3 ps-lg-5"> 284 <div class="badge badge-secondary py-2 fs-18 mb-3">Step 2</div> 285 <h3 class="mb-3">Identify Key Team Members</h3> 286 <ul class="icon-list icon-list--check-black mb-0"> 287 <li>Identify the appropriate project team members.</li> 288 <li>Analyze the documents and identify the deliverables.</li> 289 </ul> 290 </div> 291 </div> 292 293 <div class="row py-4 align-items-center"> 294 <div id="wbselements" style="scroll-margin-top: 75px;" class="col-md-6 py-4 pe-md-3 pe-lg-5"> 295 <div class="badge badge-secondary py-2 fs-18 mb-3">Step 3</div> 296 <h3 class="mb-3">Define Level 1 Elements</h3> 297 <ul class="icon-list icon-list--check-black mb-0"> 298 <li>Define the Level 1 Elements. Level 1 Elements are summary deliverable descriptions that must capture 100% of the project scope.</li> 299 <li><span>Verify 100% of scope is captured. This requirement is commonly referred to as the <a href="/100-percent-rule-work-breakdown-structure">100% Rule</a>.</span></li> 300 </ul> 301 </div> 302 <div class="col-md-6 py-4 d-flex ps-md-3 ps-lg-5 align-items-center"> 303 <img class="img-fluid" style="" src="/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/leve-1-elements.png#41" alt="Step 3"/> 304 </div> 305 </div> 306 307 <div class="row py-4 align-items-center"> 308 <div class="col-md-6 order-2 order-md-1 py-4 pe-md-3 pe-lg-5 d-flex justify-content-center"> 309 <img class="img-fluid" style="max-height: 450px;" src="/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/decompose-breakdown.png" /> 310 </div> 311 <div class="col-md-6 order-1 order-md-2 py-4 ps-md-3 ps-lg-5"> 312 <div class="badge badge-secondary py-2 fs-18 mb-3">Step 4</div> 313 <h3 class="mb-3">Decompose (Breakdown) Elements</h3> 314 <ul class="icon-list icon-list--check-black"> 315 <li>Begin the process of breaking the Level 1 deliverables into unique lower Level deliverables. This âbreaking downâ technique is called Decomposition.</li> 316 <li>Continue breaking down the work until the work covered in each Element is managed by a single individual or organization. Ensure that all Elements are mutually exclusive.</li> 317 <li>Ask the question, would any additional decomposition make the project more manageable? If the answer is ânoâ, the WBS is done.</li> 318 </ul> 319 </div> 320 </div> 321 322 <div class="row py-4 align-items-center"> 323 <div class="col-md-6 py-4 pe-md-3 pe-lg-5"> 324 <div class="badge badge-secondary py-2 fs-18 mb-3">Step 5</div> 325 <h3 class="mb-3">Create WBS Dictionary</h3> 326 <ul class="icon-list icon-list--check-black"> 327 <li><span>Define the content of the <a href="/wbs-dictionary">WBS Dictionary</a>. The WBS Dictionary is a narrative description of the work covered in each Element in the WBS. The lowest Level Elements in the WBS are called Work Packages.</span></li> 328 <li><span>Create the WBS Dictionary descriptions at the <a href="#wbsworkpackages">Work Package</a> Level with detail enough to ensure that 100% of the project scope is covered. The descriptions should include information such as, boundaries, milestones, risks, owner, costs, etc.</span></li> 329 </ul> 330 </div> 331 <div class="col-md-6 py-4 d-flex align-items-center ps-md-3 ps-lg-5"> 332 <img class="img-fluid" style="" src="/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/create-wbs-dictionary.png" /> 333 </div> 334 </div> 335 336 <div class="row py-4 align-items-center"> 337 <div class="col-md-6 order-2 order-md-1 py-4 pe-md-3 pe-lg-5 d-flex align-items-center"> 338 <img class="img-fluid" style="" src="/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/create-gantt-chart-schedule.png" /> 339 </div> 340 <div class="col-md-6 order-1 order-md-2 py-4 ps-md-3 ps-lg-5"> 341 <div class="badge badge-secondary py-2 fs-18 mb-3">Step 6</div> 342 <h3 class="mb-3">Creat Gantt Chart Schedule</h3> 343 <ul class="icon-list icon-list--check-black"> 344 <li><span>Decompose the Work Packages to activities as appropriate.</span></li> 345 <li><span>Export or enter the Work Breakdown Structure into a <a href="https://www.Gantt.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
345Gantt chart</a> for further scheduling and project tracking.</span></li> 346 </ul> 347 </div> 348 </div> 349 </div> 350</section> 351 352<!-- Caution Section --> 353<section class="bg-secondary"> 354 <div class="container"> 355 <div class="row py-5 text-center text-md-start"> 356 <div class="col-12 d-flex align-items-center"> 357 <!-- Large icon on md and up --> 358 <img src="/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/warning.png" 359 class="me-4 img-fluid d-none d-md-block" 360 style="max-height: 185px;" 361 alt="Warning icon"> 362 363 <div> 364 <h3 class=""> 365 <!-- Small icon on xs and sm inline with heading --> 366 <img src="/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/warning.png" 367 class="me-2 d-inline d-md-none" 368 style="max-height: 25px;" 369 alt="Warning icon"> 370 Caution 371 </h3> 372 <p>It is possible to break the work down too much. How much is too much? Since cost and schedule data collection, analysis and reporting are connected to the WBS, a very detailed WBS could require a significant amount of unnecessary effort to manage.</p> 373 <p>There are many WBS software tools available. Some of them are based on <a href="https://www.mindmapping.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mind mapping</a> and others are drawing tools. You can read about these tools in this <a href="/wbs-software-review">WBS software review</a>.</p> 374 </div> 375 </div> 376 </div> 377 </div> 378</section> 379 380<!-- WBS with Mindview Video --> 381<section class="bg-light-blue-gray"> 382 <div class="container py-5"> 383 <div class="row align-items-center"> 384 <div class="col-md-12 py-4 text-center"> 385 <h3 class="mb-5">Here is an example of how to make a WBS with MindView:</h3> 386 <div class="py-2"> 387 <img 388 decoding="async" 389 src="/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/wbs-video.png" 390 alt="Creating a Work Breakdown Structure WBS in MindView Mind Mapping Software - YouTube" 391 class="img-fluid" 392 style="max-height: 414px; cursor: pointer;" 393 data-bs-toggle="modal" 394 data-bs-target="#videoModalWBS" 395 id="videoTriggerWBS" 396 /> 397 </div> 398 399 <!-- Youtube Modal --> 400 <div class="modal fade" id="videoModalWBS" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true" aria-label="Video modal"> 401 <div class="modal-dialog modal-dialog-centered modal-lg"> 402 <div class="modal-content"> 403 <div class="modal-header"> 404 <button type="button" class="btn-close" data-bs-dismiss="modal" aria-label="Close" onclick="stopVideo()"></button> 405 </div> 406 <div class="modal-body"> 407 <div class="ratio ratio-16x9"> 408 <iframe id="videoFrameWBS" src="" title="Creating a Work Breakdown Structure WBS in MindView Mind Mapping Software" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe> 409 </div> 410 </div> 411 </div> 412 </div> 413 </div> 414 </div> 415 </div> 416 </div> 417</section> 418 419<!-- How to use a WBS --> 420<section class="bg-primary text-white" style="background: url('/wp-content/themes/workbreakdownstructure/img/banners/hero-bg.png') center/cover;"> 421 <div class="container py-5"> 422 <div class="row align-items-center"> 423 <div class="col-md-6 py-4 pe-md-3 pe-lg-5"> 424 <h3 class="text-secondary">How to Use a Work Breakdown Structure</h3> 425 <div class="divider-dotted divider-blue pb-4"></div> 426 <p class="text-white m-0 py-2">The Work Breakdown Structure is used for many different things. Initially, it serves as a planning tool to help the project team plan, define and organize scope with deliverables. The WBS is also used as the primary source of schedule and cost estimate activities. But, its biggest contributions to a project are is use as a description all of the work and as a monitoring and controlling tool.</p> 427 </div> 428 <div class="d-none d-sm-flex col-md-6 py-4 d-flex justify-content-center ps-md-3 ps-lg-5"><img class="img-fluid" style="max-height: 380px;" src="/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/how-to-use-a-wbs.png" alt="How to Use a Work Breakdown Structure"/></div> 429 </div> 430 </div> 431</section> 432 433<!-- Control Accounts Section --> 434<section class="container py-4"> 435 <div class="row"> 436 <div id="wbscontrolaccounts" style="scroll-margin-top: 75px;" class="col-md-6 py-4 pe-md-3 pe-lg-5"> 437 <h3>Control Accounts</h3> 438 <p>The other application of the WBS is as a monitoring and controlling tool. This is accomplished by defining Control Accounts. Control Accounts are WBS Elements at which the project plans to monitor and report performance. The Control Accounts can be any Element in the WBS. In the House Project, the project manager decides that the project risks associated with using subcontractors can be better managed if the project reports performance for each subcontractor. To monitor their performance, Elements 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 have been identified as Control Accounts. However, the remaining work in Elements 1.0 and 2.0 will be performed by company resources with less risk and the project does not feel like monitoring and controlling is needed at lower Levels. To assist with the monitoring and reporting, project management information tools are used to collect, analyze and report information at any Element within the WBS.</p> 439 </div> 440 <div class="col-md-6 py-4 d-flex align-items-center ps-md-3 ps-lg-5"><img class="img-fluid" src="/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/control-accounts.png" alt="WBS Control Accounts" /></div> 441 442 <div class="py-4"></div> 443 444 <div class="col-md-6 py-4 pe-md-3 pe-lg-5"> 445 <h3 id="wbsplanningpackages" style="scroll-margin-top: 75px;" >Planning Packages</h3> 446 <p>There is another type of Work Package called a Planning Package. When the project management plan is approved, scope is known, but not necessarily all of the details. In order to apply the 100% Rule and capture all of the scope, Planning Packages are created. It is understood that as details are defined, the Planning Packages eventually evolve to Work Packages. In the House Project, the project manager knows that the house will have fixtures, but at the time construction begins, there is only a fixture allowance and no fixtures identified. Once the fixtures are determined, the associated Planning Package becomes a Work Package. This planning process is call Rolling Wave Planning and is a from of Progressive Elaboration.</p> 447 </div> 448 <div id="wbsworkpackages" style="scroll-margin-top: 75px;" class="col-md-6 py-4 ps-md-3 ps-lg-5"> 449 <h3>Work Packages</h3> 450 <p>Figure 3 shows the House Project Work Breakdown Structure expanded to Level 1, 2, and 3 Elements. The lowest Levels of each Leg and Branch of the WBS are called Work Packages. Work Packages cover information related to the deliverable, such as owner, milestones, durations, resources, risks, etc. This information is described
450in the WBS Dictionary.</p> 451 </div> 452 </div> 453</section> 454 455<!-- Create Your WBS Chart Section--> 456<section class="bg-light-yellow"> 457 <div class="container py-5"> 458 <div class="row text-center"> 459 <div class="col-md-12"> 460 <h3 class="mb-">Create a own WBS chart today!</h3> 461 <a href="https://accounts.matchware.com/DemoSignup?culture=en&ui=wbs" target="_blank" class="btn btn-success btn-lg" rel="noopener"> 462 30-Day Free Trial!<img src="/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/cta_arrow.png" alt="Arrow Right" class="ms-2" style="width: 30px; height: auto;" /> 463 </a> 464 </div> 465 </div> 466 </div> 467</section> 468 469<!-- JavaScript: Autoplay & Stop -->
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