Project Management: Breakdown Structure and Work Packages

This report delves into the intricacies of the work breakdown structure (WBS) and its associated work packages, crucial components of project management. It begins with an introduction to WBS, emphasizing its role in organizing project components for successful planning and scheduling. The report then explores the features of WBS, detailing how it divides large tasks into manageable chunks and provides clear objectives. It highlights the purpose of WBS, including its visual representation of project parts, measurable outcomes, and the ability to minimize overlaps. Various tools used for developing WBS are also discussed. The report further outlines the benefits of WBS, such as efficient project management, improved planning, and effective resource allocation. Finally, the report concludes by reiterating the importance of WBS in project management and its role in organizing project components effectively. References are provided to support the information presented.

Running head: BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE AND ITS WORK PACKAGES
BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE AND ITS WORK PACKAGES
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1
BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE AND ITS WORK PACKAGES
Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
About work breakdown structure and its packages.........................................................................2
Features of breakdown structure......................................................................................................3
Purpose of using work breakdown structure...................................................................................3
Tools used for work breakdown structure.......................................................................................3
Benefits of work breakdown structure.............................................................................................4
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................4
References........................................................................................................................................6

2
BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE AND ITS WORK PACKAGES
Introduction
The objective of the assignment is to discuss the features and packages that are offered
with the use of breakdown structure. Work Breakdown structure is a component of project
management that is used to for successful planning and scheduling the overall components of the
project. It becomes very essential to ensure that proper breakdown structure is used before
developing a project. This report will focus on explaining the key components associated with
work breakdown structure. Work breakdown structure is essential as this ensures that all the
essential components associated with the project are described at the early stage. This ensures
that the project is executed efficiently with all necessary requirements.
About work breakdown structure and its packages
Work breakdown structure is one of the key project deliverables that are used for the
purpose of organizing the team works into different manageable subparts. Work breakdown
structure has wide number of benefits that includes successfully defining the project work and
the components needed for executing a project (Rahman et al. 2019). Work breakdown structure
is designed with certain guidelines so that it becomes easy to manage the project. The guidelines
based on which the breakdown structure will be developed is listed below:
 Top level of the work breakdown structure is represented for the purpose of defining the
final deliverables of the project.
 Deliverables are used for presenting the work packages that are assigned towards the
organization.

3
BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE AND ITS WORK PACKAGES
 It is important to ensure that work packages are independent of other work packages that
are present within the work breakdown structure (Sutrisna 2018).
 Work breakdown structure should not contain any duplicate
Features of breakdown structure
WBS is used for the purpose of dividing, much larger tasks into manageable chunks of work.
The main reasons behind creating a work breakdown structure for a projector are listed below:
 With the help of work breakdown structure it becomes easy to provide accurate and
readable objective towards the organization (Burghate 2018)
 Accurate Assignment details can be shared with the project team members
 This helps to estimate the overall Cost time and risks
Purpose of using work breakdown structure
Work breakdown structure is used for successfully finishing the project on time. The
project needs to be organized with proper resources. The reasons behind using work breakdown
structure are listed below:
 Provides visual representation of different parts of project
 This helps in defining the specific and measurable outcomes
 Breakdowns the project into different manageable chunks (Zecheru and Olaru 2016)
 Ensures that no overlaps or gaps are present within the resources
 Minimizes the chances of adding items are outside the scope

4
BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE AND ITS WORK PACKAGES
Tools used for work breakdown structure
In order to develop a breakdown structure it is important to ensure that the different
components are managed successfully (Ashtiani et al.2017). The work breakdown structure is
developed with the use of following set of tools:
 WBS schedule pro
 Edraw max
 Edraw Max Breakdown Structure Software
 GanttPro
Benefits of work breakdown structure
Work breakdown structure permits the managers associated with projects to work efficiently.
With the use of a work breakdown structure it becomes easy to schedule the plan and also the
budget can be fixed at the early stage (Amini and Latief 2018). The use of Work-breakdown
structure (WBS) within the project management filed is referred to the deliverable related project
breakdown so that it becomes easy to divide the project components into smaller parts. With the
use of breakdown structure it becomes easy to meet the key project deliverable that is used for
the purpose of organizing team work efficiently so that it can provide desired output. Work
breakdown structure ensures that the plan has been executed effectively with all the essential
resources. The benefits that are likely to be offered with the use of a work breakdown structure
are listed below:
 Major benefits that are offered with the use of work breakdown structure are listed below
 With the help of work breakdown structure it becomes easy to track the progress
 Is this helps in defining the scope of the project

5
BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE AND ITS WORK PACKAGES
 Responsibility of the task can be organized efficiently.
Conclusion
Work breakdown structure is considered to be one of the most crucial elements for
project management. This helps in dividing the different components of project successfully so
that the project objective can be meet. The key objective is it that are fulfilled with the use of
work breakdown structure is that it helps in dividing the components into some parts and also
insures that no tasks are dependent on the previous activities. Hence it can be concluded that
with the use of work breakdown structure it becomes easy to organize the components. Thus it
can be concluded that with proper use of work breakdown structure and other resources it
becomes easy to evaluate resources successfully.

6
BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE AND ITS WORK PACKAGES
References
Amini, R.A. and Latief, Y., 2018, January. Development of Risk-Based Standardized WBS
(Work Breakdown Structure) for Quality Planning of Road Construction Project. In 8th
International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management, IEOM
2018 (pp. 2593-2602). IEOM Society.
Ashtiani, B.N., Jiang, Q., Tayah, M., Welcker, B.L., Patton, T.G., Panvalkar, S.S. and Chan,
W.K.T., Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC, 2017. Controlling resource allocation with
automated consumption against a work breakdown structure. U.S. Patent 9,720,737.
Burghate, M., 2018. Work Breakdown Structure: Simplifying Project Management. International
Journal of Commerce and Management, 3(2).
Rahman, W.A.Z.W.A., Zaki, N.M. and Husain, M.A., 2019. A review of work breakdown
structure and man-hours estimation method used in shipbuilding production. International
Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology, 10(1), pp.1141-1158.
Sutrisna, M., Ramanayaka, C.D. and Goulding, J.S., 2018. Developing work breakdown
structure matrix for managing offsite construction projects. Architectural engineering and design
management, 14(5), pp.381-397.
Zecheru, V. and Olaru, B.G., 2016. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) in Project
Management. Review of International Comparative Management/Revista de Management
Comparat International, 17(1).