Work Breakdown Structure and the Hospital Construction Project

Running Head: PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Project Work Breakdown Structure
Name of the Student
Name of the University

1PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Work Breakdown Structure and the Hospital Construction Project
A work breakdown structure is defined as a systematic and sequence based breakdown of
a project into its deliverables, sub-deliverables, phases and activities. It is to be noted that a work
breakdown structure is not a random breakdown, it must follow a specific sequence in an
organised way (Kerzner, 2017). For instance, in a project, the breakdown must start with the
initiation phase of the project and end with the closing of the project. A work breakdown
structure provides multiple benefits to the projects that are discussed as follows.
I. Simplification – One of the most important benefits of work breakdown structure
is the simplification of any complex project (Meredith, Mantel Jr & Shafer, 2017).
The development of work breakdown structure does not depend on the
complexity project i.e. whatever be the degree of complexity of a project, a work
breakdown structure can be developed by breaking down complex tasks into
much simpler activities that can be executed by the project team in the proper
sequence.
II. Time Scheduling – Another benefit of work breakdown structure is that it can be
effectively used to develop the overall schedule of the project. Once the project is
broken down into separate tasks, they are linked with each other through
predecessor-successor relationships and their estimated durations are set for each
individual activity (Schwalbe, 2015). Once the start date of the project is set, the
total duration of the project can easily be calculated.
III. Budgeting – In addition to the schedule, work breakdown structure is also used to
develop the overall budget of the project using the bottom up estimation technique

2PROJECT MANAGEMENT
(Fleming & Koppelman, 2016). In this technique, various resources (human and
material) are assigned to the activities in the work breakdown structure and once
their basic rates are set, the total budget of the project can easily be calculated.
For the given project, the work breakdown structure can be developed and shown as
follows.
WBS Task Name
0 Hospital Construction Project
1 Initiation of the Project
1.1 Meeting of the Project Management Team
1.1.1 Decision on the Building of the Tertiary Hospital
1.1.2 Submit Proposal for Project
1.1.3 Presentation of the Overall Proposal for the Client
1.1.4 Propose Overall Budget for the Project
1.1.5 Testing of the Feasibility of the Project
1.2 Receive Approval to Proceed with the Project
2 Planning of the Project
2.1 Develop Team for Project
2.2 Determine Project Roadmap
2.3 Prepare Project Charter
2.3.1 Determine Project Scope
2.3.2 Determine Project Schedule
2.3.3 Determine Project Budget
2.3.4 Determine the Feasibility of Conducting the Project Over a Period of 5 Years
2.4 Print Tender for Contract
2.5 Hire Contractor through the Tender Process
2.6 Discuss the Project
2.7 Discuss Required Human Resources
2.8 Discuss Time Frame and Material Resources
2.9 Finalize the Project
2.10 Initiate Actual Preparations for the Project
2.11 Receive Building Permit
2.12 Receive Construction License
2.13 Develop Blueprint of the Hospital
2.14 Review Hospital Blueprint
2.15 Recruit Construction Workers
2.16 Procure Materials for the Construction
2.17 Hire Construction Vehicles
2.18 Initiate the Project
3 Execution of the Project
3.1 Clear the Site for Construction
3.2 Excavate the Site
3.3 Build Foundation on the Site
3.4 Prepare Building Framework
3.5 Install Structural Materials