Building a project work breakdown structure

Project managers who need a practical method for building a work breakdown structure (WBS) will find this guide walks them through each step. The WBS serves several purposes at once: it organizes work, presents the plan visually, brings a team together, helps secure buy-in, and supports project planning. It also gives managers a way to explain the project to team members, clients, and senior leadership.

The book lays out an eight-step procedure for creating the WBS. Along the way, the project is defined in terms of its deliverables. The initial target completion date is then tested using critical path analysis to confirm it is realistic.

The finished WBS gives a clear picture of what the project aims to achieve, what it will produce, which activities are required, and how the schedule fits together.