Software development wbs sample

When you know what to do, planning and executing the project is just a routine. So, today I want to fast forward you through your professional experience. I want to teach you to make your project more predictable, easier to manage, and more focused on valuable work. Take a look at different project management methodologies.

Project Management Institute names the absence of a Work Breakdown Structure the most common reason for project failure. For example, you have ten features to deliver. You can start working on all of them at once. Quite often we manage projects as if all work is equally valuable. We think it should be done anyway and no matter what. So we do not bother and do it all at once.

Work Breakdown Structure organizes the work to provide value and work towards producing tangible results. Having a structured approach makes it easier to control the project. So, all efforts and resources will be assigned to a clearly defined piece of work. Watch the video below to get a better insight into what a WBS is. Here, I explain the definition and show key representations.

I suggest you have a hierarchy diagram always. It gives you the visualization of your project breakdown. You can use it on a daily basis to communicate project status to your team. So I think this representation is a must-have. Product scope is the feature and functions that characterize a product, service, or result.

Product scope defines how a product should work, how should it look like, what traits it will have. Project scope is the work performed to deliver a product, service or result with specified features and functions.

The project scope defines the work required to produce a product, service or result that is described by the product scope.

It means that project scope includes the product scope, plus the efforts required to analyze and research product requirements , assure quality, manage the project team, hand-off the product, etc.

A deliverable is a tangible part of the work completed to meet project objectives. It can be a part of the product or service that stakeholders can try or see. It can be a project document or a part of the Project Management Plan. In any case, it is something important we need to finish our project. Therefore, a WBS is oriented at decomposing project work into tangible pieces of the project scope. Decomposition is a planning technique that helps to divide and group the project scope and deliverables into smaller, manageable components that support your executing, monitoring and controlling needs.

On the second level, there will be major deliverables of the project. Quite often they are described in the Project Charter. So, there are always at least two levels in a WBS. Each phase can have a separate WBS. However, a Work Breakdown Structure is scalable to any extent. Therefore, you can have a portfolio and program as well as a project or a sub-project WBS.

They all follow the same set of rules. The work package includes the schedule activities and schedule milestones required to complete the work package deliverable or project work component. Gather appropriate team members for a brainstorming session. Invite available subject matter experts. I mean, phases and additional major deliverables. Do not forget to name the interim and internal ones.

Therefore, we usually put everything on a whiteboard. Together we try to finalize the second level of decomposition. We give proper and final names to WBS elements. Each deliverable should have one responsible person. Usually, I only facilitate meetings with experts and try to keep the team focused on getting things done.

Note that you need to educate your team. Therefore, throughout the whole process, you need to build their buy-in. They should share responsibility for scope identification with you. Work Breakdown Structure as part of the Scope Baseline is input to all critical processes of project management. Therefore, it means it should be applicable to different aspects of a project.

How can you achieve it? Simply put you need to be able to connect WBS elements with other entities of your project management framework. For example, each activity should relate to one Work Package. Each hour spent should be tracked against an element in WBS. You need to understand how you will use the WBS. What information will you enter? Moreover, you want to have an easy way to query any related information.

It can be a spreadsheet, dedicated application or an integral part of project management solution. In any case, I do not suggest you invent the wheel. Just try it, you will love it! True Romance from Edraw. Start Now. WBS Diagram Examples. A series of WBS diagram examples for project management are prepared on this page, which are downloadable and editable.

General Residential Construction Gantt Chart. Launch New Product Gantt Chart. Edraw Project Timeline. Commercial Building Construction Gantt Chart. Enterprise Management HOQ. Plan a Show Gantt Chart. Decision Tree. Product Quality Function Deployment Matrix. Government Building Construction Gantt Chart. Relationship Diagram. Month-Working Calendar.