Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) matrix is a project management tool that breaks down a project into smaller, more manageable tasks and subtasks, helping to identify the resources required, the time needed, and the dependencies between tasks.

At a very high level, the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is used in the context of business, project management.

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What is the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)?

A visual explanation is shown in the image above. The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) can be described as a matrix with the following quadrants:

  1. High Criticality, Low Immediacy: Tasks that are critical but not immediate, such as strategic planning, research and development, and employee training.
  2. High Criticality, High Immediacy: Tasks that are both critical and immediate, such as crisis management, time-sensitive projects, and deadlines.
  3. Low Criticality, Low Immediacy: Tasks that are not critical and not immediate, such as administrative tasks, routine maintenance, and busywork.
  4. Low Criticality, High Immediacy: Tasks that are not critical but immediate, such as interruptions, minor repairs, and phone calls.

What is the purpose of the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)?

The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) matrix is a hierarchical decomposition of a project into smaller, more manageable tasks and subtasks. It is a widely used project management tool that helps to define, organize, and schedule the work required to complete a project. The WBS matrix is used to identify the resources required, the time needed, and the dependencies between tasks. It also helps to monitor and control the project progress.

The WBS matrix is usually displayed as a tree structure, with the main project objective at the root, and the subtasks branching out from it. Each subtask is broken down further into smaller, more manageable tasks, until the level of detail required to complete the task is reached. The WBS matrix is also used to allocate resources, set timelines, and track the progress of each task and subtask.

For example, consider a project to build a new office building. The WBS matrix for this project would start with the main objective of building the office building, and would then break down the project into smaller subtasks such as site selection, design, construction, electrical, plumbing, and so on. Each of these subtasks would be further broken down into smaller, more manageable tasks, until the required level of detail is reached.


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What templates are related to Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)?

The following templates can also be categorized as business, project management and are therefore related to Work Breakdown Structure (WBS): Product-Market Matrix, 4 Ps Marketing Mix Matrix, AI Capability-Value Proposition Alignment Matrix, AI Innovation-Value Alignment Matrix, AI Maturity Matrix, AI-Value Proposition Alignment Matrix, AI-Value Proposition Matrix, AIDA Marketing Matrix. You can browse them using the menu above.

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