ABSTRACT
This chapter includes a definition of the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), functions of the WBS and specifications for the WBS. It provides techniques for developing the WBS, rules of thumb for evaluating the WBS and templates for constructing the WBS. The chapter explores scope of work and specification development based on the WBS and risk management based on the scope of work, specifications, and WBS. WBSs can be presented in either tree diagram format or indented outline format. Most project management software programs permit developing and printing the WBS in either format. Both formats present the project hierarchy broken down into stages, tasks, subtasks, and finally work packages. The main benefit of the tree diagram format is that it graphically displays the project hierarchy. It is very easy to see how the work packages add up to form subtasks, subtasks form tasks, and so on, thereby describing the entire project.
