ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the use of the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) model’s broad impact on the project life cycle. It describes how a logical project goal or vision can be translated into defined project work units. A less visible companion artifact to the hierarchical WBS is the WBS Dictionary. The various boxes in the WBS represent different levels of detail and different types of work. One model view of project management is to envision the Work package as a micro-building block for schedule development. The process of WBS decomposition into lower levels of detail and review remains essentially the same. WBS standardized templates from Department of Defense and other organizations define views for various project types. The concept of using WBS nomenclature to communicate different project attributes has many operational benefits in the project management process. A WBS design will emerge as these are discussed, combined into groups and then moved into the desired structure.
