ABSTRACT

Developing the work breakdown structure If I could wish but one thing for every project, it would be a comprehensive and detailed work breakdown structure (WBS). In organizations with immature project management processes, the lack of a good WBS probably results in more inefficiency, schedule slippage, and cost overruns on projects than any other single cause. When I am brought in as a consultant to perform in the role of “project doctor,” invariably there has been no WBS developed. No one knows what work has been done, nor what work remains to be done, and the first thing I have to I do is assemble the planning team to teach them how to create a WBS.