1. Work Breakdown Structures
The A to Z of the
Work Breakdown Structures
Keywords: PPT, PowerPoint, Template, MgmtPlaza, Management-Plaza, Management Plaza. New, Master Slide
By Nader Khorrami Rad, PMP
ver 1.0

2. Part 1 Introduction

3. 1.1. How We Manage Things

4. 1.2. Grouping the Project Work

5. 1.3. Why Should We Base the WBS on Products?

6. Grouping / organizing project work based on its products or results is called: Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

7. The elements of the final product or result of a project, which is the output of the activities is called: Deliverable All deliverables together = final product

8. The sixth core principle of the PRINCE2: Focus on Products A successful project is output-oriented not activity-oriented.

9. The most important aspect of focusing on products: Work is subject to strategies and usually change, but deliverables do not change as often.

10. Alternative 1: - Zone 1. - Place reinforcing bars in zone 1
Alternative 1: Zone 1 - Place reinforcing bars in zone 1 - Prepare formworks in zone 1 - Pour concrete in zone Zone 2 - Place reinforcing bars in zone 2 - Prepare formworks in zone 2 - Pour concrete in zone 2
Alternative 2: Placing reinforcing bars - Place reinforcing bars in zone 1 - Place reinforcing bars in zone Preparing formworks - Prepare formworks in zone 1 - Prepare formworks in zone Pouring concrete - Pour concrete in zone 1 - Pour concrete in zone 2
Which one is better?

11. Alternative 1: - Zone 1. - Place reinforcing bars in zone 1
Alternative 1: Zone 1 - Place reinforcing bars in zone 1 - Prepare formworks in zone 1 - Pour concrete in zone Zone 2 - Place reinforcing bars in zone 2 - Prepare formworks in zone 2 - Pour concrete in zone 2
Alternative 2: Placing reinforcing bars - Place reinforcing bars in zone 1 - Place reinforcing bars in zone Preparing formworks - Prepare formworks in zone 1 - Prepare formworks in zone Pouring concrete - Pour concrete in zone 1 - Pour concrete in zone 2
Real deliverables
Not main deliverables
Which one is better?

12. 
Alternative 1: Zone 1 - Place reinforcing bars in zone 1 - Prepare formworks in zone 1 - Pour concrete in zone Zone 2 - Place reinforcing bars in zone 2 - Prepare formworks in zone 2 - Pour concrete in zone 2 
Alternative 2: Placing reinforcing bars - Place reinforcing bars in zone 1 - Place reinforcing bars in zone Preparing formworks - Prepare formworks in zone 1 - Prepare formworks in zone Pouring concrete - Pour concrete in zone 1 - Pour concrete in zone 2
Deliverable Based
Activity
Based
Which one is better?

13. 1.4. From a Simple Grouping to a Hierarchy

14. When we are dealing with large number of items, a simple one-level grouping would not be enough.

15. 1200 items; very hard to manage ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

16. Each group consists of 10 items
1200 items, grouped in 120 grouping elements still hard to manage ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿
Grouping in one level
Each group consists of 10 items
▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

17. 1200 items grouped in 120 grouping elements and those grouping elements themselves are grouped in 12 higher level element it’s now manageable!            
Grouping in two levels
❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿ ❿
▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

18. The multi-level groupings are called hierarchies
 grouping item 1 ❿ grouping item ■ item ■ item ■ item ■ item ❿ grouping item ❿ grouping item 1.3  grouping item 2 ❿ grouping item ❿ grouping item ❿ grouping item ❿ grouping item 2.4
The first level of grouping
The second level of grouping
The actual items
The multi-level groupings are called hierarchies

19. Another visual representation of the previous hierarchy

20. WBS is a hierarchical decomposition of the project work, based on deliverables.

21. 1.5. Grouping and Summarization

22. Grouping is used for organizing things
Grouping is used for organizing things. Organizing things makes it easier to manage them. Managing is not possible without summarized information. We also use groupings to provide summarized information.

23. Name
Cost
Master grouping element
Grouping element 1
item 1.1
1,500 €
item 1.2
800 €
item 1.3
2,400 €
Grouping element 2
item 2.1
500 €
item 2.2
950 €

24. Name
Cost
Master grouping element
Grouping element 1 ?
item 1.1
1,500 €
item 1.2
800 €
item 1.3
2,400 €
Grouping element 2
item 2.1
500 €
item 2.2
950 €

25. Name
Cost
Master grouping element
Grouping element 1
4,700 €
item 1.1
1,500 €
item 1.2
800 €
item 1.3
2,400 €
Grouping element 2
1,450 €
item 2.1
500 €
item 2.2
950 €

26. Name
Cost
Master grouping element ?
Grouping element 1
4,700 €
item 1.1
1,500 €
item 1.2
800 €
item 1.3
2,400 €
Grouping element 2
1,450 €
item 2.1
500 €
item 2.2
950 €

27. Name
Cost
Master grouping element
6,150 €
Grouping element 1
4,700 €
item 1.1
1,500 €
item 1.2
800 €
item 1.3
2,400 €
Grouping element 2
1,450 €
item 2.1
500 €
item 2.2
950 €

28. Name
Cost
Start
Master grouping element
6,150 €
Grouping element 1
4,700 €
item 1.1
1,500 €
Jan 1
item 1.2
800 €
Jan 8
item 1.3
2,400 €
Jan 12
Grouping element 2
1,450 €
item 2.1
500 €
Jan 3
item 2.2
950 €
Jan 6

29. Name
Cost
Start
Master grouping element
6,150 €
Grouping element 1
4,700 € ?
item 1.1
1,500 €
Jan 1
item 1.2
800 €
Jan 8
item 1.3
2,400 €
Jan 12
Grouping element 2
1,450 €
item 2.1
500 €
Jan 3
item 2.2
950 €
Jan 6

30. Name
Cost
Start
Master grouping element
6,150 €
Grouping element 1
4,700 €
Jan 1
item 1.1
1,500 €
item 1.2
800 €
Jan 8
item 1.3
2,400 €
Jan 12
Grouping element 2
1,450 €
Jan 3
item 2.1
500 €
item 2.2
950 €
Jan 6

31. Name
Cost
Start
Master grouping element
6,150 € ?
Grouping element 1
4,700 €
Jan 1
item 1.1
1,500 €
item 1.2
800 €
Jan 8
item 1.3
2,400 €
Jan 12
Grouping element 2
1,450 €
Jan 3
item 2.1
500 €
item 2.2
950 €
Jan 6

32. Name
Cost
Start
Master grouping element
6,150 €
Jan 1
Grouping element 1
4,700 €
item 1.1
1,500 €
item 1.2
800 €
Jan 8
item 1.3
2,400 €
Jan 12
Grouping element 2
1,450 €
Jan 3
item 2.1
500 €
item 2.2
950 €
Jan 6

33. Name
Cost
Start
Finish
Master grouping element
6,150 €
Jan 1
Grouping element 1
4,700 €
item 1.1
1,500 €
Jan 3
item 1.2
800 €
Jan 8
Jan 12
item 1.3
2,400 €
Jan 18
Grouping element 2
1,450 €
item 2.1
500 €
Jan 6
item 2.2
950 €
Jan 11

34. Name
Cost
Start
Finish
Master grouping element
6,150 €
Jan 1
Grouping element 1
4,700 € ?
item 1.1
1,500 €
Jan 3
item 1.2
800 €
Jan 8
Jan 12
item 1.3
2,400 €
Jan 18
Grouping element 2
1,450 €
item 2.1
500 €
Jan 6
item 2.2
950 €
Jan 11

35. Name
Cost
Start
Finish
Master grouping element
6,150 €
Jan 1
Grouping element 1
4,700 €
Jan 18
item 1.1
1,500 €
Jan 3
item 1.2
800 €
Jan 8
Jan 12
item 1.3
2,400 €
Grouping element 2
1,450 €
Jan 11
item 2.1
500 €
Jan 6
item 2.2
950 €

36. Name
Cost
Start
Finish
Master grouping element
6,150 €
Jan 1 ?
Grouping element 1
4,700 €
Jan 18
item 1.1
1,500 €
Jan 3
item 1.2
800 €
Jan 8
Jan 12
item 1.3
2,400 €
Grouping element 2
1,450 €
Jan 11
item 2.1
500 €
Jan 6
item 2.2
950 €

37. Name
Cost
Start
Finish
Master grouping element
6,150 €
Jan 1
Jan 18
Grouping element 1
4,700 €
item 1.1
1,500 €
Jan 3
item 1.2
800 €
Jan 8
Jan 12
item 1.3
2,400 €
Grouping element 2
1,450 €
Jan 11
item 2.1
500 €
Jan 6
item 2.2
950 €

38. Name
Cost
Start
Finish
Duration
Master grouping element
6,150 €
Jan 1
Jan 18
Grouping element 1
4,700 €
item 1.1
1,500 €
Jan 3
2 days
item 1.2
800 €
Jan 8
Jan 12
4 days
item 1.3
2,400 €
6 days
Grouping element 2
1,450 €
Jan 11
item 2.1
500 €
Jan 6
3 days
item 2.2
950 €
5 days

39. Name
Cost
Start
Finish
Duration
Master grouping element
6,150 €
Jan 1
Jan 18
Grouping element 1
4,700 € ?
item 1.1
1,500 €
Jan 3
2 days
item 1.2
800 €
Jan 8
Jan 12
4 days
item 1.3
2,400 €
6 days
Grouping element 2
1,450 €
Jan 11
item 2.1
500 €
Jan 6
3 days
item 2.2
950 €
5 days

40. Name
Cost
Start
Finish
Duration
Master grouping element
6,150 €
Jan 1
Jan 18
Grouping element 1
4,700 €
17 days
item 1.1
1,500 €
Jan 3
2 days
item 1.2
800 €
Jan 8
Jan 12
4 days
item 1.3
2,400 €
6 days
Grouping element 2
1,450 €
Jan 11
8 days
item 2.1
500 €
Jan 6
3 days
item 2.2
950 €
5 days

41. Name
Cost
Start
Finish
Duration
Master grouping element
6,150 €
Jan 1
Jan 18 ?
Grouping element 1
4,700 €
17 days
item 1.1
1,500 €
Jan 3
2 days
item 1.2
800 €
Jan 8
Jan 12
4 days
item 1.3
2,400 €
6 days
Grouping element 2
1,450 €
Jan 11
8 days
item 2.1
500 €
Jan 6
3 days
item 2.2
950 €
5 days

42. Name
Cost
Start
Finish
Duration
Master grouping element
6,150 €
Jan 1
Jan 18
17 days
Grouping element 1
4,700 €
item 1.1
1,500 €
Jan 3
2 days
item 1.2
800 €
Jan 8
Jan 12
4 days
item 1.3
2,400 €
6 days
Grouping element 2
1,450 €
Jan 11
8 days
item 2.1
500 €
Jan 6
3 days
item 2.2
950 €
5 days

43. Master grouping element 6,150 € Jan 1 Jan 18 17 days
Rollup methods:
Sum
Min
Max
Calc
Name
Cost
Start
Finish
Duration
Master grouping element
6,150 €
Jan 1
Jan 18
17 days
Grouping element 1
4,700 €
item 1.1
1,500 €
Jan 3
2 days
item 1.2
800 €
Jan 8
Jan 12
4 days
item 1.3
2,400 €
6 days
Grouping element 2
1,450 €
Jan 11
8 days
item 2.1
500 €
Jan 6
3 days
item 2.2
950 €
5 days
The appropriate method of rollup depends on the nature of the information.

44. Summarized information
The fifth core principle of the PRINCE2:
Manage by Exception
information for executives
Summarized information
Higher levels of WBS
information for project management team
Lower levels of WBS
Detailed information
WBS
information for executing team

45. Summarized information
A well-formed WBS provides appropriate information for each management level involved in the project.
A poor WBS couses problems in monitoring and controlling the project.
An effective WBS is always deliverable-based.
information for executives
Summarized information
Higher levels of WBS
information for project management team
Lower levels of WBS
Detailed information
WBS
information for executing team

46. 1.6. WBS Cousins and Relatives

47. Part 2 The Theory of the WBS

48. 2.1. Definition and Rules of WBS

49. 2.2. Naming Conventions of the WBS Elements

50. 2.3. Levels of the WBS

51. What are the standard levels of WBS?

52. What are the standard levels of WBS?
First Level: Project

53. What are the standard levels of WBS?
First Level: Project
It’s the only standard level of the WBS. There’s no global standard for other levels and it completely depends on the project.

54. What are the standard levels of WBS?
First Level: Project
However, some organizations have defined their own standard WBS levels for certain types of projects.
It’s the only standard level of the WBS. There’s no global standard for other levels and it completely depends on the project.

55. What are the standard levels of WBS?
First Level: Project
Some resources prefer to consider “Project” as
level 1
and others as
Level 0

56. What are the standard levels of WBS?
First Level: Project
Some resources prefer to consider “Project” as
level 1
and others as
Level 0
(more common)

58. How many levels do we have in this sample WBS?

59. How many levels do we have in this sample WBS?

60. How many levels do we have in this sample WBS?

61. How many levels do we have in this sample WBS?

62. How many levels do we have in this sample WBS?

63. How many levels do we have in this sample WBS?

64. How many levels do we have in this sample WBS?

65. Single child structure is not recommended!

66. 
You can always delete a single child and transfer its activities to its parent.

68. One extra level in this branch
You don’t have to use the same number of levels in every branch of the WBS
One extra level in this branch

70. The elements in the lowest level of the WBS are called Work Packages.

71. The elements in the lowest level of the WBS are called Work Packages.
The elements in the lowest level of the WBS are those which do not have any children.

72. The elements in the lowest level of the WBS are called Work Packages.
Select work packages
The elements in the lowest level of the WBS are called Work Packages.
The elements in the lowest level of the WBS are those which do not have any children.

73. The elements in the lowest level of the WBS are called Work Packages.
The elements in the lowest level of the WBS are those which do not have any children.

74. The elements in the lowest level of the WBS are called Work Packages.
The elements in the lowest level of the WBS are those which do not have any children.

75. The elements in the lowest level of the WBS are called Work Packages.
Not a
work package anymore
The elements in the lowest level of the WBS are called Work Packages.
The elements in the lowest level of the WBS are those which do not have any children.

76. Work packages are decomposed into activities…

77. it’s recommended to put activities only under the work packages, not other WBS elements.

78. You can usually fix it by defining new work packages.

79. You can usually fix it by defining new work packages.

80. How much should we break down the WBS? How much detail is recommended?

81. How much should we break down the WBS? How much detail is recommended?
DoD recommends to break down the WBS in a way that its underlying activities do not exceed 44 working days.
(each month usually contains 22 working days)
PMI recommends to break down the WBS in a way that its underlying activities exceed two times of the control period.
(the maximum duration for a project which is controlled in a monthly basis will then be 2 calendar months, or 44 working days in a regular calendar)

82. People are usually more successful by using these limits.
How much should we break down the WBS?
How much detail is recommended?
DoD recommends to break down the WBS in a way that its underlying activities do not exceed 44 working days.
(each month usually contains 22 working days)
PMI recommends to break down the WBS in a way that its underlying activities exceed two times of the control period.
(the maximum duration for a project which is control in a monthly basis will then be 2 calendar months, or 44 working days in a regular calendar)
These values are not based on any calculation, they are just best practices.
People are usually more successful by using these limits.

83. Level of Effort (LOE) activities are exceptions and can be longer.
How much should we break down the WBS?
How much detail is recommended?
DoD recommends to break down the WBS in a way that its underlying activities do not exceed 44 working days.
(each month usually contains 22 working days)
PMI recommends to break down the WBS in a way that its underlying activities exceed two times of the control period.
(the maximum duration for a project which is control in a monthly basis will then be 2 calendar months, or 44 working days in a regular calendar)
Level of Effort (LOE) activities are exceptions and can be longer.

84. 2.4. WBS Codes

85. Part 3 The Process of Creating WBS

86. Part 4 Hands-on Exercise