1. WBS 2.2 Risk Identification Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Review
Jan Koga
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
PMGT 613

2. WBS Review Process Overview
Strengths of Technique Process
Weaknesses of Technique Process
Summary
This briefing will provide an overview of using the WBS review in the project risk management process which is the basis for developing its risk management plan. It will detail some of the strengths, weaknesses and summarize how it can be used as a very important tool in the process.
(PMI, 2009)

3. WBS Review Introduction
WBS Review is a Vital Technique of Identifying Risk Process to Foresee Risks in Every Work Package from Past, Present and Future Activities.
Plan Risk Management
The WBS review is one of the vital techniques used in the identifying risks process. The concept is that the WBS should be all inclusive with regards to the work packages and its intended to completely define everything in the project or program (Business Insights, 2002). Every work package should be plotted on a WBS from past, present and the project being planned at the current time, for future activities therefore, it presents an outline for all activities within the project. A secondary feature is that it provides the framework for other tools and techniques in identifying risks (PMI, 2009).
Identify Risk
Perform Qualitative Analysis
(Business Insights, 2002)
(PMI, 2009)
Perform Quantitative Analysis

4. WBS Review Strengths
Primarily Used in Risk Identification Process During Planning
Comprehensive Due to Visualizing All Work Packages
Provides Information on All Levels of Risks
Formulates Framework Risk Assessment
Strengths of the WBS review are, but not limited to identifying risks early in the project, primarily in the planning process group. Once the project objectives are defined and structured through the WBS decomposition, the comprehensive picture of all activities can be visualized. All levels of the project can be meticulously assessed to identify risks from top to bottom. Additionally, it creates a framework for the project team to assess and analyze risks with other tools and techniques such as using expert judgment as stated in the PMBOK Guide where the team considers all aspects using previous experience(PMI, 2013).
Risk!
Risk!
Risk!
(PMI, 2013)

5. WBS Review Weakness
Only Presents Risks Internal to Project Work Packages
Project Must have Accurately Updated WBS
Project Manager Must be Aware of Proprietary Data
With strengths, there are weaknesses to the WBS review tool. As the WBS only presents internal project processes, external risks cannot be viewed on it (PMI, 2009). Foreign relations, currency exchanges and changing regulatory policies impose risks that the WBS doesn’t display. The WBS must be properly detailed and accurate to the project plan with the objectives and decomposed work packages defined appropriately. The last item to present is that the project manager should be aware of all sensitive data within the work packages as varying sub-contractors should not see costs associated with another sub-contractor on the WBS.
(PMI, 2009)

6. WBS Review Summary Start with an Accurate WBS
Knowing Strengths and Weaknesses of WBS Review
Use Past WBS and Reviews, Understand Present Work, Foresee Risk Expectations
Continually Update WBS, Review and Risk Register
(Hillson, D, 2003)
(Larson & Gray, 2014).
To summarize using a WBS review; start with an accurate WBS as the baseline. Understand the strengths and weakness of using the WBS Review because it is not all inclusive and anything external to the project work is not shown. Use organizational process assets such as past WBS reviews, what effects are realized in the current work being performed, and visualize what risks could happen, and then build a risk breakdown structure (RBS) in conjunction to the WBS (Larson & Gray, 2014). The RBS defines the risks with same the hierarchal approach of the WBS with multiple levels of detail (Hillson, 2003). It is imperative to continually update the WBS and Risk register as part of the monitor and control project risk step with new or closed risks.
(PMI, 2009)

7. Conclusion
WBS Review tool for Identifying Risk for Every Work Package from Past, Present and for Future Activities.
In conclusion, effectively using the WBS Review tool for Identifying Risk for Every Work Package from Past, Present and for Future Activities is Essential for All Projects due to its comprehensive overview. Project managers should incorporate this tool at least as a baseline to review the entire project and all of its work to identify risks for assessment.
(PMI, 2009)

8. References
Business Insights. (2002). "Breaking down" the Work Breakdown Structure: the WBS is the beginning of everything else in the acquisition process. Program-Project Management. Retrieved from ?u=embry&sid=summon
Hillson, D. (2003). Using a risk breakdown structure in project management. Retrieved from &ctx_enc=info%3Aofi%2Fenc%3AUTF- 8&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fsummon.serialssolutions.com&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ff mt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Using+a+Risk+Breakdown +Structure+in+project+management&rft.jtitle=Journal+of+Facilities+Management&r ft.au=Hillson%2C+David&rft.date=2003&rft.pub=Emerald+Group+Publishing+Limited &rft.issn= &rft.volume=2&rft.issue=1&rft.spage=85&rft.epage=97&rft.externalDBID=n%2F a&rft.externalDocID=n%2Fa&paramdict=en-US
Larson, E. W. & Gray, C. F. (2014). Project management: The managerial process (6th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
PMI. (2009). Practice Standard for Project Risk Management. Retrieved from file:///G:/Embry- Riddle%20AU/PMGT%20613_Project%20Risks/Week%202/Practice_Standard_Projec t_Risk_Management.pdf
PMI. (2013). A guide to the project management body of knowledge. PMBOK® Guide. (5th edition). Newtown Square, PA: PMI®.