Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Examples and Components

Know all About WBS, its Components, and Examples Here!

If you're looking for an example of a WBS, you've come to the correct place. When we talk about project management, one of the most important components is the work breakdown structure (WBS). Today, we'll learn everything there is to know about it and how to make the most of it for your project. We'll answer the following questions throughout this essay, and by the conclusion, you'll know everything there is to know about WBS.

What do you mean by WBS?

What are common WBS examples?

What are the known components of WBS?

What are the key advantages of using WBS?

Now let’s dive straight into this and expand our knowledge about WBS and how it is useful in project management.

What do you mean by Work Breakdown Structure?

This WBS approach should be your choice if you have a complicated and multi-step project coming up and are seeking a strategy to assist you to simplify the process and delivering the project effectively. The team will be able to break the enormous project into tiny jobs using this strategy, which will aid in enhancing the project's efficiency and ensuring its success. Your pmp certification training will teach you all areas of project management and how to employ various techniques for optimal delivery, so you'll be able to learn more about managing projects.

This strategy aids in the better management of major projects. Smaller tasks are being accomplished by many teams at the same time, which will increase productivity and make project management much easier. It might be viewed as the breakdown of work based on hierarchical order, which is performed in a delivery-oriented manner by various team levels. The level in the WBS framework describes the work that must be accomplished during the project.

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What are the Work Breakdown Structure Examples?

The pmp training will help you to manage the project in an efficient way, and using the knowledge you will have to choose which WBS will work best for your team. As a project manager, it will be your responsibility to make sure that the example you are going to choose helps the team to deliver what is expected. So, below are the work breakdown structure examples for project management that can be used at the team level.

WBS using Spreadsheet

This is one of the most common examples of WBS. Using this, you can use rows and columns for distributing the tasks and deliverables efficiently. The various phases can be noted down in that spreadsheet and WBS can be structured to deliver better.

Using List

If you are looking for a straightforward method that you can use for your project management using WBS, then going for a list example can be very good for your team. This is the method where you can make a list of tasks, subtasks, and deliverables related to the project.

WBS Flowchart

If you wish to have a diagrammatic view of the tasks and deliverables in your team, then WBS flowchart is your way to go. There are various types of templates and examples for the flowcharts which you can use to manage various kinds of tasks and deliverables in the project. This approach gives a better view and keeps everything in the picture.

Work Breakdown Structure using Gantt chart

A Gantt chart is usually used when you need to view the spreadsheet as well the timeline related to the tasks listed down in that spreadsheet. The WBS Gantt chart is very efficient as it gives you a view to show the task dependencies as well as monitor the timeline for the project deliverables.

These are some of the common wbs examples which can be used in project management that would deliver the best result for the team and are very beneficial for smooth project execution.

What are the Components of WBS? 

There are various components when you are using WBS. Some of them are listed below:

Tasks: These are the tasks with id, title, and description.

Task owners: These are people or teams who are responsible for the completion of those tasks.

Dependencies: Establishing the dependencies among these tasks give a better visualization of the completion of the tasks.

Estimates: These are estimations of the time that is needed to complete that task.

Duration: The start date and end date of tasks and the project should be clearly mentioned along with the duration needed for the task.

Task status: This will show the current status of the task.

Also Read: What is a Product Breakdown Structure?

What are the Key Benefits of Using a Work Breakdown Structure?

In your pmp course, you will learn that WBS has the below benefits:

If we look at the first benefit that your project is going to have from wbs, it is better to project deliverability. Using wbs example, it can be made sure that work is not slipped through cracks and all the tasks that are needed for better project functioning are on the board and completed within time.

The second benefit is providing the clarity of work being done by the teammates. They will be aware of their given tasks and responsibilities and how they fit into the project as a whole. They will be aware of the impact of their work on the project as a whole and will deliver their best.

Managing communication among team members, project manager, and also the concerned stakeholders is another benefit that you are going to have using wbs. The project scope and the work needed to be completed are clearly visible and this will lead to better communication.

Using the right kind of WBS example, you will be able to estimate the cost of staff, allocations of the resources, and the time needed.  As the work is divided into smaller tasks, it becomes easier to provide an estimation and work on it. The right wbs example can play a pivotal role in the planning of the project very efficiently and take the project to its completion.

Conclusion

WBS has proved to be one of the methods that provide the base of project management. If you are going for pmp certification online, you will know how to use it in a better way and how this can change the course of the project cycle.

If you are looking for proper guidance for the course and wbs example, then one place where you should head to is StarAgile. Here you are going to be trained by a certified professional and will be able to complete your pmp certification. With the right approach to training and material, you will land yourself in the best project for project management and choose to work with big firms looking for talent like yours.