Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
Tags: programming, projectmanagement, softwareengineering, workbreakdownstructure
Published: 2024-07-02 15:09:56

As a part of my course on Software Project Management, I learned about this new thing: Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). After doing an ample amount of research on this topic, I decided to write an article about it explaining WBS in the simplest terms. 

### What is WBS?
Every complex thing has to be broken down into smaller parts to be efficiently accomplished, software projects are no different in this regard. When you have a complex project and want to ensure the project is managed and completed properly, maintaining the highest possible standards; you break it down into smaller tasks. The broken-down structure is precisely known as WBS. 


![A Sample WBS](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/h8f7d97np0vnhmu5gqqn.jpg)


### Types of WBS
Primarily there are two types of WBS:

1. Deliverable-Based WBS
2. Phase-Based WBS

#### Deliverable-Based WBS
In this WBS, the work is first broken down into small deliverable units which are meant to be completed one after another. 
Each of the deliverable units is then broken down into sub-units for better understanding and easier accomplishment. 

![A Deliverable-Based WBS](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/higtb28qtvhc2h104aiu.jpg)

#### Phase-Based WBS
In this category of WBS, instead of deliverables, the work is broken down into phases; each phase consists of a whole range of activities to be completed. A phase stars generally after the previous phase ends.

![A Phase-Based WBS](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/3m0do70yclshhuywvs49.jpg)

### Key points about a WBS
Here are some key points that should be taken care of to design a proper and clearly understandable WBS. 

#### Control Account
A control account is a checkpoint that helps us monitor and manage the project's budget and resources effectively. It also helps us measure the performance of the project. Benefits of WBS include early detection of problems, providing a clear picture of resource consumption, and many more.

#### Planning Package
A planning package represents a higher level of task that needs to be broken down into smaller units to be accomplished. These are often used to estimate and allocate resources for specific segments of the project. In other words, planning packages often serve as control accounts.

#### Work Package
A work package is the smallest unit or leaf-level unit of a WBS because the work generally cannot be broken down further. It's a collection of related tasks to achieve a specific outcome in a project. 

For a better understanding, have a look at this diagram.

![Control Account, Planning Package & Work Package](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/ksioytqmlxcxn8yg2jht.png)

#### Gantt Chart
A Gantt chart is a specific type of chart in project management that is used to describe the project schedule. It basically describes the sequence in which the project tasks have to be completed. Each Gantt chart has two parts: a list of tasks on the left and a timeline on the right.


![Gantt Chart](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/fo1sruvswfmt5n8vcrw1.jpg)

These are mostly the basic concepts related to WBS. A deeper study of project management will enable us to know about more concepts but these primary tasks lay the foundation of seemingly complete WBS and deliver the project plan and timeline properly to the stakeholders. 

Feel free to share your thoughts and also do more research on WBS and project management to get a deeper understanding.