Work Breakdown Structure in Project Management - Essay Example

Some of its advantages are the following: A typical construction project involves a WBS that evolves from an initial task that is successively subdivided into smaller work blocks until the lowest level is reached, indicating a tree-like structure. Subdividing the project breaks down the project work effort into packages that are both manageable and independent. It connotes that the lowest level of the package corresponds to the smallest project work, which requires the shortest completion time periods.

As WBS shows the relationship of all elements of a project, a sound basis for cost and schedule control is provided. Some lists of project activities involved in WBS include budgeting, cost allocation, time allocation and management, and quality assurance. These are being ensured in the process of work packages. A well-designed WBS often consists of software, hardware, services, data, and facilities (Zachman 1987). Since WBS breaks down the work project into subdivisions in a tree-like structure, the classification format of work packages may include cost centre, fields for responsibility, activity numbering, and so on.

A description of the tasks purported to be performed is generated for each element of the WBS, in which each task is diverse from the others. Due to its being process-oriented, the WBS approach is convenient for activity definition, which is the starting step for project planning. . Due to its being process-oriented, the WBS approach is convenient for activity definition, which is the starting step for project planning. This phase involves several dimensions such as budget, cost, time, and quality, to name a few.

A well-designed WBS enables it to easily assign each level of project activity to one terminal element of the structure. From its inception to a completed project, the period of a project's life involves cost estimating, budgeting, accounting, reporting, controlling, and auditing (Wysocki et al., 2003, pp. 137). Work packages involved in the WBS process should be defined in terms of construction methods, design, and completion requirements, which are to be accomplished according to performance dates (Pritchard 1999).

It provides a classification system for project work packages according to client needs. A code designation as a means of identification and classification is assigned in each account of a contractor's accounting system, in which the most widely used cost codes are Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) and Uniform Construction Index (UCI) (Zachman 1987). They keep the construction costs within the established budget as well as develop equipment and labor productivity information to estimate the cost of future work.

Clearly, the client's budget allocation is reflected in determining a classification system for project work packages. (Task: Let us say you are the manager of a new project to build a new supermarket. Create two WBS examples, one is done by Discipline, the second one is Phase.)Using the Discipline of WBS I am a manager of a new project to build a new supermarket, which in this paper is called Need Superstore. Developing a comprehensive WBS serves as the framework for the new supermarket project,