1

WORK BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE

(WBS)
CHAPTER 2

Chapter 2 - WBS and OBS

 Work Breakdown Structure 2

Project WAREH OUSE

Sub - Project ADMINISTRATION MOBILISATION PROCUREMENT CONSTRUCTION

Sub - Network EARTH WORK FOOTING SLAB MASONRY ROOF

FORMWORK REBAR WORK CONCRETING

Activity WORK

Sub - Activity LABOUR MATERIAL EQUIPMENT

Figure 2.1b Example of WBS

Ch a p t e r 2 - WBS a n d OBS
 Work Breakdown Structure 3

• To a ch ieve successful contract and corporate objectives , it n eed s

proper planning to identify responsibilities and element in t h e
co n s t r u ct io n p r o ject .
• Th e FIRST STEP in p r ep a r in g p la n n in g is d evelo p Wo r k
Br ea k d o w n St r u ct u r es (WBS).
• WBS – t a b le o r fig u r e t o s h o w ea ch s t ep s in p r o ject .
• WBS d is p la y– outline method o r graphical method .

Ch a p t e r 2 - WBS a n d OBS
 Work Breakdown Structure 4

• It d es cr ib e s t h e w o r k elem en t s o f a p r o ject in a logical hierarchy

w h ich ca n b e u s e d fo r a n u m b er o f r ela t ed m a n a g em e n t co n t r o l
a ct ivit ies .

• A WBS is a p r o d u ct - o r ien t ed fa m ily t r ee co m p o s ed o f hardware ,

services , a n d data w h ich r es u lt fr o m project engineering efforts
d u r in g t h e d e ve lo p m en t a n d p r o d u ct io n o f a p r o ject w h ich
co m p let ely d e fin e s t h e p r o ject / p r o g r a m .
• Th e WBS defines the scope of the project a n d breaks the work
down into components t h a t ca n b e s ch ed u led a n d es t im a t ed , a s
w ell a s ea s ily m o n it o r ed a n d co n t r o lled .
Ch a p t e r 2 - WBS a n d OBS
5
 Work Breakdown Structure
(Design Principles - The 100% Rule) 6

● Th e Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures (Second Edition) , p u b lis h ed

b y t h e Pr o ject M a n a g em en t In s t it u t e (PM I) d efin es t h e 10 0 % Ru le a s fo llo w s :
○ The 100% Rule...states that the WBS includes 100% of the work defined by the
project scope and captures all deliverables – internal, external, interim – in
terms of the work to be completed, including project management . The 100%
rule is one of the most important principles guiding the development,
decomposition and evaluation of the WBS. The rule applies at all levels within
the hierarchy : the sum of the work at the “child” level must equal 100% of the
work represented by the “parent” and the WBS should not include any work
that falls outside the actual scope of the project, that is, it cannot include more
than 100% of the work … It is important to remember that the 100% rule also
applies to the activity level. The work represented by the activities in each work
package must add up to 100% of the work necessary to complete the work
package.
Ch a p t e r 2 - WBS a n d OBS
 Work Breakdown Structure
(Design Principles - The 100% Rule ) 7

Ch a p t e r 2 - WBS a n d OBS
Work Breakdown Structure -
Main Functions 8

● A planning tool & n o t a s ch ed u lin g m et h o d .

● Breaks a project down in t o g r ea t er d et a il b y
level
● Or g a n iz es without scheduling
● Pr o vid es a framework for organizing and
ordering a ct ivit ies .

Ch a p t e r 2 - WBS a n d OBS
Work Breakdown Structure 9

❖ The Importance of WBS:

➢ Ove r a ll p r o g r a m ca n b e e xp la in in s u m m a r y a cco r d in g t o e a ch s u b -
e le m e n t d ivid e d .
➢ Pla n n in g co u ld e xe cu t e .
➢ Co s t a n d b u d g e t co u ld e s t im a t e m o r e a ccu r a t e ly.
➢ Tim e , Co s t a n d Pe r fo r m a n ce o f e a ch e le m e n t co u ld b e m o n it o r
fr o m t im e t o t im e .
➢ Objective could be related directly with the available resources in
the company.
➢ Ne t w o r k d ia g r a m a n d co n t r o l p la n n in g co u ld b e p r e p a r e d in e a r ly
stages.
➢ Responsibilities for each parties involve in every element could be
identified and assigned.

Ch a p t e r 2 - WBS a n d OBS
 Work Breakdown Structure 10

• Th e w o r k co n t en t o f a p r o ject h a s t o b e d ivid ed in t o t a s k s t h a t ca n b e
a s s ig n ed a n d p e r fo r m ed b y o n e o f t h e p a r t icip a t in g o r g a n iz a t io n a l
u n it s .

Ch a p t e r 2 - WBS a n d OBS
Work Breakdown Structure 11

• Th e d e fin it io n o f a t a s k a t t h e lo w e s t le ve l o f t h e WBS s h o u ld in clu d e t h e

fo llo w in g e le m e n t s :
• Ob je ct ive s
• Tangible a cco m p lis h m e n t s
• Deliverables
• So m e d e live r a b le s m a y b e p a r t o f t h e hardware a n d software
u s e d in p r o je ct , lik e a p u m p in t h e h yd r a u lic s ys t e m o f a n e w
a ir p la n e .
• Ot h e r d e live r a b le s m ig h t in clu d e a report t h a t d o cu m e n t s t h e
fu n d in g o f a n e co n o m ic a n a lys is , o r a r e co m m e n d a t io n m a d e
a ft e r e va lu a t in g a n u m b e r o f s ce n a r io s w it h a co m p u t e r m o d e l

Ch a p t e r 2 - WBS a n d OBS
Work Breakdown Structure 12

• Schedule
• At le a s t h a s t w o m ile s t o n e s : ST and FT
• Budget
• Performance measures
• Th e s e m e a s u r e s a r e u s e d d u r in g p r o je ct e xe cu t io n t o co m p a r e
a ct u a l a n d p la n n e d p e r fo r m a n ce in o r d e r t o e s t a b lis h p r o je ct
co n t r o l
• To t a l Qu a lit y M a n a g e m e n t (TQM ) a p p r o a ch t o p r o je ct
m a n a g e m e n t in t e g r a t e s co s t , s ch e d u le , a n d q u a lit y in t o a
co m m o n p e r fo r m a n ce m e a s u r e ca lle d t h e Ea r n e d Va lu e .
• Responsibility
• Re la t io n s h ip b e t w e e n Wo r k Br e a k d o w n St r u ct u r e (WBS) a n d
Or g a n iz a t io n a l Br e a k d o w n St r u ct u r e (OBS)

Ch a p t e r 2 - WBS a n d OBS
Hierarchy of Work Breakdown
St r u ct u r e 13

Sub-Project
Level

Task Level

Work Package
Level

Activity Level

Operations Level

Ch a p t e r 2 - WBS a n d OBS
 Work Breakdown Structure 14

M e d it e r r a n ea n H o u s in g
Pr o je ct
Pr o je ct
1. Ar ea A 2. Ar ea B
Ar e a (Wes t Sid e) (Ea s t Sid e)

1A. 1B. 1C. 1D. 1E.

Pr e lim in a r y Cu t & fill Fo u n d a t io n Su p e r Fin is h in g
Act ivit y works w o r ks w o r ks s t r u ct u r e w o r ks
Wo r ks

Su b 1A.1 1A.2 1A.3

Fe n ce s Sit e Wa t e r Pr o cu r e m e n t
a ct ivit y Office

Fig u r e 2 .1a Exa m p le o f WBS

Ch a p t e r 2 - WBS a n d OBS
 Work Breakdown Structure 15

Project WAREH OUSE

Sub - Project ADMINISTRATION MOBILISATION PROCUREMENT CONSTRUCTION

Sub - Network EARTH WORK FOOTING SLAB MASONRY ROOF

FORMWORK REBAR WORK CONCRETING

Activity WORK

Sub - Activity LABOUR MATERIAL EQUIPMENT

Fig u r e 2 .1b Exa m p le o f WBS

Ch a p t e r 2 - WBS a n d OBS
Example (Outline Method) 16

Lincoln Street Building Renovation

1.0 Fa cilit y Sa fet y
1.1 Sp r in k ler Sys t em
1.2 Eleva t o r s
1.3 Em er g en cy Eva cu a t io n Pla n s
2.0 As b es t o s Ab a t em en t
2.1 In s p ect io n a n d Id en t ifica t io n
2.2 Pla n s fo r Rem o va l
3.0 Office Sp a ce
3.1 Bu ild in g Flo o r Pla n s
3.2 Pla n s fo r Office Sp a ce Allo ca t io n
3.3 Pla n s fo r Br ea k Ro o m Fa cilit ies
3.4 Pla n s fo r Em p lo yee Wo r k o u t Ro o m

Ch a p t e r 2 - WBS a n d OBS
Gathering the WBS Inputs/
Act ivit y Id en t ifica t io n 17

1. Pla n s a n d Sp ecifica t io n
2. Ag r e e m e n t
3. Co n t r a ct Co n d it io n s
4. BQ
5. Ot h er In fo r m a t io n (va lid fo r t h e p r o ject )

Ch a p t e r 2 - WBS a n d OBS
Organizational Breakdown Structure 18

• Th e OBS s h o u ld a ls o b e complete, detailed and accurate :

• Co m p let e in t h e s en s e t h a t it s h o u ld depict all the organizational
units t h a t w ill p a r t icip a t e in t h e p r o ject
• Det a iled in t h e s en s e t h a t ea ch o r g a n iz a t io n a l u n it is r ep r es en t ed
d o w n t o t h e level w h er e t h e w o r k is a ct u a lly b ein g p er fo r m ed
• Accu r a t e in t h e s en s e t h a t it reflects the true lines of authority,
responsibility and communications.
• Th e linear responsibility chart in t eg r a t es t h e t w o s t r u ct u r es (i.e. WBS a n d
OBS) b y a s s ig n in g lo w er - level WBS elem en t s t o lo w er - level OBS
elem en t s .
• Th e d es ig n o f WBS a n d OBS d ep en d o n :
• Th e complexity o f t h e p r o ject
• Goals
• Th e constraints im p o s ed o n it
Ch a p t e r 2 - WBS a n d OBS
Organizational Breakdown Structure 19

• To d e ve lo p a n OBS:
• Dr a w t h e organization s t r u ct u r e o f t h e
p r o je ct t e a m .
• In clu d e a ll team members .
• Id en t ify a n y positions t h a t s t ill n eed t o b e
filled .

Ch a p t e r 2 - WBS a n d OBS
Organizational Breakdown Structure 20

M e d it e r r a n ea n H o u s in g Pr o je ct
Le ve l 1 1. Pr o ject M a n a g e r

Le ve l 2 1.1 Sit e M a n a g e r

Le ve l 3 1.1.1 Fo r em a n

Le ve l 4 [Link] Ch ie f o f la b o r s

Le ve l 5 Ca r p e n t e r Mason ry M &E la b o r s S&P la b o r s

Fig u r e 2 .2 Exa m p le o f OBS

Ch a p t e r 2 - WBS a n d OBS
 Work Breakdown Structure 21

M e d it e r r a n ea n H o u s in g
Pr o je ct
Pr o je ct
1. Ar ea A 2. Ar ea B
Ar e a (Wes t Sid e) (Ea s t Sid e)

1A. 1B. 1C. 1D. 1E.

Pr e lim in a r y Cu t & fill Fo u n d a t io n Su p e r Fin is h in g
Act ivit y works w o r ks w o r ks s t r u ct u r e w o r ks
Wo r ks

Su b 1A.1 1A.2 1A.3

Fe n ce s Sit e Wa t e r Pr o cu r e m e n t
a ct ivit y Office

Fig u r e 2 .1a Exa m p le o f WBS

Ch a p t e r 2 - WBS a n d OBS
 TUTORIAL 1 22

Based on what you understand on

the concept of WBS, outline and 4. The construction of Pagoh
develop a WBS for:
shared facilities

1. The construction of Pagoh

Education Hub existing
campuses e.g. Poli TSN, UTM,
UIA
WBS: AT LEAST 8 LEVELS
2. The construction of UTHM
hostel (KKP)
3. The construction of UTHM
campus

Ch a p t e r 2 - WBS a n d OBS