WBS - Reach project goals by organizing the work in small parts which can be easily managed

A key factor for reaching a project goal is to have a clear Scope Statement and understanding of what needs to be done and delivered.

However normally complex deliverables can block teamwork, in a way individuals focus on the work in what are more “explicit” defined, such as operational activities, including simple communications, small tasks, small improvements and corrections. However, the real work, which will move the project further, is left by side, losing space for the routines and operational tasks.

For this purpose, a good WBS (Work Breakdown Structure) may assist the project to be smoothly achieved. When we can divide the work into a way the things that have to be constructed or done are detailed, reducing any doubt about the next step, the project planning has great chances of being properly executed. Each team member will understand what has to be done, even the ones with limited technical competence, thus reducing procrastination, which is normally incremented by doubt un uncertain about what exactly should be done.

The expectations and understanding of project sponsors, managers or analysis, are not automatically translated into technical tasks. It is necessary to employ effort to break down the work, in small parts, which can easily understood by those who operate the tasks execution. It is the core of WBS, coming from the project’s main goal, breaking it down into small deliverables until it is so small that it can be easily executed and managed.

The WBS may look like a simple structure when we look from outside, but its conception has a deep understanding of what we really need to deliver. It’s from WBS work packages (or leaves) that we derive the project activities (the tasks we assign to project members), so, it guides the action of the whole team. When we define project activities over well-established work packages the chances of what we are doing is the right thing to be done, are bigger in comparison when we just define project tasks like a to-do list, without a clear scope structure behind. Many project management tools are focused on to-do lists or “cards” in a kanban structure, without properly manage the scope.

WBS may also be applied 100% of efficiency with Agile methods, organizing the product backlog, and organizing the Sprints in a way the scope planned to be executed are properly linked with the project goals.

dotProject(www.dotproject.cloud) is one of main platforms which support a clear WBS definition, linking all project activities to pre-defined Work Packages. This way, the properly planning of the project scope is in your hands.