![What is a work breakdown structure?: Project Management Foundations [2016]](https://cdn.lynda.com/video/486854-59-635993082444078880_338x600_thumb.jpg)
Learn what a work breakdown structure is in a project plan.
- [Voiceover] After you get the go ahead to plan your…project, the first thing you do is identify the work…that has to be done.…A work breakdown structure, or WBS, is what you use…to divvy up project work into bite sized pieces.…So you can plan, track, and manage your project…effectively.…Creating a WBS helps the project in several ways.…First, it's easier to estimate time and cost…for smaller chunks of work.…Second, it's easier to assign work to team members.…
Third, by breaking work into smaller pieces,…you build check points into your project…that allow you to measure progress.…A WBS contains two kinds of tasks.…Summary tasks, and work packages.…Summary tasks are the higher level tasks…that summarize project work in some way.…Summary tasks can describe each portion…of the project.…Including, Updating conference center technology,…Remodeling the conference center, and so on.…
The number of levels of summary tasks…depends on the size of the project.…A few levels is probably enough…for a small project.…With a large, or complex project,…
Author
Bonnie Biafore
Released
7/10/2016Bonnie Biafore has always been fascinated by how things work and how to make things work better. In this course, she explains the fundamentals of project management, from defining the problem, establishing project goals and objectives, and building a project plan to managing team resources, meeting deadlines, and closing the project. Along the way, she provides tips for reporting on project performance, keeping a project on track, and gaining customer acceptance.
- Defining the components of a project
- What it takes to be a project manager
- Using project management software like Microsoft Project
- Managing project scope, budget, and schedule
- Managing project resources, including people
- Managing project risk
- Initiating a project
- Identifying and managing stakeholders
- Identifying requirements and deliverables
- Developing a project plan
- Building a project schedule
- Assigning resources to tasks
- Understanding the critical path
- Running the project
- Managing teams
- Monitoring performance
- Closing a project
Skill Level Beginner
Duration
Views
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Introduction
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Welcome1m 17s
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Using the exercise files1m 17s
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1. Getting to Know Project Management
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2. Exploring Project Management Knowledge Areas
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Manage project scope2m 37s
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Learn to manage quality1m 16s
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How to manage stakeholders1m 34s
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3. First Things First
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How to develop requirements4m 19s
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4. Developing a Project Plan
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How to define work packages1m 50s
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Build a project schedule2m 2s
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Develop a project budget3m 27s
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How to identify risks3m 8s
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Develop a quality plan3m 35s
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5. Building a Project Schedule
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Learn to sequence tasks2m 36s
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Learn to use milestones1m 38s
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Make a realistic schedule1m 49s
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Understand the critical path2m 32s
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How to shorten a schedule4m 23s
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Document a baseline1m 34s
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6. While You Run the Project
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How to run a project2m 2s
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How to procure resources3m 27s
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7. Working with Teams
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Manage team resources4m 3s
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Understand team dynamics2m 39s
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8. Monitoring and Controlling Progress and Performance
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How to gather project data1m 43s
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How to execute plans3m 46s
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Manage the project schedule1m 35s
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Manage and control costs2m 29s
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Learn how to manage scope2m 37s
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Learn how to solve problems2m 23s
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9. Closing a Project
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How to close a project1m 17s
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Document lessons learned2m 31s
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Conclusion
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Video: What is a work breakdown structure?