Where to get general info on Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)?

Question

I work in a software development company. I have this major ticket for which I have to produce a WBS (Work Breakdown Structure). I also have to prepare an estimation for the ticket. The ticket deals with a re-architecture of, well, various processes. Now in our organization we have a generic template for this WBS. It is something we have to fill inside excel sheet. The fields in the sheet goes like: #No. Description Planned Start Date Planned End Date Planned Hours Actual Start Date Actual End Date Actual Hours . . .Here we'll just use a hierarchical numbering system to jot down the tasks (main tasks are whole numbered - sub tasks are sub-numbered). The thing that I note here is there is an almost start date and end date for all most everything. I am not so skilled in creating a WBS. So I searched youtube & wikipedia for WBS tutorials/information and came to understand that WBS is a graphical representation. But then I don't get why we do it in excel sheets. Its standard practice in our organization.Actually I want to know when do we embark on creating a WBS, and what is the best approach to go about it...

Answer 1

My recommendation is to use a Deliverable Work Breakdown Structure (DWBS). It is a customer focused structure with many advantages over other types such as a Schedule base structure.

Here is link to an article you can find online:

https://cminyc.com/cmi_FTP/Project_Mgmt-Work_Breakdown_Structure_Information.pdf

The article includes guidelines on how to construct the structure and the advantages.

You can use any tool to build the DWBS- in fact I always start with sticky notes. I find it easier to move the notes around and rewrite the labels without be hinder by software tool formatting. Once I am done with the sticky notes version I transfer it to Excel- but only because I am not restricted by size if I put it in a power point or word document. You can put the elements in a project schedule as well- but I usually perform a statistical cost estimate in Excel so I finish my work in Excel and then more the deliverables, tasks, and estimates to the scheduling tool.

A deliverable is best described as something someone is willing to pay for- therefore all of the tasks must be completed to produce the deliverable.