Appendix P

Horizontal Tree Structure Format WBS Example

This horizontal tree display of a high level Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) contains all basic work associated with the concrete canoe design, construction, and documentation. It clearly defines the work to be performed, identifies the needed expertise, assists in selection of the project team and establishes a base for project scheduling and control. Each of the items listed can continue to be broken down (as indicated by the arrows) until there is a specific task that can be assigned to members of the concrete canoe team. For example, under “Canoe Display Stands”, the specific tasks would include procuring materials, constructing the stands, painting the stands, and applying any decals. These are work tasks that can be given specifically to a group or individual. An issue with this WBS is the fact that some WBS elements are stated as activities using verb phrases. Ideally, all WBS elements should be stated as nouns that describe decomposed elements of the work.

This WBS example is illustrative only and is intended to provide guidance to the reader. No claim of completeness is made—for any specific project, the example may be complete or incomplete. All examples reflect the quality principles expressed in this Practice Standard. As expressed in the PMBOK® Guide—Third Edition “the project management team is responsible for determining what is appropriate for any given project” (Project Management Institute 2004).