Appendix O

Software Implementation WBS Example

This example illustrates a generic WBS that could be applied to range of different software development projects by suitable customization, especially at the lower levels. As such it is a WBS Template. The deliverables include overhead work, such as “Administration”, intermediate deliverables, such as “requirements approvals”, tangible end products, such as “configured software” and services such as “training”. Not all WBS Elements are decomposed to the same level of detail, for example, “Go Live”. These could be decomposed further in the context of a specific project. This WBS example is shown below in two formats. The first is the standard outline format, the second top-down tree structure view is provided for comparison.

1 WBS for Software Implementation Project

1.1 Project Management

1.2 Product Requirements

1.2.1 Software Requirements

1.2.1.1 Draft Software Requirements

1.2.1.2 Final Software Requirements

1.2.1.3 Software Requirements Approval

1.2.2 User Documentation

1.2.2.1 Draft User Documentation

1.2.2.2 Final User Documentation

1.2.2.3 User Documentation Approval

1.2.3 Training Program Materials

1.2.3.1 Initial Training Requirements

1.2.3.2 Initial Training Materials

1.2.3.3 Trial Course Delivery

1.2.4 Hardware

1.2.4.1 Draft Hardware Requirements

1.2.4.2 Final Hardware Requirements

1.2.4.3 Hardware Requirements Approval

1.2.5 Implementation & Future Support

1.3 Detail Software Design

1.3.1 Initial Software Design

1.3.2 Final Software Design

1.3.3 Software Design Approval

1.4 System Construction

1.4.1 Configured Software

1.4.2 Customized User Documentation

1.4.3 Customized Training Program Materials

1.4.4 Installed Hardware

1.4.5 Implementation & Future Support

1.5 Test

1.5.1 System Test Plan

1.5.2 System Test Cases

1.5.3 System Test Results

1.5.4 Acceptance Test Plan

1.5.5 Acceptance Test Cases

1.5.6 Acceptance Test Results

1.5.7 Approved User Documentation

1.6 Go Live

1.7 Support

1.7.1 Training

1.7.2 End User Support

1.7.3 Product Support

Note: PMI Project Management Standards Open Working Session volunteers at PMI's ’99 Seminars & Symposium originally created this WBS example. It has been subsequently been updated as part of the development of this release of the Practice Standard.

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).