Work Breakdown Structure: Comprehensive Guide (+Practical Tips)

[@ITProjectManagers]

👉Discover How to Land a Senior IT Project Manager Job… …so You Can Finally Get the Fulfillment and Recognition You Deserve itpmschool.com/workshop/

[@naterciagomes]

Top explanation, finally I understand what a WBS is

[@ITProjectManagers]

Thanks for your great feedback, Natércia!

[@susanagonzalez2424]

At the Deliverable level. Do you list the Project Deliverable or Project Manager deliverables? Thank you! Great videos

[@ITProjectManagers]

Both. You must list all deliverables required for project success.

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Clear and helpful explanation of the practical process. Thank you.

[@ITProjectManagers]

Glad you liked it, Mike!

[@anthonydenisojok3192]

The most complete and applicable explanation of the WBS I have come across

[@jonesie8377]

This is so good! I purchased your book yesterday and am saving for your course. This is the most practical approach I’ve seen for PM and I’ve watched a million videos and attended a week long course!

[@ITProjectManagers]

Awesome! Thank you! I'm glad you find it useful.

[@wolfberkych8096]

I would say all the answers are correct. Do they?

[@ITProjectManagers]

No really, Wolf. For sure, it doesn't prove the estimates. The question is what is the main goal. So, it's A.

[@ITProjectManagers]

Put your answer to the video's QUIZ below this comment.

[@KristinaKushner]

Nice explanation and examples of WBS. Great episode 👌🏽

[@ITProjectManagers]

You are welcome, Kristina. Glad you liked it!

[@adamstern5116]

Answer to the question is A. What an awesome video. Thank you for the chapter breakdown it really is amazing and helpful for taking notes. Thanks so much Mr. Dmitriy!

[@ITProjectManagers]

That's correct. Thank you for your participation and feedback!

[@ConquerorTeen]

You are just a God sent. Im so glued to your videos as i make my career change into project management. So practical. Thank you so very much.

[@ITProjectManagers]

You are welcome!

[@sumitpaudel9948]

Hi Dmitriy, I was actually searching WBS for Managing a hostel. I could not find any of the resources that could give an idea about it. ( Not sure about deliverables). Could you please provide me a hint? Thank you!

[@ITProjectManagers]

Hi Sumit, Sorry for the late reply. Managing a hostel is not a project. It’s operational activity. And WBS is not appropriate for this kind of activity. What you really need is to focus on standard operation procedures (SOP). It can be a checklist for each recurring operation in your business. It will help you to improve performance, quality and on-boarding of new employees.

[@sebastianalcaraz2382]

As an administrative assistant, this video is essential for my daily tasks to deliver high quality results. Now I'm ready to apply as project manager. Thank you Dymitro

[@ITProjectManagers]

Glad it was helpful! Best of luck with the job search.

[@miriammunetsi1833]

A

[@ITProjectManagers]

Thanks for your participation and feedback.

[@aewcontrol2984]

A, you said it in the beginning of the video, great work BTW!!! The best explanation of the subject, some people only put one tier of work packages and below each a bunch of child activities, it was confusing.

[@ITProjectManagers]

Thanks! Glad you found it valuable.

[@Njooo5]

I likess urss acccentt😅 Love ur explanation btw😊

[@ITProjectManagers]

Thanks:)))

[@tatuenglish669]

Quality WBS includes internal, external, and interim deliverables. Do you want to deliver the project successfully? Then, do not hide your internal needs. Producing internal and interim deliverable also takes time and money. Could you give me some examples of internal and interim deliverables

[@ITProjectManagers]

Usually an Interim deliverable is the product in certain state of readiness or a piece of your project that cannot be tested or demonstrated. You’ll need, for example, for testing but you’ll no share it with clients. All project management deliverable that clients didn’t ask for explicitly become internal deliverables.

[@slodoco]

I think it's A. The other answers are also correct, but A is the most correct.

[@ITProjectManagers]

That's correct! Thanks for your participation

[@ecombo6102]

Hello Dimitry I love your videos and I have a question. I am a 40 year old trying to break into project management. I have a lot of PM skilss that I have aquired from previous job and life experiences that I know will help me be a successful PM someday. Do you recommend focusing on a specialty from the onset ? Change management ,agile?

[@ITProjectManagers]

Hello, Thanks:) Yes, it’s better to specialize right away. At least you need to choose a niche, like IT industry -> Software Development. It will narrow down the amount of industry specific knowledge you need to gain. So, for example, agile methodologies are mostly required in the IT...

[@alexanderfernandez9469]

Hi Dimitry, The answer to your question is option A = Dedine 100% of the project scope. Amazing video thank you!

[@ITProjectManagers]

Awesome, thank you for your participation!

[@americaforamericans6254]

A and I guess that would also be my grade for completing your quiz. Very well spoken clear and precise. My hats off to you good sir.

[@ITProjectManagers]

Thanks for your great feedback. Yes, correct:)

[@Solanixhanti]

Is the work break down structure sequential?

[@ITProjectManagers]

No, WBS does not define sequence or dependencies. The idea is that you take deliverables and work packages and break them down into tasks. Then, you identify the dependencies between tasks. And it give you a sequence of tasks. From practical standpoint, it's convenient to group and execute the work by deliverables. It gives you better control and focus. Contrast that to executing tasks from random deliverables.

[@king0vdarkness]

what software tool did you use for the WBS?

[@ITProjectManagers]

In this video, I use Merlin Project. It’s a Mac OS only app.

[@king0vdarkness]

@@ITProjectManagers thank you, is there an android alternative?

[@wtfmma8787]

Hi, I am doing a WBS for school and I was wondering if you could give any tips on what to use as level 2 deliverables. The project is the completion of the school course which is Project Management.

[@ITProjectManagers]

Hi, it depends on the perspective. But in any case it might be something like this: 1. Project Management Course 1.1 Course Curriculum 1.2 Homework Assignments 1.3 List of Resources 1.4 Practical Workshop 1.5 Communications Workshop 1.6 Sample Project Documentation 1.7 Course Schedule

[@wtfmma8787]

@@ITProjectManagers Thanks a ton Dmitriy! Definitely going to use some of these and will subscribe too.

[@araosh1]

Love watching your videos. Crystal clear. thank you

[@ITProjectManagers]

You are so welcome, Anu. Glad you find it useful.

[@e_gor1078]

I believe answer's A and all other answers are wright as well (after A)

[@ITProjectManagers]

Correct:)

[@zlin4616]

How does Agile/SAFe projects use WBS? or not use it at all?

[@ITProjectManagers]

Agile frameworks don’t use WBS as is. Nevertheless, you should be using the principles of high-quality WBS creating in your decomposition of Epics -> Features -> User Stories. However, if we you work in cross-functional environment as a Program Manager, you may want to create a WBS. It will help you control the work over the whole endeavour. But it will be outside Scrum/SAFe frameworks.

[@zlin4616]

@@ITProjectManagers Thank you very much!!!

[@godwinprojectmanagement]

Thank you for this! Very helpful.

[@ITProjectManagers]

You're very welcome!

[@PCasz]

Which tool do you display at 1:29?

[@ITProjectManagers]

It’s Merlin Project

[@samiraadibi7855]

Really good video

[@ITProjectManagers]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@smehra342]

Kindly share activity list

[@ITProjectManagers]

Hi Shivam, unfortunately I don't have an Activity List to share. In most cases, activities end up in a project management software. In my case, JIRA or Azure DevOPS.

[@TheCoolgamer21]

Great video😀

[@ITProjectManagers]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@PhanRegSop]

Fantastic lecture.. thanks

[@ITProjectManagers]

Most welcome! Glad you found it useful.

[@craigrobertsonmsc.6260]

Thanks........................

[@ITProjectManagers]

You are welcome, Craig. Thanks for your feedback!

[@patrickma177]

Really good, thank you

[@ITProjectManagers]

Glad you liked it, Patrick!