Project Management Planning

Project Management Planning — Work Breakdown Structure and Task Analysis

Foundation

Planning Most Important

Once options are developed, the most important and time-consuming aspect of project management must occur — planning the project.

Planning Activities

Planning a project involves activities that answer the questions:

Who?
What?
When?
Where?
How?

Three Special Techniques

3 Planning Techniques

Techniques of special importance to use during planning:

Gathering important information
Creating a work breakdown structure
Conducting a task analysis

Order + Timeliness

Regardless of the method of planning used, the completion of the tasks in a sense of order and timeliness, made foreseeable through the task analysis, ensures project completion is more likely to succeed.

Work Breakdown Structure

Work Breakdown Structure Definition

A work breakdown structure is a technique based on dividing a project into:

Sub-units
Work packages

Why WBS Matters

Since all the elements required to complete the project are identified in the work breakdown structure, the chances of neglecting or overlooking an essential step are minimized.

WBS Construction

A work breakdown structure is typically constructed with:

Two or three levels of detail
Although more levels are common, depending on the complexity of a project

What WBS Permits

Such a structure permits you and others who see the work breakdown structure to readily:

Identify what needs to be done
Spot omissions which might later affect the outcome of the project
Make suggestions for improving and expanding the work breakdown structure

Breakdown Decision

The amount of breakdown is an element the project manager and the project team must decide upon.

Task Analysis

Task Analysis Definition

Similar to the work breakdown structure, the amount of detail needed for a task analysis depends on:

The task involved
The desires of the project manager and project team

Complexity Drives Detail

The more complex the project, the greater the importance of detailed task analysis.

What Task Analysis Includes (Beyond WBS)

Task Analysis Beyond WBS

Information contained in the task analysis, which is NOT depicted in a work breakdown structure, includes:

Task milestones
How the milestones can be measured
Resources or requirements

Delegation

Task Analysis Delegation

Project managers may delegate the task analysis for each task to the appropriate person.

After Compilation

Once compiled, final decisions on:

Task assignments
Budgetary concerns

…can be addressed.

Crucial Information

The task analysis is what provides the crucial information for determining how the tasks of the project interrelate.

Sequencing Imperative

It is imperative to establish the proper sequencing of tasks prior to beginning a project to ensure the efficiency of the project.