Project Management
What is Project Management?
(OpenAI, 2025)
Project Management is defined as delegating a team to be responsible for completing all tasks to fulfill the objectives assigned through a specific internal process. One possible framework is the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) (Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) in Project Management
Video: How to create work breakdown structure
WBS is defined as a deliverable-oriented hierarchical decomposition of the work to be executed by the project team to accomplish the project objectives and create the required deliverables by organising and defining the total scope of the project
How to Create a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) (Organ, 2024)
1. Define the Project
Programme flow of activities to guide the WBS responsibilities for each segment
Goals and objectives of activities to guide the WBS in fulfilling the deliverables
Ensure we know what we are covering and not covering, so that all the effort towards the Programme is vital and unwasted.
Programme flow of activities to guide the WBS responsibilities for each segment
Establish the project’s agenda flow and objectives so the WBS can be scaled appropriately.
2. Identify Major Deliverables
List the high-level outcomes (Decompositions) required to achieve the project objectives.
4. Decompose Deliverables
3. Assign Responsibility
Identify the team members or departments responsible for each major deliverable.
5. Create Work Packages
Break each major deliverable into smaller, more manageable tasks until the breakdown does not add value or reaches up to 12 levels.
Ensure the lowest deliverable, known as a work package, is specific enough to be assigned and evaluated for completion.
6. Link to Project Timeline
Complement the WBS with a Gantt chart, which illustrates work completed over time, to visualise task sequencing and scheduling
Our Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
Positive Aspect
Clear Project Scope & Structure: WBS breaks complex projects into smaller, manageable elements, making the full scope of deliverables understandable (Work Breakdown Structure | EBSCO, 2021). An example is breaking down the deliverables of the Admin role to documenting meeting minutes.
Accountability & Progress Tracking: Clearly defined work packages increase accountability and allow for better tracking of progress. For instance, specific work packages such as booking the venue are crucial and can be easily cross-referred to the Gantt Chart to track completion (Patel & Gawande, 2023).
Negative Aspect
Rigid Structure: A WBS may be strictly defined and may become inflexible if there is a change in project requirement For example, if TinkerThings requested to add a new segment on hydroponics to the workshop, the WBS would not account for it (Work Breakdown Structure | EBSCO, 2021).
Excessive Micro-Management: If not properly balanced, a WBS can be too excessive in detail, One example is selecting a compost photo for slide 3, leading to unnecessary micromanagement and demotivation in team members as they lack the creative freedom (Patel & Gawande, 2023).
References
OpenAI. (2025a). Collaborative planning [AI-generated image]. Sora, ChatGPT. https://openai.com/sora
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Organ, C. (2024, May 28). Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) in Project management. Forbes Advisor. https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/what-is-work-breakdown-structure/
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Online PM Courses - Mike Clayton. (2021, October 14). How to create a work breakdown Structure: a WBS Masterclass [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyR2VLP3xnA
Patel, R., & Gawande, P. (2023). WORK BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE: SIMPLIFYING PROJECT MANAGEMENT. Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research, 10(2). https://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2302224.pdf
Week 5 (OAL) - Tasks and Time management. (n.d.). https://nplms.polite.edu.sg/d2l/le/enhancedSequenceViewer/663827?url=https%3A%2F%2F746e9230-82d6-4d6b-bd68-5aa40aa19cce.sequences.api.brightspace.com%2F663827%2Factivity%2F11114541%3FfilterOnDatesAndDepth%3D1
Work Breakdown Structure | EBSCO. (2021). EBSCO Information Services, Inc. | www.ebsco.com. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/business-and-management/work-breakdown-structure
Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) in Project management. (2016). Questa Soft. https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=730106