Creation - Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

OVERVIEW - A WBS is a hierarchy of work that must be accomplished to complete a project, which defines a product or service to be produced. The WBS is structured in levels of work detail, beginning with the deliverable itself, and is then separated into identifiable work elements.

Each project has its own WBS hierarchy with the top level WBS element being equal to that of each EPS node or project. Each WBS element may contain more detailed WBS levels, activities, or both.

When creating a project, the project manager typically develops the WBS first, assigns documents to each WBS element, and then defines activities for performing the element's work. In addition to document and activity assignments, each WBS element also has an assigned calendar, specific earned value calculation settings, and an assigned OBS element responsible for all work included in the WBS element.

Now, this is the point where adding a new WBS diverges in similarity with adding an activity.  The new WBS is independent of time and therefore is simply a static structure unlike an activity.  Its purpose lies in organizing the activities contained within in a manner that makes reading and understanding a schedule easier.  It is this hierarchical structure that gives Work Breakdown Structures their power.  It enables you roll up important information to a level where the data can be analyzed without too much detail as can happen when you’re dealing with a 10,000 activity schedule. - Primavera

1. As we did before starting the last lesson, let’s go to the Project View and make a copy of the REL project.  Once the new project appears, change its ID to WBS and its name to Work Breakdown Structure.  Open the project. 
   
   
2. In the activities view, move your cursor over to the directory bar, the vertical bar on the left-hand side of the program.
   
   
3. Click on the button with the two overlapping blue boxes at the top of the middle set of buttons that is labeled WBS in the expanded view of the directory bar.
   
   
4. Now in the WBS view, you may need to make adjustments to the horizontal and vertical bars as we did previously in the activity view.  Note that there is currently only one WBS node.  This is the project that we currently have open, WBS.  The project is the highest structure in the WBS hierarchy much like the database was the highest hierarchical node in the EPS view.
   
   Note – If two projects are open at any given time, they will share the highest node in the WBS hierarchy.
   
   
5. Now, just like we created a new project and activity, right-click the WBS table and select Add from the drop down menu.
   
   
6. Give the new WBS the code, Rm201 and the name, Room 201.
   
   
7. Notice that the full WBS code is WBS.Rm201.  This denotes that the WBS, Rm201, can be found in WBS, WBS.  With the WBS, Rm201, highlighted add another WBS.
   
   
8. Give this one the code, FRAM, and the name, Framing.
   
   
9. With FRAM highlighted, add 3 more WBS’s.
   
   
10. Give the new WBS’s the following codes and names:
    - MEP, Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing
    - DRY, Insulation & Drywall
    - FIN, Finishes
    
    
11. Hierarchically, we want all of the WBS’s from Framing on down to be on the same level.  Therefore we need to make some adjustments.  Using the arrows on the right-hand side of the screen, align the WBS’s as follows.
    
    
12. With the WBS hierarchy created, let’s go back to the activity view.
    
    
13. The WBS hierarchy that we just created should appear at the bottom of the activity table. 
    
    Note - If the hierarchy does not appear, click the Group & Sort button on the toolbar.  On the Group & Sort window, make sure that under Group By, WBS level 1 is highlighted and then uncheck the Group By Options box, Hide if empty.  This should resolve the issue.
    
    
14. Now, let’s go ahead and populate the new WBS with the activities that we have already created.  Highlight the following activities by holding down CTRL while clicking each of the :  L2-1000, L2-1010 & L2-1020
    
    
15. Right-click inside the activity table panel and select Cut (CTRL + X).
    
    
16. Those activities will turn a light gray.  Highlight the Framing WBS, right-click and select Paste (CTRL + V).
    
    Note – All properties of a cut activity are maintained when pasted.  When an activity is copied, a dialogue window appears asking you what properties you want to copy.
    
    
17. Do the same thing with the other activities as follows:
    - Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing
    L2-1030 & L2-1060
    - Insulation & Drywall
    L2-1040, L2-1050 & L2-1070
    - Finishes
    L2-1080, L2-1090, L2-1100, L2-1110, L2-1120, L2-1130 & L2-1140
    

NEXT - Activity Codes