WORK BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE (WBS) TEMPLATE

This Project WBS Template is free for you to copy and use on your project
and within your organization. We hope that you find this template useful and
welcome your comments. Public distribution of this document is only permitted
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WORK BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE

(WBS)
<PROJECT NAME>

COMPANY NAME
STREET ADDRESS
CITY, STATE ZIP CODE

DATE

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INTRODUCTION
The WBS is a view into the project which shows what work the project encompasses. It is a tool
which helps to easily communicate the work and processes involved to execute the project. The
Project Manager and project team use the WBS to develop the project schedule, resource
requirements and costs. There are many ways you can present the WBS for your project; this
template provides many of the most popular layouts from which you can choose. Depending on
where in the Project Plan you're putting the WBS a different layout may be more suitable for
you. For instance many Project Managers include a high level WBS within the project plan, then
a detailed version as an appendix to the plan. You may find that you prefer one layout for a high
level WBS and a different one for a detailed WBS.
In order to save space in this template we only developed the WBS examples down to the third
level. In your project you will want to develop them down to a much more detailed level using
the 8 to 80 rule (where the WBS is broken down to where a work package contains between 8
and 80 hours of work to complete).
The Work Breakdown Structure presented here represents all the work required to complete this
project.

OUTLINE VIEW
The outline view presents an easy to view and understand layout for the WBS. It is also a good
layout to use when developing the WBS because you can easily make changes, especially since
the Microsoft Word auto numbering feature updates the WBS Code automatically.
1. Widget Management System
1.1 Initiation
1.1.1 Evaluation & Recommendations
1.1.2 Develop Project Charter
1.1.3 Deliverable: Submit Project Charter
1.1.4 Project Sponsor Reviews Project Charter
1.1.5 Project Charter Signed/Approved
1.2 Planning
1.2.1 Create Preliminary Scope Statement
1.2.2 Determine Project Team
1.2.3 Project Team Kickoff Meeting
1.2.4 Develop Project Plan
1.2.5 Submit Project Plan
1.2.6 Milestone: Project Plan Approval
1.3 Execution
1.3.1 Project Kickoff Meeting
1.3.2 Verify & Validate User Requirements
1.3.3 Design System
1.3.4 Procure Hardware/Software
1.3.5 Install Development System

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1.3.6 Testing Phase

1.3.7 Install Live System
1.3.8 User Training
1.3.9 Go Live
1.4 Control
1.4.1 Project Management
1.4.2 Project Status Meetings
1.4.3 Risk Management
1.4.4 Update Project Management Plan
1.5 Closeout
1.5.1 Audit Procurement
1.5.2 Document Lessons Learned
1.5.3 Update Files/Records
1.5.4 Gain Formal Acceptance
1.5.5 Archive Files/Documents

HIERARCHICAL STRUCTURE
The hierarchal structure is similar to the outline view but without indentation. Although this
format is more difficult to read, it may be useful where you have many levels and indenting each
level would make the table to large to fit into a document.

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Level
1
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
3
3
3

WBS Code
1
1.1
1.1.1
1.1.2
1.1.3
1.1.4
1.1.5
1.2
1.2.1
1.2.2
1.2.3
1.2.4
1.2.5
1.2.6
1.3
1.3.1
1.3.2
1.3.3
1.3.4
1.3.5
1.3.6
1.3.7
1.3.8
1.3.9
1.4
1.4.1
1.4.2
1.4.3
1.4.4
1.5
1.5.1
1.5.2
1.5.3
1.5.4
1.5.5

Element Name
Widget Management System
Initiation
Evaluation & Recommendations
Develop Project Charter
Deliverable: Submit Project Charter
Project Sponsor Reviews Project Charter
Project Charter Signed/Approved
Planning
Create Preliminary Scope Statement
Determine Project Team
Project Team Kickoff Meeting
Develop Project Plan
Submit Project Plan
Milestone: Project Plan Approval
Execution
Project Kickoff Meeting
Verify & Validate User Requirements
Design System
Procure Hardware/Software
Install Development System
Testing Phase
Install Live System
User Training
Go Live
Control
Project Management
Project Status Meetings
Risk Management
Update Project Management Plan
Closeout
Audit Procurement
Document Lessons Learned
Update Files/Records
Gain Formal Acceptance
Archive Files/Documents

TABULAR VIEW
The Tabular View is a nicely organized table view of the WBS. It is a good option for
organizations which prefer table formats.

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Level 1
1 Widget
Management
System

Level 2
1.1 Initiation

Level 3
1.1.1 Evaluation & Recommendations
1.1.2 Develop Project Charter
1.1.3 Deliverable: Submit Project Charter
1.1.4 Project Sponsor Reviews Project Charter
1.1.5 Project Charter Signed/Approved

1.2 Planning

1.2.1 Create Preliminary Scope Statement

1.2.2 Determine Project Team
1.2.3 Project Team Kickoff Meeting
1.2.4 Develop Project Plan
1.2.5 Submit Project Plan
1.2.6 Milestone: Project Plan Approval

1.3 Execution

1.3.1 Project Kickoff Meeting

1.3.2 Verify & Validate User Requirements
1.3.3 Design System
1.3.4 Procure Hardware/Software
1.3.5 Install Development System
1.3.6 Testing Phase
1.3.7 Install Live System
1.3.8 User Training
1.3.9 Go Live

1.4 Control

1.4.1 Project Management

1.4.2 Project Status Meetings
1.4.3 Risk Management
1.4.4 Update Project Management Plan

1.5 Closeout

1.5.1 Audit Procurement

1.5.2 Document Lessons Learned
1.5.3 Update Files/Records
1.5.4 Gain Formal Acceptance
1.5.5 Archive Files/Documents

TREE STRUCTURE VIEW

The Tree Structure View is the most popular format for the WBS. It presents an easy to
understand view into the WBS; however, it is also tricky to create without an application
specifically designed for creating this organizational chart structure. The Tree Structure below
was created using only Microsoft Word and the SmartArt graphics option under the insert menu.

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Widget Mgmt.
System
1

Initiation
1.1

Planning
1.2

Execution
1.3

Control
1.4

Closeout
1.5

Evaluation &
Recommendations
1.1.1

Create Preliminary
Scope Statement
1.2.1

Project Kickoff
Meeting
1.3.1

Project
Management
1.4.1

Audit Procurement
1.5.1

Develop Project
Charter
1.1.2

Determine Project
Team
1.2.2

Verify & Validate

User Requirements
1.3.2

Project Status
Meetings
1.4.2

Document Lessons
Learned
1.5.2

Deliverable:
Submit Project
Charter
113

Project Team
Kickoff Meeting
1.2.3

Design System
1.3.3

Risk Management
1.4.3

Update Files/
Records
1.5.3

Project Sponsor
Reviews Project
Charter
114

Develop Project
Plan
1.2.4

Procure
Hardware/Software
1.3.4

Update Project
Management Plan
1.4.4

Gain Formal
Acceptance
1.5.4

Project Charter
Signed/Approved
1.1.5

Submit Project
Plan
1.2.5

Install
Development
System
135

Milestone: Project
Plan Approved
1.2.6

Testing Phase
1.3.6

Install Live System

1.3.7

User Training
1.3.8

Go Live
1.3.9

Archive Files/
Documents
1.5.5

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WBS DICTIONARY
The WBS Dictionary contains all the details of the WBS which are necessary to successfully
complete the project. Most importantly it contains a definition of each Work Package which can
be thought of as a mini scope statement. Resources on the project will look at the WBS
dictionary to determine the scope of the Work Package they've been assigned, so it's important to
be clear when writing the definition. Most WBS dictionaries contain more information than we
show in our sample. These things usually include Level of Effort, Cost Control Numbers,
Resource Assignments, Responsibility Assignments - just to name a few.
Level

Element Name

Definition

WBS
Code
1

Widget Management System

2
3

1.1
1.1.1

Initiation
Evaluation & Recommendations

1.1.2

Develop Project Charter

1.1.3

1.1.4

1.1.5

Deliverable: Submit Project

Charter
Project Sponsor Reviews Project
Charter
Project Charter Signed/Approved

1.2

All work to implement a new widget

management system.
The work to initiate the project.
Working group to evaluate solution sets
and make recommendations.
Project Manager to develop the Project
Charter.
Project Charter is delivered to the
Project Sponsor.
Project sponsor reviews the Project
Charter.
The Project Sponsor signs the Project
Charter which authorizes the Project
Manager to move to the Planning
Process.
The work for the planning process for
the project.
Project Manager creates a Preliminary
Scope Statement.
The Project Manager determines the
project team and requests the resources.
The planning process is officially
started with a project kickoff meeting
which includes the Project Manager,
Project Team and Project Sponsor
(optional).
Under the direction of the Project
Manager the team develops the project
plan.
Project Manager submits the project
plan for approval.

1.2.1

1.2.2

Planning
Create Preliminary Scope
Statement
Determine Project Team

1.2.3

1.2.4

Project Team Kickoff Meeting

Develop Project Plan

3

1.2.5
Submit Project Plan

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1.2.6

2
3

1.3
1.3.1

1.3.2

1.3.3

1.3.4

1.3.5

1.3.6

1.3.7

1.3.8

3
2

1.3.9
1.4

1.4.1

3
3

1.4.2
1.4.3

1.4.4

1.5

The project plan is approved and the

Project Manager has permission to
proceed to execute the project according
Milestone: Project Plan Approval to the project plan.
Execution
Work involved to execute the project.
Project Manager conducts a formal kick
off meeting with the project team,
project stakeholders and project
Project Kickoff Meeting
sponsor.
The original user requirements is
reviewed by the project manager and
team, then validated with the
Verify & Validate User
users/stakeholders. This is where
Requirements
additional clarification may be needed.
The technical resources design the new
Design System
widget management system.
The procurement of all hardware,
software and facility needs for the
Procure Hardware/Software
project.
Team installs a development system for
testing and customizations of user
Install Development System
interfaces.
The system is tested with a select set of
Testing Phase
users.
The actual system is installed and
Install Live System
configured.
All users are provided with a four hours
training class. Additionally, managers
are provided with an additional two
User Training
hours class to cover advanced reporting.
Go Live
System goes live with all users.
The work involved for the control
Control
process of the project.
Overall project management for the
Project Management
project.
Project Status Meetings
Weekly team status meetings.
Risk management efforts as defined in
Risk Management
the Risk Management Plan.
Project Manager updates the Project
Management Plan as the project
Update Project Management Plan progresses.
Closeout
The work to close-out the project.

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1.5.1

1.5.2

1.5.3

1.5.4

An audit of all hardware and software

procured for the project, ensures that all
procured products are accounted for and
in the asset management system.
Project Manager along with the project
team performs a lessons learned
meeting and documents the lessons
learned for the project.
All files and records are updated to
reflect the widget management system.
The Project Sponsor formally accepts
the project by signing the acceptance
document included in the project plan.
All project related files and documents
are formally archived.

Audit Procurement

Document Lessons Learned

Update Files/Records

Gain Formal Acceptance

3

1.5.5
Archive Files/Documents

GLOSSARY OF TERMS
It's important that you provide a glossary of terms as some of the terms are not understood by
persons without a project management background. For instance what the PMI Practice
Standard for Work Breakdown Structures refers to as the WBS Code is commonly referred to as
the WBS number.
Level of Effort:
WBS Code:

Level of Effort (LOE) is how much work is required to complete a task.

A unique identifier assigned to each element in a Work Breakdown
Structure for the purpose of designating the elements hierarchical location
within the WBS.
Work Package:
A Work Package is a deliverable or work component at the lowest level of
its WBS branch.
WBS Component: A component of a WBS which is located at any level. It can be a Work
Package or a WBS Element as there's no restriction on what a WBS
Component is.
WBS Element:
A WBS Element is a single WBS component and its associated attributes
located anywhere within a WBS. A WBS Element can contain work, or it
can contain other WBS Elements or Work Packages.

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