Construction Cost Engineering:

Work Breakdown
Structure (WBS)
NCE_4402
 Work Breakdown Structure
At the end of the lesson, the learner will be able to:

1. Define Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

2. Identify the levels of Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

3. Identify the types of Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

In planning a project, the project manager must structure the work into
smaller elements that are:

Independent

Integratable

Measureable
Work Breakdown Structure
(WBS)
Is a product-oriented family tree subdivision of the
materials, activities, and data required to produce the
end product.
Work Breakdown Structure
(WBS)
Preparation of the WBS also considers other areas that
require structured data, such as scheduling,
configuration management, contract funding, and
technical performance parameters.
 Types of WBS

Deliverable-Based Work
Breakdown Structure

Phase-Based Work
Breakdown Structure
 Deliverable-Based Work
01 Breakdown Structure
Clearly demonstrates the relationship between the project deliverables
and the scope.

• Interim Deliverables

• Ultimate Deliverables
 Deliverable-Based Work Breakdown Structure Sample

Construction
of a House
Work = 100%
Budget = Php 2,000,000.00

Foundation External Internal

Work = 24% Work = 30.4% Work = 45.60%
Budget = 480,000.00 Budget = 608,000.00 Budget = 912,000.00

Steel Masonry Building

Excavation Electrical Plumbing
Works Works Finishes
Work = 18.2% Work = 5.8% Work = 16.2% Work = 14.2% Work = 11.8% Work = 33.8%
Budget = 364,000.00 Budget = 116,000.00 Budget = 324,000.00 Budget = 284,000.00 Budget = 236,000.00 Budget = 676,000.00
 Phase-Based Work Breakdown
02 Structure
Is also referred to as Verb-oriented, Activity or Task-oriented, or
Process-oriented WBS. The project deliverables are defined in terms of
actions to be taken to attain the final product.
Phase-Based Work Breakdown Structure Sample
Construction
of a House

Quality
Design Procurement Construction Assurance Turnover
Inspection

Land
Electrical Structural Masonry Work Punchlisting
Acquisition

Interior Building
Permits Plumbing Closing
Finishing Finishes

Detailed Exterior
HVAC
Design Finishing

Roofing
Bidding
Works
 COMMON FRAMEWORK OF A WBS
1. The total program can be described as a summation of subdivided
elements.
2. Planning can be performed.
3. Costs and budgets can be established.
4. Time, cost, and performance can be tracked.
5. Objectives can be linked to company resources in a logical manner.
6. Schedules and status-reporting procedures can be established.
7. Network construction and control planning can be initiated.
8. The responsibility assignments for each element can be established.
How to Make a Work Breakdown Structure

1 Gather
2 Identify Key
3 Define
Level 1
Documents Personnel
Elements

4 Decompose
(Breakdown)
5 Create
WBS
6 Create
GANTT
Elements Chart
Dictionary
Schedule
 No. Item Code Description

1 WBS Code Enter the WBS Title and identify it as a Work Package, Planning and/or Control Account.

2 Responsible Name the single organization, group or individual that has been assigned sole responsibility for
Organization/ making sure the Work Package is completed. Include contact information.
Individual
WBS Dictionary

3 Description Define Work Package boundaries. Frame the scope content so that it is clear what scope is
included and excluded. If it is a Planning Package, describe the known and unknown scope.

4 Deliverables Identify the product, service or results created when all of the work in this Work Package is
complete. Include any critical intermediate deliverables.
5 Acceptance Describe the functional and physical requirements in order to meet customer expectations and
Criteria quality requirements. Include any unique approvals required for acceptance.

6 Budget Designate the budget for this Work Package, plus any critical resource information and
assumptions.
7 Milestones List any Start Dates, End Dates, Intermediate Milestones, Interdependencies, Constraints and
any assumption for the deliverables.
8 Risks Include any known threats and opportunities with response strategies.

9 Additional Describe any additional information, such as references, related work packages, etc.
Information
10 Approvals: Date and Revision Date
 The work breakdown structure can be used to
provide the basis for:
01 02 03 04
Responsibility Network Costing Risk analysis
matrix scheduling

05 06 07
Organizational Coordination Control
structure of objectives (including contract
administration)
 Helpful Tips in Creating WBS

Too much detail With too little More detail is Tasks that lead Tasks that are
can be detail, tasks are required at to a milestone performed by
intimidating and omitted. Vague extremely critical should be owners,
can render the schedules stages or detailed so inspectors, and
schedule cannot be used sequences. nothing is design team
useless as a as a omitted that membersshould
management management might prevent also be listed.
tool. Participants tool. the milestone
will ignore it. from occurring.