How to Create a Work Breakdown Schedule Using Project 2007

A sound WBS gets your entire team on the same page.

Microsoft Project 2007 is an application designed to help working groups manage ongoing projects. A Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is one of the primary tools available in this application. When you create a WBS using Project 2007, you can help ensure internal and external channels of communication throughout the life of your project.

Instructions

1. Establish a "top node," or primary level, that represents the project in total. This could be something like "Revamp the marketing presence of Happy Cola." This box will appear at the top of your WBS when you print it out. If your group is working on more than one project at a time, this level can include several different encapsulations of the goals.

2. Classify the first level of task categorization on the second level. For the example using soda branding, tasks on this second level could include such as "Redesign logo," "Reformulate packaging options" and "Reevaluate marketing presence."

3. Create a second level of task development, with each task from the first level of categorization surrounded by balloons with more specific tasks in mind. For example, "Reevaluate marketing presence" could be surrounded by such particular tasks as "Choose between newspaper and radio campaign" or "Evaluate profitability of placing product at local charity events."

4. Add as many additional levels as you need until each item on that level is concrete and measurable. These ideas at the bottom are called the "Deliverables."

5. Update the goals in your WBS as you move throughout the project. This will ensure that you delete the goals that are no longer relevant and add new ones that come up through the course of the project.

References

• Project Blog: WBS
• Tech Republic: Track Resources Using a Microsoft Project 2007 Management Model
• Tech Republic: Including WBS in Visual Reports in MS Project 2007