A common question you might ask is “where can I find work breakdown structure examples?” Sometimes, it’s nice to look over someone’s shoulder and have them show you.
In this video, you can get a feel for both the traditional WBS graphical representation and how to do the same thing with mind mapping software. I’m a big proponent of mind mapping software, I love it!
Check out the video!
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{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
I was wondering if you thought PMI’s Researching the Value of Project Management study leant itself to convincing organizations to buy into project management. i just got finished reading it, and i am looking for other thoughts on the subject. i read pmstudent.com sometimes and was suprised there was nothing here on it.
I was wondering if you thought PMI’s Researching the Value of Project Management study leant itself to convincing organizations to buy into project management. i just got finished reading it, and i am looking for other thoughts on the subject. i read pmstudent.com sometimes and was suprised there was nothing here on it.
Donna, I thought that hadn’t been released yet? I just checked PMI’s site and the order page is still set up for an advanced copy – coming soon. I would love it if you could write up your thoughts in a post for pmStudent!
There is some video footage of the conference in Warsaw that I have not been able to sit down and watch yet.
If anyone would like to write a post on the report or conference, please register on the top-right of this page! You’ll be able to submit a post immediately, and detailed instructions are available after you log in as a registered member of pmStudent.com
Josh Nankivel
Donna, I thought that hadn’t been released yet? I just checked PMI’s site and the order page is still set up for an advanced copy – coming soon. I would love it if you could write up your thoughts in a post for pmStudent!
There is some video footage of the conference in Warsaw that I have not been able to sit down and watch yet.
If anyone would like to write a post on the report or conference, please register on the top-right of this page! You’ll be able to submit a post immediately, and detailed instructions are available after you log in as a registered member of pmStudent.com
Josh Nankivel
Josh,
The idea of a Mind Map to build a WBS is a match made in heaven. The video though makes the cardinal sin of WBS – it is functional in nature not product in nature.
The result is a “level of effort” view of the car. “Design Engine,” never says what done looks like.
Use the MM tools for the right reason. The terminal nodes of the WBS Map are physical and tangible “things” that can be assembled into other tangible “things.”
There can also be processes that are needed for the production of the end item – the car. But never are there roles or functions in the WBS.
Josh,
The idea of a Mind Map to build a WBS is a match made in heaven. The video though makes the cardinal sin of WBS – it is functional in nature not product in nature.
The result is a “level of effort” view of the car. “Design Engine,” never says what done looks like.
Use the MM tools for the right reason. The terminal nodes of the WBS Map are physical and tangible “things” that can be assembled into other tangible “things.”
There can also be processes that are needed for the production of the end item – the car. But never are there roles or functions in the WBS.
I completely agree about the methodology of the WBS Glen, but this was the best video I could find demonstrating mindmapping in relation to the WBS.
One of these days I’ll get around to doing a video myself…
Josh,
It’s interesting the Mind Jet hasn’t picked up on this. I was an early adopter of MM when the beta team allowed us at Ricky Flats to test early versions to build a large WBS for a building closure.
MJ has never really understood the project management side of their tool. We use it to build the IMP for every program we work and guide the capture of Product Development Kaizen (PDK) sessions.
I lead a IMP/IMS development for a manned spacecraft flight test article (FAST) for an early proposal that turned into the current Orion Program (Crew Exploration Vehicle – CEV) in 3 weeks. From hand wavings to baselined IMS with the systems engineers, us planners, cost estimators, and a few engineering specailist.
It’s a wonderdful concept. But like Design Structure Matrix – much misunderstood and under used.
I completely agree about the methodology of the WBS Glen, but this was the best video I could find demonstrating mindmapping in relation to the WBS.
One of these days I’ll get around to doing a video myself…
Josh,
It’s interesting the Mind Jet hasn’t picked up on this. I was an early adopter of MM when the beta team allowed us at Ricky Flats to test early versions to build a large WBS for a building closure.
MJ has never really understood the project management side of their tool. We use it to build the IMP for every program we work and guide the capture of Product Development Kaizen (PDK) sessions.
I lead a IMP/IMS development for a manned spacecraft flight test article (FAST) for an early proposal that turned into the current Orion Program (Crew Exploration Vehicle – CEV) in 3 weeks. From hand wavings to baselined IMS with the systems engineers, us planners, cost estimators, and a few engineering specailist.
It’s a wonderdful concept. But like Design Structure Matrix – much misunderstood and under used.
Surely WBS is *exactly* functional, a PBS (Product Breakdown Structure) is product-ised. My approach is to break down the end game via PBS and then break it further using WBS to include all the pernickety *doing* stuff – review, schedule, check, etc.
Thanks for the comment Alan! It sounds like you and I do very similar things, just in a different way. For me the WBS is only deliverables-based and so I don’t see a need for a PBS…my WBS is a PBS. From there, I use a Basis of Estimates (BOE) to list tasks needed for a deliverable and at the same time establish dependencies, estimates, and rationale/justifications and assumptions related to the tasks.
I think the means may be somewhat cultural in nature and definitely industry specific too. Do you happen to be from the UK or an area where PRINCE2 is prevalent Alan?
Thanks!
Hi Alan,
PBS and WBS are uses for the same thing with a very big difference that Josh remove in his book “Your WBS coach”, include the time variable in the representation. There are another little differences but are not very important.
I prefer talk and use PBS because Product describe better than Work the goal of this technique.
Do you have a sample of a 3 levels WBS that you can share?
MLG, you can do a search and find examples, but I think many of them point you in the wrong direction. Here is a graphic of the structure taken from WBS Coach.
I have switched from FreeMind to it’s more active fork, FreePlane (http://freeplane.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page). I highly recommend making the change
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