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A work breakdown structure (WBS) is a key project management feature that organises your team's work into manageable sections.

Note: If you are familiar with WBS, please check the important note at the end of this guide.

The work breakdown structure visually defines the scope into manageable chunks (in ManagePlaces, these are Task Groups) that a project team can understand, as each level of the work breakdown structure provides further definition and detail.

An easy way to think about a work breakdown structure is as an outline or "map" of the specific project. A work breakdown structure starts with the Project as the top level deliverable and is further decomposed into Task Groups (and optionally sub-Task Groups), and finally Tasks.

The project team creates the project work breakdown structure by identifying the major functional deliverables and subdividing those deliverables into smaller systems and sub-deliverables. These sub-deliverables are further decomposed, usually until a single person can be assigned (although of course your requirements may be different). At this level, the specific work packages required to produce the sub- deliverable are identified and grouped together. The work package represents the list of tasks or "to-dos" to produce the specific unit of work. If you've seen detailed project schedules, then you'll recognize the tasks under the work package as the "stuff" people need to complete by a specific time and within a specific level of effort.

Here are two examples of WBS:

An important note on creating template CSV's using Spreadsheet editing software

If you use Excel or similar spreadsheet software to edit your project templates, please ensure the following to prevent editing software from omitting trailing zeros or other required characters:

1. Your WBS numbering should use the following format: WBS [space] Number, for example: WBS 1 (first item in project) or WBS 1.10 (tenth item within first task group) or WBS 2.1.1 (first item within the first sub-task group within the second task group)
2. Ensure you use the same format in the Prerequisites column
3. Once you save your file, reopen it in Excel or in preferably in a Text Editor, and ensure that WBS Numbers ending with 0's (zeros) have saved correctly

The example below shows you what the correct structure is, and what spreadsheet software may automatically replace certain fields by:

Feel free to submit a helpdesk ticket if you need help with any of your project creation, update or import requirements, directly from the Questions button on the ManagePlaces platform, or by clicking here.