Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated: 1 1 00:00:00,780 --> 00:00:02,940 So how do you structure the categories 2 2 00:00:02,940 --> 00:00:03,993 of the WBS? 3 3 00:00:05,090 --> 00:00:09,210 The classic method is called hierarchical decomposition, 4 4 00:00:09,210 --> 00:00:11,420 where you break the project up into pieces, 5 5 00:00:11,420 --> 00:00:14,850 then those into pieces, and those into pieces, and so on 6 6 00:00:14,850 --> 00:00:16,210 until you get down to deliverables 7 7 00:00:16,210 --> 00:00:18,613 that can be allocated to single individuals. 8 8 00:00:19,650 --> 00:00:21,370 For very large projects, you can end up with 9 9 00:00:21,370 --> 00:00:23,623 as many as six levels, sometimes more. 10 10 00:00:25,090 --> 00:00:28,630 However, this classic approach does not always work 11 11 00:00:28,630 --> 00:00:31,870 for smaller projects, or areas of projects 12 12 00:00:31,870 --> 00:00:34,323 with substantial cross-functional process work. 13 13 00:00:35,480 --> 00:00:37,230 So let's look at some alternatives. 14 14 00:00:39,230 --> 00:00:41,830 Other ways to structure the WBS categories include 15 15 00:00:41,830 --> 00:00:44,883 by phases and using a combined approach. 16 16 00:00:46,240 --> 00:00:49,370 A lot of people prefer the phased approach, 17 17 00:00:49,370 --> 00:00:51,890 where the categories capture the various phases 18 18 00:00:51,890 --> 00:00:52,733 of the project. 19 19 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:57,400 The WBS does not have to show any chronological information, 20 20 00:00:57,400 --> 00:00:58,980 but this approach by nature does tend 21 21 00:00:58,980 --> 00:01:01,460 to show deliverables that happen earlier on the left 22 22 00:01:01,460 --> 00:01:03,920 and those later on the right. 23 23 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:06,640 Although, even then, there are usually exceptions. 24 24 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:07,990 For example, there could be plans 25 25 00:01:07,990 --> 00:01:10,070 in the first planning category that are not started 26 26 00:01:10,070 --> 00:01:12,133 until midway in the actual schedule. 27 27 00:01:14,010 --> 00:01:17,070 Some people prefer a combined approach, 28 28 00:01:17,070 --> 00:01:18,830 where they use hierarchical decomposition 29 29 00:01:18,830 --> 00:01:21,210 for parts of the project, for example, 30 30 00:01:21,210 --> 00:01:23,970 to capture hardware and software components, 31 31 00:01:23,970 --> 00:01:26,300 and some phase-oriented categories to capture elements 32 32 00:01:26,300 --> 00:01:28,943 like testing, training, implementation, and support. 33 33 00:01:30,540 --> 00:01:34,340 The bottom line is: Use either hierarchical decomposition, 34 34 00:01:34,340 --> 00:01:37,963 or phasing, or a combination as convenient. 35 35 00:01:39,030 --> 00:01:41,730 You want to try to collect related deliverables together 36 36 00:01:41,730 --> 00:01:44,310 in any categories that make sense for the project, 37 37 00:01:44,310 --> 00:01:46,520 whatever seems most clear. 38 38 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:48,833 There is never a right or a wrong way. 39 39 00:01:49,780 --> 00:01:52,120 Some ways might be more clear than others, 40 40 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:54,980 and you get better with time; but it's the deliverables 41 41 00:01:54,980 --> 00:01:58,060 that are important, not the categories. 42 42 00:01:58,060 --> 00:02:00,460 Never get hung up on the categories. 43 43 00:02:00,460 --> 00:02:03,470 Stay focused on identifying all the deliverables 44 44 00:02:03,470 --> 00:02:05,860 and feel free to rearrange the categories 45 45 00:02:05,860 --> 00:02:08,783 however makes sense as the WBS develops. 46 46 00:02:10,490 --> 00:02:12,250 Let's take a look at a couple of examples 47 47 00:02:12,250 --> 00:02:13,300 that make this point. 48 48 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:18,010 Let's look at two work breakdown structures 49 49 00:02:18,010 --> 00:02:20,610 that illustrate the point it's the deliverables 50 50 00:02:20,610 --> 00:02:23,280 that are important, not the categories. 51 51 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:26,210 These both have exactly the same deliverables, 52 52 00:02:26,210 --> 00:02:27,653 just organized differently. 53 53 00:02:29,210 --> 00:02:32,450 Here is a WBS for a typical system integration project 54 54 00:02:32,450 --> 00:02:35,750 that is organized hierarchically, for example, 55 55 00:02:35,750 --> 00:02:38,470 collecting all the hardware and software together 56 56 00:02:38,470 --> 00:02:39,683 in separate categories. 57 57 00:02:40,830 --> 00:02:43,350 So the software plan, design, builds, reviews, 58 58 00:02:43,350 --> 00:02:45,753 and tests are all in one category. 59 59 00:02:47,540 --> 00:02:49,380 Now to make the point, you should not get hung up 60 60 00:02:49,380 --> 00:02:50,590 on the categories. 61 61 00:02:50,590 --> 00:02:52,680 Let's look at exactly the same project 62 62 00:02:52,680 --> 00:02:54,870 and exactly the same deliverables, 63 63 00:02:54,870 --> 00:02:56,313 just organized another way. 64 64 00:02:58,070 --> 00:03:01,180 Here's a WBS for the same system integration project 65 65 00:03:01,180 --> 00:03:02,820 with exactly the same deliverables, 66 66 00:03:02,820 --> 00:03:05,910 just organized differently in this version 67 67 00:03:05,910 --> 00:03:07,113 largely by phasing. 68 68 00:03:08,330 --> 00:03:10,530 So now the software deliverables are spread 69 69 00:03:10,530 --> 00:03:13,540 across the WBS with the software plan 70 70 00:03:13,540 --> 00:03:16,630 in the planning branch, the design under design, 71 71 00:03:16,630 --> 00:03:19,560 the builds under build, the reviews under PM, 72 72 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:21,083 and the tests under test. 73 73 00:03:22,180 --> 00:03:24,930 Exactly the same project, same deliverables, 74 74 00:03:24,930 --> 00:03:26,280 just organized differently. 75 75 00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:29,630 You might prefer one way over another, 76 76 00:03:29,630 --> 00:03:31,650 and either one might be more appropriate 77 77 00:03:31,650 --> 00:03:32,913 for a given project. 78 78 00:03:34,290 --> 00:03:37,550 The key point is that neither way is incorrect 79 79 00:03:37,550 --> 00:03:40,300 and either will work because the important thing 80 80 00:03:40,300 --> 00:03:42,943 is the deliverables are identified. 81 81 00:03:44,180 --> 00:03:47,440 There are probably other ways to organize the WBS as well, 82 82 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:49,250 and some may be better than either of these 83 83 00:03:49,250 --> 00:03:51,230 for certain situations. 84 84 00:03:51,230 --> 00:03:54,700 They key point is to not get hung up on the categories 85 85 00:03:54,700 --> 00:03:58,380 because it could be a huge time sink, preventing you 86 86 00:03:58,380 --> 00:03:59,610 from focusing on the important part 87 87 00:03:59,610 --> 00:04:03,413 in your WBS creation meetings: identifying the deliverables. 88 88 00:04:04,780 --> 00:04:08,210 The purpose of the categories is to help spark the memory, 89 89 00:04:08,210 --> 00:04:10,820 help you find all the deliverables, 90 90 00:04:10,820 --> 00:04:13,200 and provide a convenient way to collect them. 91 91 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:15,100 They are not the point of the process. 92 92 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:17,853 This is really important. 93 93 00:04:18,710 --> 00:04:21,490 I have seen teams in a WBS planning session 94 94 00:04:21,490 --> 00:04:24,700 spend an hour arguing over the categories 95 95 00:04:24,700 --> 00:04:26,993 and not come up with a single deliverable. 96 96 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:30,480 If you ever encounter this kind of dynamic 97 97 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:33,060 as the project manager, simply say 98 98 00:04:33,060 --> 00:04:35,460 let's get as many of the deliverables as possible, 99 99 00:04:35,460 --> 00:04:38,470 stick them up there anywhere with Post-It notes, 100 100 00:04:38,470 --> 00:04:40,173 and organize them later. 101 101 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:43,870 That's how you break the logjam. 102 102 00:04:43,870 --> 00:04:46,340 The categories will become a lot easier to agree 103 103 00:04:46,340 --> 00:04:48,800 once your flip chart is filled up with deliverables 104 104 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:50,850 and the patterns become a lot more clear. 105 105 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:54,173 The deliverables are what matters. 9249