A Guide To Creating WBS
A Guide To Creating WBS
A Guide To Creating WBS
The main idea of the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is to capture all the required
scope of the project and none must be repeated or duplicated. As one of the best
Project Management Practice, a Work Breakdown Structure must be developed
during project planning phase and must be in placed at least prior to project
execution. WBS is one of the most important document in managing projects. An
approved WBS will be the scope baseline of the project and the basis for developing
schedule baseline. These baselines are the main documents used to monitor and
control a project by the Project Supervision or Project Management Team.
In order to successfully develop a WBS of a project, one must understand the type
of a project being considered. There is two common type of project, first is the New
Project wherein everything will start from zero. This type of project may fall into one
of the two case:
Case 1: The only existing in the project site is the site itself needed to be developed
and where a building to be raised/constructed.
Case 2: There is an existing infra/structure that have to be demolished then start to
build a new one.
Second type of a project is Renovation/Enhancement. In order to enhance or
improve infra/structure, something must be removed or stripped then replace a new
one with better quality. In almost all cases, demolition is a part of
renovation/enhancement projects.
PROJECT TYPES
1. New Project
2. Renovation/Enhancement Project
NEW PROJECT
1. Building Construction
Concrete Structure (i.e. Main Building)
Steel Structure (i.e. Warehouse Building)
Composite Structure (Combination of Concrete & Steel structure)
2. Site Development
Annex Building/Utility Buildings (i.e. Electrical Room)
Perimeter Fences
Roadways/Walkways/Ramps
Bridge/Tunnels
Shades (i.e. Parking Shades)
Hardscapes (i.e. Pavers)
Landscapes (i.e. Plants)
Utility Services (i.e. Sewer, Irrigation)
Specialty (i.e. Fountains)
Facilities (i.e. External Swimming Pool)
Project WBS Guide Draft 1.0
RENOVATION/ENHANCEMENT
1.
2.
3.
4.
Figure 1.0
As mentioned earlier, the main idea of the WBS is to capture all the scope required
and to avoid the recurrence or duplication of the scope that may lead to scope
creep. It is imperative that whoever is creating the WBS highly understand the
condition of the contract, BOQ, drawings and methodologies of the project to be
delivered. Before creating WBS, review the following documents:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Contracts/Agreement
End-user Requirements if any
Preliminary Scope if any
Bill of Quantities
Design Drawings
Specific construction methodologies if any (zoning)
Specifications
All other documents that will be helpful
To have consistency, this guide will consider Areas after the zoning and divisions are
set up for a project. An Area consists of General Works, Buildings and Site
Development Works. Let us consider the Area Z1.1 for Project XYZ in the Figures 1.0
& 2.0.
Example 1.0
New Project XYZ - Zone 1.1 consist of the following conditions
1. Have an existing old building to be demolish
2. Main Building (Multi-Story Concrete Structure)
Several level of Basement
Several floor levels
3. Site Development
Annex Buildings
Perimeter Fence
Roadways
Walkways
Landscape
Utility Services
4. Bill of Quantities (BOQ) based on CSI Master Format v. 2014
Div. 1 General Requirements
Div. 2 Existing Conditions
Div. 3 Concrete Works
Div. 4 Masonry Works
Div. 5 Metal Works
Div. 6 Wood, Plastics & Composites
Div. 7 Thermal & Moisture Protection
Div. 8 Openings (Doors, Windows & Skylights)
Div. 9 Finishes
Div. 10 Specialties
Div. 11 Equipment
Div.
Div.
Div.
Div.
Div.
Div.
Div.
Div.
Div.
Div.
Div.
Div.
Div.
12
13
14
21
22
23
25
26
27
28
31
32
33
Furnishings
Special Construction
Conveying Equipment
Fire Suppression
Plumbing
Heating, Ventilating & Air Conditioning (HVAC)
Integrated Automation
Electrical
Communication
Electronic Safety & Security
- Earthworks
Exterior Improvements
Utilities
Figure 2.0
PROJECT
XYZ
ZONE 1
ZONE 2
ZONE 4
Zon
es
Z1.1
Z1.2
ZONE 3
Area
s
Z1.3
Finishing Works
Communication Utilities
WB
S
LEV
EL
WBS #
(Number
ing)
DESCRIPTION
REMARKS
Project XYZ
Zone 1
Z1.1
General Works
Program
Zone
Project
Work
stream 1
Work
Package
Work
Package
Work
Package
Work
stream 2
Work
Package
1
2
1
1.1
1.1.1
Mobilization
1.1.2
Project Management
1.1.3
Demolition/Selective Demolition
1.2
Main Building
1.2.1
Earthworks
3
4
5
6
Structure/Civil Works
Sub-Structure (Breakdown into floor levels)
Level (n) Bottom level to Level 0
Concrete Works
3
4
1.2.2
1.2.2.1
1.2.2.1.(-n)
1.2.2.1.(n).1
1.2.2.1.(n).2
1.2.2.1.(n).3
1.2.2.2
1.2.2.1.(n)
1.2.2.1.
(n).1
1.2.2.1.
(n).2
1.2.2.1.
(n).3
1.2.3
1.2.3.1
5
5
4
1.2.3.1.1
1.2.3.1.2
1.2.3.2
6
6
4
5
6
6
6
Floor Levels
Deliverables
Masonry Works
Deliverables
Deliverables
Floor Levels
Deliverables
Masonry Works
Deliverables
Deliverables
Electro-Mechanical Works
Conveying Equipment
Work
Package
Rough-In works
Installation
Fire Suppression (Breakdown into floor
Work
5
6
6
4
5
6
6
4
5
6
6
4
5
6
6
4
5
6
6
4
5
6
6
4
5
6
6
1.2.3.2.(n)
1.2.3.2.
(n).1
1.2.3.2.
(n).2
1.2.3.3
1.2.3.3.(n)
1.2.3.3.
(n).1
1.2.3.3.
(n).2
1.2.3.4
1.2.3.4.(n)
1.2.3.4.
(n).1
1.2.3.4.
(n).2
1.2.3.5
1.2.3.5.(n)
1.2.3.5.
(n).1
1.2.3.5.
(n).2
1.2.3.6
1.2.3.6.(n)
1.2.3.6.
(n).1
1.2.3.6.
(n).2
1.2.3.7
1.2.3.7.(n)
1.2.3.7.
(n).1
1.2.3.7.
(n).2
1.2.3.8
1.2.3.8.(n)
1.2.3.8.
(n).1
1.2.3.8.
(n).2
levels)
Level (n) Bottom level to Top Level
Rough-In works
Package
Floor Levels
Installation
Plumbing (Breakdown into floor levels)
Level (n) Bottom level to Top Level
Rough-In works
Work
Package
Floor Levels
Installation
HVAC (Breakdown into floor levels)
Level (n) Bottom level to Top Level
Rough-In works
Work
Package
Floor Levels
Installation
Integrated Automation (Breakdown into floor
levels)
Level (n) Bottom level to Top Level
Rough-In works
Work
Package
Floor Levels
Installation
Electrical (Breakdown into floor levels)
Level (n) Bottom level to Top Level
Rough-In works
Work
Package
Floor Levels
Installation
Communication (Breakdown into floor levels)
Level (n) Bottom level to Top Level
Rough-In works
Work
Package
Floor Levels
Installation
Electronic Safety & Security (Breakdown into
floor levels)
Level (n) Bottom level to Top Level
Rough-In works
Work
Package
Floor Levels
Installation
3
4
1.2.4
1.2.4.1
Finishing Works
Internal Finishing Works (Breakdown into
floor levels)
Level (n) Bottom level to Top Level
Floor Finish
5
5
1.2.4.1.1
1.2.4.1.2
1.2.4.1.3
Wall Finish
1.2.4.1.4
Ceiling Finish
1.2.4.1.5
Metal Works
1.2.4.1.6
1.2.4.1.7
Openings
6
6
5
1.2.4.1.7.1
1.2.4.1.7.2
1.2.4.1.8
Doors
Windows
Furnishing
1.2.4.1.9
Equipment
1.2.4.1.10
Signage
4
5
1.2.4.2
1.2.4.2.1
1.2.4.2.2
1.2.4.2.3
5
5
2
1.2.4.2.4
1.2.4.2.5
1.3
3
4
1.3.1
1.3.1.1
Annex Buildings
Earthworks
1.3.1.2
Structure/Civil Works
1.3.1.3
Electro-Mechanical Works
1.3.1.4
Finishing Works
3
4
1.3.2
1.3.2.1
Perimeter Fence
Earthworks
1.3.2.2
Structure/Civil Works
Canopies
Sunscreens
Site Development
Floor Levels
Work
Package
Work
Package
Work
Package
Work
Package
Work
Package
Work
Package
Deliverables
Deliverables
Work
Package
Work
Package
Work
Package
Work
Package
Work
Package
Work
Package
Deliverables
Deliverables
Work
stream 3
Work
Package
Work
Package
Work
Package
Work
Package
Work
Package
Work
1.3.2.3
Electro-Mechanical Works
1.3.2.4
Finishing Works
1.3.3
Hardscape
1.3.4
Landscape
1.3.5
Irrigation
3
4
1.3.6
1.3.6.1
Special Construction
Swimming Pool
1.3.6.2
Fountains
3
4
1.3.7
1.3.7.1
Utility Services
Sanitary Sewage Utilities
1.3.7.2
1.3.7.3
Electrical Utilities
1.3.7.4
Communication Utilities
Package
Work
Package
Work
Package
Work
Package
Work
Package
Work
Package
Work
Package
Work
Package
Work
Package
Work
Package
Work
Package
Work
Package
SUMMARY:
Projects are unique, it is difficult to provide a generic WBS for all the projects.
Therefore, this document is only a guide and does not provide a complete set of
scope of a project. However this guide provide useful information to start creating
WBS that aligns to the development of scope and schedule baselines which is the
main document to be used during project monitoring and control phase.