CSSE 372 16.September.2008 Work Breakdown Structure Chapter 4.

CSSE 37216.September.2008

Work Breakdown StructureChapter 4

OutlineWhat is it?When’s it complete?How do I make one?What’s it look like?

DefinitionsActivity

Chunk of work made up of 2 or more tasksTask

Work to be doneWork package

Complete description of how the tasks that make up an activity will actually be done

Let’s see a picture…

CotD

Different PerspectivesThought process toolArchitectural toolPlanning toolProject status reporting tool

For small projects…You can use a tool like “mind mapping” to do it:

Fig 4-2 – A typical mindmap generated by MindManager.

When’s it complete?Status/completion is measurableActivity is boundedActivity has a deliverableTime and cost are easily estimatedActivity duration is with acceptable limitsWork assignments are independent

How do I make one?Noun-type

Physical decompositionFunctional decomposition

Verb-typeDesign-build-test-implementObjectives

Organizational-typeGeographicalDepartmentalBusiness process

Let’s look at one more example:

372 Extra CreditWhat is a Gantt Chart? How is a Gantt chart used?

What if any similarities does it have with a WBS?

Drop Box for Submission (Lessons - Extra Credit - Week 2 - Gantt Chart)

1 2 3

1. Guest1.1 Develop guest list1.2 Design invitations1.3 Deliver invitations

2. Food2.1 Develop menu2.2 Buy groceries2.3 Make food2.4 Design buffet layout

2.4.1 Accommodate hot food2.4.2 Accommodate cold food

3. Pre-party housekeeping3.1 Vacuum floors3.2 Dust shelves3.3 Take out garbage3.4 Change bed linens

4. Post-party cleanup

4.1 Separate recyclables

4.2 Vacuum floors

4.3 Take out garbage

Let’s try something slightly messier:“How to build a house.”As a team, see if you can list the major steps

required, in order.Put your answers on the quiz.Then we’ll see

http://home.howstuffworks.com/house2.htm. Does “Form follow function?” in building a house?How is this one like a software project?

Now try it for “Student Feedback Project”…Use your feature list as the “nouns.”See what kind of decomposition this would give

you.List activities under each feature, etc.Put your answers on the quiz.

FridayWe’ll do one, as teams, for Your team’s project…So, bring with you any info you already know about

“what it is”Beforehand, think about the basic method of

decomposition which might work (Noun-type, Verb-type, or Organizational-type).

Thursday – We’ll discuss estimating, which also will be a part of Friday’s activity.

Questions?