7 BRIEF CHARACTERISTICS OF A WBS

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
WORK BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE (WBS)

1. WBS’s define outputs, not processes.
2. WBS’s are hierarchical, top-down decomposition of outputs.
3. One WBS level’s output is an input to the next higher level.
4. Responsibility for each output is assigned to an individual.
5. A budget, control/cost account and description (sometimes called WBS dictionary) is assigned to each output.
6. There is no theoretical lower limit to the decomposition, but practically a limit can be determined from information about the contingency allowances, monitoring practices and cost-benefit analysis.
7. A WBS can be structured numerous ways; most commonly among them are the tree or “Org chart” and indentured outline formats.