Project Management

I begin by considering everything I’ll need to do regarding
Setup. I realize that I’ll have to clean the pool and set up the
volleyball net. I’ll also have to make the yard presentable. I’ll
have to put up the party tent, bring out tables and chairs, and
so forth. It occurs to me that there seem to be natural group-
ingsof activities here, related to games and entertainment, to
cleaning, and to furniture. These are the groupings that I will
use for this level, as shown in Figure 7-2.
I reflect on these three categories and feel confident that
everything that I have to do to set up for the party can be
placed in one of these three buckets. However, I don’t feel as if
I’ve broken down the work far enough yet. Set Up—Games and
Entertainment, for example, is just not specific enough. As I ask
myself questions such as “What games?,” “How much time will
it take?” and “What do I have to do to pull this off?” I realize I
need to go to one more level of detail. When I’ve eventually
identified these activities, I feel confident that I know what I have
to do to set up for the party (Figure 7-3).
I continue this same thought process until I’ve developed my
entire WBS to the appropriate level of detail.

Why Create a WBS, Anyway?

So why am I suggesting that you take the time and trouble to
create a work breakdown structure? Couldn’t you just start list-

116 Project Management

Birthday

Party

Cleaning

Planning ProvideFood Supplies Setup Cleanup

Games and

Entertainment Furniture

Figure 7-2. Level 3 of WBS for setup