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I recently received this question from a student and would like to share it with you. (note they are referring to Figure O in the eBook, not in the full work breakdown structure training course.)
"I realize that it is important to capture testing and integration but your example (figure o) seemed somewhat arbitrary. Since integration exists to ensure that subsystems work together, shouldn't we have integration identified under deliverable 1 and deliverable 3 as well? Also, is it acceptable to have a deliverable called "final deliverable integration" at level 2? Just so you know, I am a scheduler by background so I tend to think in terms of activities. What you stated about deliverables makes a lot of sense."
Thank you for the question Russ! I'm happy to share my thoughts:
Integration as an example of a support element happens at multiple levels (components, subsystems, systems, segments, etc.) On the project I'm currently working with now (NASA, USGS), for our software and hardware systems we have Integration & Test at the subsystem, system, segment, ground system, spacecraft, and mission levels. We also do unit testing within components of the subsystems but that activity is called out as a schedule item along with code reviews, etc. and the WBS doesn't go down to that level.
Not all branches of a project WBS require integration the way I mean it in Figure O, as in "Integration & Test". For example, a "Project Services" branch may not have any "Integration and Test" going on, because there is no software or hardware being developed that you could test. Figure O is just a simple illustration and is arbitrary, but I was probably thinking deliverable 1 was a project support branch, 2 was a software/hardware system being developed, and perhaps 3 was a stand-alone procurement or isolated deliverable (perhaps "public relationship management" or something like that).
So, those are my thoughts in response as I understood your questions. Feel free to contact me anytime with follow-ups or questions in the future.
Thanks!
Now here is my question for you. How do you represent Integration & Test activities on your Work Breakdown Structure? (Or Product Breakdown Structure)
Posted on: August 24, 2010 09:35 PM |
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