Ahmed SanadProject Director| Siemens EnergyDubai, United Arab Emirates
Hello everyone.
Hope everything is fine,
I'd like to ask you as per your experience in project management field. is it better for us to use WBS in a hierarchal format ? or in a text format just with identification codes ?
The question with another wording, is it a must to have a hierarchal WBS ?
Ahmed SanadProject Director| Siemens EnergyDubai, United Arab Emirates
Hours is not a direct WBS item, but as you know, we create WBS to control cost.
so how can I control cost without including man-hour (effort) to get things done ?
Regarding the estimation for the engineering for the whole project, we can use analogous estimation or parametric estimation to get the lump sum project engineering cost (not per item).
and for sure there's a drawing list for the project, but the team is not dedicated to this project, it's a matrix not projectized team.
Hope my answers helped to make things clear. Saving Changes...
Anonymous
Aug 22, 2016 7:06 AM
Replying to Ahmed Sanad
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Hours is not a direct WBS item, but as you know, we create WBS to control cost.
so how can I control cost without including man-hour (effort) to get things done ?
Regarding the estimation for the engineering for the whole project, we can use analogous estimation or parametric estimation to get the lump sum project engineering cost (not per item).
and for sure there's a drawing list for the project, but the team is not dedicated to this project, it's a matrix not projectized team.
Hope my answers helped to make things clear.
Correction: we create WBS to better plan and control and that is cost, schedule, resources, and all other elements - NOT only cost.
The WBS is the starting point for cost and schedule - but we do not have cost a separate WBS item.
You cannot control costs without manhour but manhour has to be per workpackage not for all of engineering.
Now in term of estimation engineering. Your technique of analgous estimating is useful for early decision making - NOT - control. FOr control, once again - you need breakdown or you are not doing proper control.
In term of matrix or dedicated - why is this relevant? If a drawing require 50 hours to complete - does matter if the person is full time on the project or part time? Does matter if he/she is part of a projectized team or matrix? It should not Saving Changes...
Ahmed SanadProject Director| Siemens EnergyDubai, United Arab Emirates
I agree totally with your comments,
and for sure WBS is for controlling cost, schedule and resources.
So, what I got now that I can't proceed in the project while man-hour is a separate work package.
I have to find a way to control them within every workpackage.
Many thanks for your reply and continuous support. Saving Changes...
I feel that this term WBS is causing some confusion vs. what you really need.
Do you have access Microsoft Project or some other scheduling tool with task hierarchies and fields to capture details on man hours etc.? If you set up the hierarchy according to what you need (sub-task, task, summary task etc.), couldn't you track both planned and actual man hours for each activity, work package etc.?
Also, it is likely that we are not getting your question... perhaps you can provide specific examples that help us understand better? Saving Changes...
Karthik RamamurthyAuthor, Say YES to Project Success| Founder KeyResultzChennai, Tamilnadu, Tamilnadu, India
Good question, Ahmed: I see there are quite a few good responses, but I concur most with the answer by Mr. Mounir Ajam.
In many cases, it is best to choose the format that is most easily understandableby your team. Saving Changes...
Anonymous
Aug 22, 2016 1:25 PM
Replying to Samuel Vaddi
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Ahmed,
I feel that this term WBS is causing some confusion vs. what you really need.
Do you have access Microsoft Project or some other scheduling tool with task hierarchies and fields to capture details on man hours etc.? If you set up the hierarchy according to what you need (sub-task, task, summary task etc.), couldn't you track both planned and actual man hours for each activity, work package etc.?
Also, it is likely that we are not getting your question... perhaps you can provide specific examples that help us understand better?
Samuel
What i understand it is not a tool issue - it is - they do not have a detailed estimate. Their overall engineering estimate is analogous and seems to be factored off something. So not details and no estimate at the work package level - therefore - no proper control.
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1 reply by Samuel Vaddi
Aug 22, 2016 2:49 PM
Samuel Vaddi
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Now I understand Mounir. Thank you.
Ahmed, I would recommend re-posting as a new question, since your original question has morphed quite a bit. Perhaps you can catch a few new insights then
Ahmed, I would recommend re-posting as a new question, since your original question has morphed quite a bit. Perhaps you can catch a few new insights then Saving Changes...
Ahmed SanadProject Director| Siemens EnergyDubai, United Arab Emirates
Thanks Samuel,Thanks Mr. Mounir & thanks Mr. Karthik for your responses and replies.
Now i got the point of Mr. Mounir regarding Man-hour.
I already got estimates from engineering manager regarding the needed duration for every & each document and drawing produced during the project, which will roll up to form the total engineering man-hour needed during the project. then the estimate is accurate.
The all difference between my approach and Mr. Mounir, is that he keep Man-hour embedded in every activity, while i consolidate them all in single work package. Saving Changes...
