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, I am not sure I understand the difference. Couldn't you achieve a hierarchical format using text and identification codes?
Perhaps an example will help to differentiate and better understand your question
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1 reply by Ahmed Sanad
Apr 22, 2016 5:33 PM
Ahmed Sanad
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I mean, if I have the WBS written , shall I transform it into hierarchical format ?
both will give me same data but with different formatting, does it matter ?
Saving Changes...
Ahmed SanadProject Director| Siemens EnergyDubai, United Arab Emirates
Apr 22, 2016 4:48 PM
Replying to Samuel Vaddi
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Ahmed, I am not sure I understand the difference. Couldn't you achieve a hierarchical format using text and identification codes?
Perhaps an example will help to differentiate and better understand your question
I mean, if I have the WBS written , shall I transform it into hierarchical format ?
both will give me same data but with different formatting, does it matter ? Saving Changes...
I don't know if I still fully follow it, but my attitude on documentation is - Is it necessary? Is it sufficient? - I think you should look beyond the format and determine whether or not your underlying purpose for the document is served, whichever format you use. Hope this makes sense. Saving Changes...
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
I honestly would be glad to help you but I do not understand your question either Ahmed. Saving Changes...
Anonymous
I think he means graphical versus written - is this the case Ahmed
The word hierarchy is just a way of breakdown and sequence and whether you Show graphical that X and Y are under A or you write X and Y are both under A is the same thing. You can present the hierarchy via text - schedule - or graphical.
If my understanding is correct (you mean graphical vs. text) to me a picture (graphic) is best - but I am a visual person.
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1 reply by Ahmed Sanad
Apr 23, 2016 5:42 AM
Ahmed Sanad
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Exactly this is my question, as text won't give me sane data.
As I participated in a debate with a project manager who finds it sufficient to use excel WBS in text , which "from my point of view" can lead to misunderstanding , specially while allocating cost on work packages or activities.
Saving Changes...
Ahmed SanadProject Director| Siemens EnergyDubai, United Arab Emirates
I mean , is it sufficient for me to have the WBS just in text format in an excel sheet ? Can be sufficient ?
Or a minimum requirement is to have WBS in a tree format ? Will tree format give more info that an excel sheet can't tell ?
I hope my question is more clear now.
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1 reply by Patrick Dicey
May 04, 2016 4:16 PM
Patrick Dicey
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Hello Ahmed,
Yes a text based WBS in excel is probably the most common format. Personally, I wouldn't bother with a 'graphical' version unless I was doing some sort of presentation where I wanted to convey the information in a more fancy method. My WBS' are not pretty, but get the job done.
Cheers,
Patrick
Saving Changes...
Ahmed SanadProject Director| Siemens EnergyDubai, United Arab Emirates
Exactly this is my question, as text won't give me sane data.
As I participated in a debate with a project manager who finds it sufficient to use excel WBS in text , which "from my point of view" can lead to misunderstanding , specially while allocating cost on work packages or activities.
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1 reply by Patrick Dicey
May 04, 2016 4:18 PM
Patrick Dicey
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You may both be right, as you may both have different needs for your WBS (communication needs). I don't think there is a right or wrong answer on this one.
Cheers,
Patrick
Saving Changes...
Anonymous
Ahmed
You can represent the hierarchy in any format you want, Excel, MS Project, MS Word, PowerPoint, Mind Manager, WBS Pro and numerous other ways .... and it will give you the SAME information.
However, a graphical tool like WBS Pro or MindManager or using the Org Chart feature in MS Office will be better ---- again easier to relate using graphical view then text. This is logical. Saving Changes...
Ahmed SanadProject Director| Siemens EnergyDubai, United Arab Emirates
So, there's no preferred WBS formatting , it's all about the Project Manager choice. Saving Changes...
Anonymous
Ahmed
You keep twisting my words.
1. You can use any tool ---- BUT
2. Graphical tool is better ---- better = preferred = best Saving Changes...
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