Mark SchwartzProject Manager| Certified Construction Consultants LLCRoyal Palm Beach, Fl, United States
It's me again my friends...How many project managers actually use a work breakdown structure (WBS)? I have been a project manager on very large healthcare construction projects and have never seen another project manager use it. Saving Changes...
Praveen MalikIndependent Consultant| Independent ConsultantNew Delhi, India
Mark, I think most PMs would be using WBS in one form or the other. You should read this - "2 Ways to Create Work Breakdown Structure" The PMs may not make a formal WBS or they may not call it a WBS but that does not change the character of what they use.
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Erik BergHead of Corporate Investigations| AmazonTacoma, Wa, United States
Mark, obviously I don't know how many project managers use it. The fact that they don't use it or know how to use it doesn't reduce the value of WBS for those who do. Inaccurate cost estimates and insufficient contingency funding to mitigate risk and cost overruns is the most common reason a construction project gets into trouble. One example of risk that is fairly common in construction is building inspectors who have pet peeves they like to hold builders to. Depending on what they are, making fixes to satisfy them can delay a project and drive up material and labor costs. They are also risks that you can rarely anticipate unless you've dealt with that building inspector before. I would imagine the issue could be even worse in third world countries where corruption is a risk factor. But as Stephane said, use it, or don't. It's just a tool. One that I find useful for some projects while others, primarily professional services related projects, not so much. Saving Changes...
Linda ZinnDirector, Enterprise Project Management Office| FlightSafety InternationalRutherford, Nj, United States
We use a DWBS - Deliverable Work Breakdown Structure. In the beginning we teach people to draw it out formally (usually in Visio) but eventually it just becomes the structure of the schedule without the visual aid due to time and resource constraints. Saving Changes...
Mark SchwartzProject Manager| Certified Construction Consultants LLCRoyal Palm Beach, Fl, United States
Thanks Paul
I am learning that project managers have their own methods and techniques that probably work for them. The charter, WBS, and EVM don't really have to be used all of the time for a project to become successful, but it probably helps. There are very good project managers; and very bad project managers out there who some people call "fakers" because they fake or BS their way through the management of a project. Do whatever works for you and your clients. Saving Changes...
Linda ZinnDirector, Enterprise Project Management Office| FlightSafety InternationalRutherford, Nj, United States
Fakers. I like that and have seen my fair share of them.
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1 reply by Mark Schwartz
May 19, 2016 5:03 PM
Mark Schwartz
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Linda
There are professional project managers who become certified, continually read about the subject of project management, take their job seriously, and want to make a difference; and then there are the fakers who don't have a clue and don't care. Usually, they got their jobs through friends and are the last ones to get laid off when a project is completed.
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Mark SchwartzProject Manager| Certified Construction Consultants LLCRoyal Palm Beach, Fl, United States
May 19, 2016 4:31 PM
Replying to Linda Zinn
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Fakers. I like that and have seen my fair share of them.
Linda
There are professional project managers who become certified, continually read about the subject of project management, take their job seriously, and want to make a difference; and then there are the fakers who don't have a clue and don't care. Usually, they got their jobs through friends and are the last ones to get laid off when a project is completed. Saving Changes...
James PorterSr. Project Planner| Hitachi Rail STS USAGlenshaw, Pa, United States
I wonder if PMs use a WBS but don't necessarily apply that name to how they structure their project plans. Any large project must be conceptualized as a number of work packages - it's impossible to understand otherwise how the various pieces relate to each other. I would consider that breakdown into work packages to represent a WBS even if it's not called a formal WBS. Saving Changes...
Mark SchwartzProject Manager| Certified Construction Consultants LLCRoyal Palm Beach, Fl, United States
James
There must be a big difference in managing an IT project vs. design and construction project. Many times, I have been hired to manage a failed project when it had already started and there was no record of anyone using the WBS. Maybe, that is why it was considered failed. I have also been on projects that were successful that didn't use any form of WBS. Go figure. Saving Changes...
Alejandro Guerra NochezPMO Project Manager| Corporación Multi InversionesGuatemala, Guatemala
Mark,
I use WBS as the backbone of any project. we don't draw it out, but all work is structured in a hierarchical manner in PM software:
1 - Happy Homes Project
1.1 - house 1
1.1.1 - electrical
1.1.2 - plumbing
so it's sort of implicit.
Do you have a way of knowing how many resources are assigned to each activity? do you encounter much scope creep? Saving Changes...
Mark SchwartzProject Manager| Certified Construction Consultants LLCRoyal Palm Beach, Fl, United States
Alejandro,
Whenever I apply WBS, there is very little scope creep. I try to use it all of the time, except when I am hired after the project begins and it might be too late. If I am lucky enough to be the project manager at the very beginning of a design and construction project, I am able to use a WBS and it really pays off. Saving Changes...
