What is a Work Breakdown Structure?

written by: Ann Gordon edited by: Michele McDonough updated: 9/19/2012

A Work Breakown Structure (WBS) is used for breaking down a project into easily manageable components, or bites. Here we'll break down the process for you, making it easy to use these structures in your project planning.

Company owners and project managers use the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) to make complex projects more manageable. The WBS is designed to help break down a project into manageable chunks that can be effectively estimated and supervised.

Some widely used reasons for creating a WBS include: Assists with accurate project organization Helps with assigning responsibilities Shows the control points and project milestones Allows for more accurate estimation of cost, risk and time Helps explain the project scope to stakeholders

A work breakdown structure is just one of many project management forms.