THE WBS IN THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT PROCESS

Managing projects is a continuous process. Figure 1-9 shows the 10 steps in the basic project management process. That process focuses on achieving the project objectives within the project management triad of time-cost-quality (performance) constraints and goals.

FIGURE 1-9 Basic Project Management Process

Each of the steps in the basic project management process has a specific output that is defined and documented. The steps are frequently iterative; circumstances that arise during specific steps may require revision of earlier steps and then repetition of all or part of the steps that follow the revised step. This constant iteration and replanning characterizes the dayto-day activities of the project manager and the project team.

Figure 1-9 shows the categorization of the basic project management process into five types of actions—initiation, planning, executing, controlling, and closing. The process of project management emphasizes the importance of planning before extensive project work begins and the importance of bringing the project to closure after all the work is done.

The WBS is the key tool in the planning phase, where the scope of work is defined, and at the completion of the planning phase, when the plan—including the WBS—is baselined. The WBS is omnipresent in virtually every aspect of managing the project. Therefore, it is very important to prepare the WBS early and correctly.