Work Breakdown Structure Review
 

Wednesday, October 15, 2003
 

Presented by:
 

Gary Breiner, PMP, IBM Corp
 

The work breakdown structure (WBS) is one of the key foundation tools of project management and one of the first tools that new practitioners of project management learn. The WBS allows for a hierarchical, task oriented view of a project and facilitates the driving of the project scope, schedule, and budget. While it is one of the foundation tools of project management, its use and value are sometimes overlooked in the hustle and bustle of day to day project management. What is also overlooked is the fact that the tool and technique can be applied not only to project management specific tasks, but to many everyday situations.

Gary will be demonstrating one of the more common methods called the "yellow sticky" exercise. Gary will lead us through the development of a simple WBS, pointing out the positives and the pitfalls of the process along the way, and will then show what that WBS would look like in the most common Project Management application: Microsoft Project 2000.

His career with IBM in Poughkeepsie, NY began in 1974. Gary has held multiple technical and project management positions during his 29 year career at IBM including assignments in Manufacturing Engineering, SP server development and his current assignment in the Strategic Manufacturing Applications Development and Support organization.

He earned his Master certificate in Project Management in 1996 from George Washington University and became a Project Management Institute (PMI) certified project manager in 1997. Gary earned his IBM Executive Project Management certification in 2002.