ITPEC IP April 2023 Question 53
Which of the following is an appropriate description concerning decomposition that is performed to create the WBS of a system development project?
Explanation
Decompose until the cost and time of each deliverable can be estimated and managed — the lowest level of a WBS is the work package.
A WBS (work breakdown structure) breaks the whole project scope, deliverables and project work, into smaller components level by level. Decomposition stops when a component is small enough to estimate its cost and duration, assign it to someone, and track its progress: that component is a work package, the unit for scheduling and cost control.
Answer (a)
Why not others:
- •(b) — the customer owns the scope; even when development is outsourced, it takes part in decomposing the deliverables so that both sides agree on what will be delivered
- •(c) — the WBS covers all project work, including project management work such as progress report meetings
- •(d) — every project has its own scope, so its WBS is decomposed anew; a WBS from a similar project can serve as a template, not as a replacement
Key rule: A WBS covers 100% of the project scope, management work included, down to work packages that can be estimated and controlled.
Project Management · AI-written, may contain errors
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