Directions: Answer the questions below.

1. What is a work breakdown structure? What is a responsibility assignment matrix? How are they related?
2. What is an activity? Does it always require human effort? Refer to Figure 4.1. on page 112 in your textbook and provide a detailed list of activities needed to accomplish work package 3.3 and 4.2.

In 500-750 words, submit this assignment in MS Word

FIGURE 4.1 Work Breakdown Structure for Festival Project

FIGURE 4.2 Work Breakdown Structure for Consumer Market Study Project

Another example of a WBS for a consumer market study project is illustrated in Figure 4.2.

Guidelines for deciding how much detail or how many levels to include in the WBS are:

The level at which a specific deliverable is produced as the output or end product of the work associated with a work package. For example, a WBS for remodeling an office might have one of the lowest-level work packages labeled as Furnishings, with the deliverable being the installation of all new office furniture and accessories. The work package would include all of the specific work activities to determine what types and quantities of furniture are needed, prepare specifications, prepare requests for proposals, review vendor proposals for various layouts and prices, select vendor(s), and have the furniture and accessories delivered, assembled, and set up.

The level at which there is a high degree of confidence that all the activities that need to be performed to produce the deliverable can be defined, the types and quantities of resources can be determined, and the associated activity durations and costs can be reasonably estimated.

The level at which a single organization (marketing communications, materials engineering, human resources, a subcontractor, and so forth) or individual can be assigned responsibility and accountability for accomplishing the work package.

The level at which the project manager wants to monitor and control the budget, and can collect data on actual costs and the value of the work completed during the performance of the project.

The other format for creating a WBS is an indentured list, as shown in Figure 4.3 for the consumer market study project. This format may be appropriate for larger projects where a chart may become too large and unwieldy. Notice on the indentured list that it also states the specific deliverable that is expected to be completed from the work activities associated with each lowest-level work package. For example, the deliverable for the work package 1.1 (Design) is Questionnaire approved; for 1.2 (Responses), the deliverable is All completed responses received; for 2.1 (Software), the deliverable is Application software working; and for 2.2 (Report), the deliverable is Final report.