Projects of all sizes may seem daunting at first. Breaking the project down into smaller, more manageable pieces allows you to develop an achievable plan for completing the project. The work breakdown structure (WBS) is one of the tools that you can use to outline your project into smaller, more manageable pieces called work packages.

Read Case 4.1 - Brandon was having an ale with his girlfriend, Sierra, when the subject of the Omega Theta Pi 5K-run project came up. Brandon has been chosen to chair the 5K-charity run for his fraternity. At the time, Brandon thought it would look good on his resume and wouldn't be too difficult to pull off. This would be the first running event Omega Theta Pi had organized. In the past Delta Tau Chi always organized the spring running event. However, Delta Tau had been dissolved after a highly publicized hazing scandal.

Brandon and his brothers at Omega Theta Pi thought that organizing a 5K-run would be a lot more fun and profitable than the normal spring cleaning service they offered the local community. Early on in the discussions, everyone agreed that partnering with a sorority would be an advantage. Not only would they help manage the event, but they would have useful contacts to recruit sponsors and participants. Brandon pitched the fund raising idea to the sisters at Delta Nu, and they agreed to co-manage the event. Olivia Pomerleau volunteered and was named co-chair by Delta Nu. Brandon told Sierra about the task force's first meeting, which was held last night and included five members from each living group. Olivia and Brandon tried, but failed, to meet beforehand due to scheduling conflicts. The meeting began with the attendees introducing themselves and telling what experience they had had with running events. Only one person had not run at past events, but no one had been involved in managing an event other than volunteering as intersection flaggers.

• How would developing a WBS help to alleviate Brandon's problems during the initial meeting? How can the WBS be used to organize and plan the project?
• Describe the process for creating the WBS.
• Create a list of the major deliverables for this project, and use them to develop a draft WBS with at least 3 levels of detail.
• Are there any interdependencies that need to be considered and, if so, which ones?
• Assign cost and activity durations to the work packages (these may be made up).
• Use either a top-down or a bottom-up approach to determine the overall cost of the project and discuss the approach used.