Work breakdown structure (WBS)
A deliverable-oriented breakdown of a project into smaller components.
Also see Product breakdown structure
- Snippet from Wikipedia: Work breakdown structure
A work-breakdown structure (WBS) in project management and systems engineering is a deliverable-oriented breakdown of a project into smaller components. A work breakdown structure is a key project deliverable that organizes the team's work into manageable sections. The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK 5) defines the work-breakdown structure as a "hierarchical decomposition of the total scope of work to be carried out by the project team to accomplish the project objectives and create the required deliverables."
A work-breakdown structure element may be a product, data, service, or any combination of these. A WBS also provides the necessary framework for detailed cost estimation and control while providing guidance for schedule development and control.