Overview

One of the most important steps project planners take when planning a project is to develop a work breakdown structure (WBS). WBSs are instrumental in defining a project's scope. By decomposing the deliverable into constituent pieces, planners can make the planning process more manageable.

This course offers a detailed examination of what WBSs are, how they provide the basis for planning budgets and schedules, how they can be used to estimate project budgets, how they play a central role in integrated cost/schedule control, and how they can be tailored to meet the needs of individual projects. At the end of the course, students know how to build them for large and small projects alike.

The treatment of WBSs in this course is compliant with the following standards: PMBOK Guide, PMI's Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures (2nd ed., 2006), IPMA's Competence Baseline, and Military Handbook 881A.

Objectives

To learn how to construct, tailor and interpret WBSs in order to manage project scope, develop project plans and track project progress.

PMBOK Process Areas

• Initiating
• Planning
• Executing
• Controlling
• Closing

PMBOK Knowledge Areas

• Project Human Resource Management
• Project Time Management
• Project Scope Management
• Project Cost Management
• Project Procurement Management

Instruction

• Course modules containing cutting-edge knowledge developed by renowned experts in project management
• A set of readings including key Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) documents
• Think & Review section for each module
• Answers to the Think & Review section
• Final exam
• Certificate of Completion

What You Will Learn

• How to build WBSs using a step-by-step process
• How to determine how much detail to put into the WBS
• How to tailor WBSs to fit different circumstances
• How to use the WBS to make definitive, bottom-up cost estimates
• Use of Performance WBSs and Contract WBSs on major programs
• Processes employed in WBS use and construction in the Federal government vs. private sector
• Using WBSs to identify control accounts employed in earned value management
• Strengths and limitations of WBSs

Take a Course

This course costs $495. You can begin the course today, with no application necessary. There are four easy ways to sign up:

• Secure Online Payment (VISA, Master & American Express)
• Registration Form [Word]. Mail the form with your check to: UMT, 1901 North Fort Myer Drive, Suite 700, Arlington, VA 22209-1609.
• Fax the form to us at (703) 516-0985.
• Register by phone at (703) 516-0035.

Once the payment has cleared, you will be issued an ID name and a Password that will allow you to access the full course.

To access the course, log into the UMT online coursesite with your USER ID and PASSWORD at: coursesite.umtweb.edu.