Integrated Project Management

Reasons for Work Breakdown

Some people ask why IPM insists that project work be broken down into small units. This questioning assumes that it is easy to look at a work package and say “we know how to do that.” This idea can be very wrong. Those who look at a large work package with the confidence that they (or their work group) know all there is to know about doing the job, assume that the package can be broken down into smaller units as they go along. They think that when they start the first tasks, the subsequent tasks will become obvious. However, all projects have some unique characteristics, and therefore, some hidden traps and bottlenecks when approached at only the major task or work package levels. Breaking down the package into tasks ...