On Time! On Track! On Target! Managing Your Projects Successfully with Microsoft® Project

Chapter Seven. Building a Work Breakdown Structure

The work was like peeling an onion. The outer skin came off with difficulty . . . but in no time you’d be down to its innards, tears streaming from your eyes as more and more beautiful reductions became possible.

— Edward Blishen

The division of labor for dinner could be you microwaving a couple of frozen dinners while your spouse gets out the plates, forks, and napkins. But the surprise party for your parents’ 40th wedding anniversary is another story. You want the party to be amazing—like their marriage—so you don’t want to forget anything. The best way to make sure everything gets done is to break the project down into small, manageable pieces. You could divide the work into planning the party, ...