Project Activities

Generating the Work

Breakdown Structure (WBS)
WBS
The WBS is a hierarchical description of all work that
must be done to complete the project

USES OF WBS
Thought-Process Tool
Architectural-Design Tool
Planning Tool
Project-Status-Reporting Tool
Generating the WBS
Two approaches can be used to identify
the project activities.
The first : top-down approach
The second : bottom-up approach.
Top-Down Approach
The top-down approach begins at the goal
level
Variations of the top-down approach:
Team Approach
Sub-team Approach
Bottom-Up Approach
This approach is more like a
brainstorming session. The following 4
steps are used:
1) Identification of activity
2) Planning the activity by group +/- activity
3) Reporting the activity allocated to
planning team
4) Finalization of activities after adjustment

Six Criteria to Test for
Completeness in the WBS
Status and completion are
measurable.
The activity is bounded.
The activity has a deliverable.
Time and cost are easily estimated.
Activity duration is within acceptable limits.
Work assignments are independent
CH#5
Six Methods for Estimating Task/
Activity Duration
Similarity to other activities
Historical data
Expert advice
Delphi technique
Three-point technique
Wide-band Delphi technique
Six Methods for Estimating Task/
Activity Duration
Extrapolating Based on Similarity to
Other Activities
Extrapolating from the other task to the
task seek in your WBS
Studying Historical Data
This technique differs from the previous
technique in that it uses a record, rather
than depending on memory (other task)
Six Methods for Estimating Task/
Activity Duration
Seeking Expert Advice
Technology that is being used for the first
time in the organization require expert
advise
Applying the Delphi Technique
This is a group technique that extracts and
summarizes the knowledge of the group to
arrive at an estimate.
Six Methods for Estimating Task/
Activity Duration
Applying the Three-Point Technique
To use the three-point technique, you
need the following three estimates of task
duration:
Optimistic:
Pessimistic
Most likely
OUT COMES
Project Activities
Estimating Duration of project by apply
different technique