One method used to collect various input is to hold a brainstorming session between multiple department representatives. Tools to Create a Product Breakdown Structureĭeveloping a Product Breakdown Structure is a group effort and requires multiple perspectives and insight for the particular product. More simply put, PBS focuses on the product whereas WBS focuses on the work required in a project. WBS, on the other hand, incorporates the necessary data and service elements along with the physical product elements that the PBS provides. These physical elements entail the physical, conceptual, or functional elements of a product. The main difference between PBS and WBS is that the product management structure only includes the physical elements of a product. Product descriptions can be a useful component of the product breakdown structure.Identify product components through group collaboration.Sub-deliverables contain subcomponents of the final product.The top level represents the final product.The following guidelines should be considered when creating a product breakdown structure: The PBS is a hierarchal structure that begins with the main product which is subdivided into smaller systems. The process of creating a PBS begins with a project team disassembling a product into its subsequent products. In turn, product planners are provided with a visual representation that provides clear understanding for what the end product requires. The purpose of this breakdown is to provide a visual representation of a products components and the relationship between those components. The PBS is essentially the breakdown of a product into its required components.
Why Do Project Teams Need a Product Breakdown Structure? Moreover, the PBS is primarily composed of the physical elements of a product. Unlike the WBS, which focuses on the work assigned in a project, the PBS focuses on the product itself. Figure 1 (below) is a sample product breakdown structure.Īs mentioned previously, the PBS is very similar to the work breakdown structure which is also a common project management tool. As a result, teams can obtain a clear understanding of a product, its components, and what is required to provide those components. Like WBS, a product breakdown structure serves to reduce a complex project, or product, into manageable components. The product breakdown structure is similar to the work breakdown structure ( WBS). It begins with the final product at the top of the hierarchy followed by the sub-categorized elements of the product. The formal PBS comes in the form of a hierarchy.
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Free 30-Day Project Scope Software Trial Product Breakdown Structure What is a Product Breakdown Structure?Ī product breakdown structure is an effective tool that details the physical components of a particular product, or system, under consideration.