Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
and Gantt Chart Guidelines and Rubric
PURPOSE
The process of project management has five phases: (1) design and initiation, which you just completed; (2) finalizing your plan before implementation, which you will do now; (3) implementation; (4) monitor and control; and finally, (5) evaluation and lessons learned (as well as knowledge transfer).
During Phase 2 (finalizing the project plan), you will continue to create the tools and documents you will need when you implement your project as the project manager in Phase 3.
Week 4: Communications Plan
Week 5: Deliverables and Critical Success Factors (CSFs)
Week 6: Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and Gantt Chart
Week 7: Risk Management and Human Resource Management Plans
In this assignment, you will define and document the project’s tasks and deliverables and the relationships among each. You will develop the work breakdown structure (WBS) and project timelines using a Gantt chart.
The WBS identifies the project’s tasks that need to be completed by priority and flows into, then facilitates, project scheduling. This breakdown helps the project team identify all tasks needed to get the work done and the resources necessary to complete it. This framework allows you to assign tasks to individual team members, making them accountable for those tasks in the process. It is important that all tasks be identified and broken down, because project delays or even failure frequently result from forgotten or overlooked tasks rather than imprecise guesstimates.
The Gantt chart, named after Henry Gantt, clearly shows the start and completion dates for all major project activities and subtasks. The Gantt chart is straightforward, easy to understand, and simple to change. It provides a snapshot of the project, and one can immediately identify task durations and distinguish tasks that depend on other tasks being completed before they are started. Understanding all dependencies is critical for the project manager, who is ultimately responsible for time, budgets, and resource allocation.
One example of how to create a Gantt Chart is provided as a tutorial in the lesson. Other tutorials can be found by doing an internet search. You only need to choose one format or the other, not both. You may also construct a combination WBS/Gantt Chart and submit it as a single appendix.
Total Points Possible: 50
REQUIREMENTS
1. Complete the WBS and Gantt chart documents. Attach documents as appendices to a professionally written paper explaining what you are doing.
2. Grammar, spelling, punctuation, references, and citations are consistent with formal academic writing and APA format as expressed in the current edition of the manual.
PREPARING THE PAPER
1. All project tasks must be identified and broken down in your WBS. Attach documents as appendices to a professionally written paper explaining what you are doing.
2. The Gantt chart must provide timelines for all major project tasks and subtasks following the Excel sample. Attach documents as appendices to a professionally written paper explaining what you are doing
3. Ideas and information from professional sources must be cited correctly using the current edition of the APA manual.
4. Grammar, spelling, punctuation, references, and citations are consistent with formal academic writing.
ASSIGNMENT CRITERIA
Category Points % Description
All the tasks are broken down into their lowest levels and follow the sample format for the WBS. Documents are attached as an appendix to a professional paper. 40 40 All the tasks are broken down into their lowest levels and follow the sample format for the WBS. Documents are attached as an appendix to a professional paper.
The Gantt chart shows all major project tasks using Excel and following the sample. All tasks are labeled. The document is attached as an appendix to a professional paper. 40 40 The Gantt chart shows all major project tasks using Excel and following the sample. All tasks are labeled. The document is attached as an appendix to a professional paper.
Grammar, spelling, punctuation, references, and citations are consistent with formal academic writing and APA format as expressed in the current edition of the manual. The paper follows guidelines found in Writing a Professional Paper. 20 20 Grammar, spelling, punctuation, references, and citations are consistent with formal academic writing and APA format as expressed in the current edition of the manual. The paper follows guidelines found in Writing a Professional Paper.
Total 100 100
A quality assignment will meet or exceed all of the above requirements.
GRADING RUBRIC
Assignment Criteria Exceptional
(100%)
Outstanding or highest level of performance Exceeds
(88%)
Very good or high level of performance Meets
(80%)
Competent or satisfactory level of performance Needs Improvement
(38%)
Poor or failing level of performance Developing
(0)
Unsatisfactory level of performance
Content
Possible Points = 40
All the tasks are broken down into their lowest levels and follow the sample format for the WBS. Documents are attached as an appendix to a professional paper. 40 Points 36 Points 32 Points 16 Points 0 Points
All the tasks broken down into their lowest levels and follow the sample format. Document is attached as an appendix to a professional paper. Most tasks broken down into their lowest levels and follow the sample format. Document is attached as an appendix to a professional paper. Some tasks broken down into their lowest levels or did not follow the sample format. Document is attached as an appendix to a professional paper. Few tasks broken down into their lowest levels Sample format not followed
The Gantt chart shows all major project tasks using Excel and following the sample. All tasks are labeled. The document is attached as an appendix to a professional paper. 40 Points 36 Points 32 Points 16 Points 0 Points
Gantt chart shows all major project tasks using Excel and following the sample. All tasks are labeled. Document is attached as an appendix to a professional paper. Gantt chart shows most of the major project tasks using Excel and following the sample. All tasks labeled. Document is attached as an appendix to a professional paper. Gantt chart shows some of the major project tasks using Excel or does not follow the sample. Tasks not labeled. Document is attached as an appendix to a professional paper. Gantt chart shows few of the major project tasks using Excel Gantt chart does not follow the sample
Content Subtotal _____of 80 Points
Format
Possible Points = 10
Grammar, spelling, punctuation, references, and citations are consistent with formal academic writing and APA format as expressed in the current edition of the manual. The paper follows guidelines found in Writing a Professional Paper. 20 Points 18 Points 16 Points 8 points 0 Points
No grammar, spelling, punctuation, reference, citation, or APA errors. Professional paper follows guidelines found in Writing a Professional Paper. One grammar, spelling, punctuation, reference, citation, or APA error. Professional paper follows guidelines found in Writing a Professional Paper. Two grammar, spelling, punctuation, reference, citation, or APA errors Professional paper does not follows guidelines found in Writing a Professional Paper. Three grammar, spelling, punctuation, reference, citation, or APA errors. No professional paper. Four or more grammar, spelling, punctuation, reference, citation, or APA errors
Format Subtotal _____ of 20 Points
Total Points _____of 100 points
