Operations Management: Processes and Supply Chains, 12th Edition

Constructing Project Networks

After the project is defined and organized, the team must formulize the specific work to be accomplished and the relationships between the activities in the project. Constructing a project network involves two steps: (1) defining the work breakdown structure, and (2) diagramming the network.

Defining the Work Breakdown Structure

The work breakdown structure (WBS) is a statement of all work that has to be completed. Perhaps the single most important contributor to delay is the omission of work that is germane to the successful completion of the project. The project manager must work closely with the team to identify all activities. An activity is the smallest unit of work effort consuming both time and resources that ...