Work Breakdown Structure Template
Scope projects and keep track of all the moving pieces with the Work Breakdown Structure Template. Know right away what needs to be done and execute tasks more efficiently.
About the Work Breakdown Structure Template
Planning complex projects can be challenging. Use the work breakdown structure (WBS) template to quickly decompose the project’s total scope, including specific deliverables and activities. This helps with estimating resources and costs, creating a phased schedule of tasks, and managing each phase.
A work breakdown structure template is a project management tool that lays out everything a project must accomplish, organizes those tasks into multiple levels, and displays these elements graphically. It’s a deliverable-based approach, meaning you’ll end up with a detailed project plan of the deliverables you must create to finish the job.
When to use a work breakdown structure template
Use the WBS template when you need to deconstruct your team's work into smaller, well-defined elements to make it more manageable. The template makes it easy to keep team members informed, identify specific project deliverables, and help you develop a project schedule. The hierarchical structure makes it easier for a project manager to oversee a complex project and make sure every task gets done.
What are the 4 elements of the work breakdown structure template?
1. Hierarchy.
Each work breakdown structure is hierarchical. That means every “child” on the graph has a hierarchical relationship with its parent task. When you add up all the “child” elements, it’ll give you a clear picture of the parent task.
2. 100% rule.
While every work breakdown structure is a little different, they all follow the 100% rule. Every level of the graph must make up 100% of the parent level, and it must have at least two “child” elements.
3. Mutually exclusive elements.
Every element at each level of a WBS template has to be mutually exclusive. That means there can’t be any overlap between deliverables or work. Enforcing mutual exclusivity helps cut down on miscommunication and avoid duplicate work.
4. Outcome-oriented.
The work breakdown structure is fundamentally a deliverable-oriented system. That means your graphic depiction must focus on the outcomes rather than the activities required to produce them. A good rule of thumb is to describe elements using nouns rather than verbs.
How to create a work breakdown structure with Miro in 3 Steps
Get started by selecting the work breakdown structure template and adding it to your board. Then, follow these steps to fill it in:
1. Set goals & objectives
First, scope the entire project and make sure you understand the goals and objectives. That means determining what your project team is trying to accomplish with the project, how it fits into the broader goals of your organization.
2. Lay out deliverables
Next, catalog all of the major high-level deliverables of the project. These will be the second tier of the structure, and will be comprised of sub-projects that work towards the overall goals & objectives laid out in the first step.
3. Break deliverables into individual tasks
Finally, break those high-level deliverables into smaller pieces for a third level of activities that need to be done to complete the project. These are the specific daily sub-tasks required to get the project off the ground and ultimately completed.
If you'd prefer to start from scratch, Miro's diagramming functionalities make it the perfect WBS creator to visualize a project's components.
Work breakdown structure example
As a product manager, you probably need to organize projects and align different teams across product launches and updates.
In Miro’s WBS Template, you can see the product launch steps divided into departments:
Research
Design
Development
QA
Measurement
We know that every organization is different, and for that reason, you can easily customize the Work Breakdown Structure Template to meet your specific project's needs.
To complete your WBS template, you can add the tasks under each area or department. It can be user research, product development, performance tracking, etc. Once you are done, you will be able to see the whole process at a glance.
What is included in a work breakdown structure template?
There are typically three levels to a work breakdown structure: first, overall goals and objectives, with deliverables as the next level, and finally individual tasks as the final level.
Why use a work breakdown structure?
A work breakdown structure is a great way to break down an overall project into distinct individual tasks, along with aligning each of those tasks with priorities, goals & objectives. Get started with Miro's Work Breakdown Structure template.
How do you create a work breakdown structure?
You can create a WBS template in 3 simple steps: 1. Set goals and project scope 2. Set deliverables in the second tier of the structure 3. Break deliverables into individual tasks and assign them
What are the benefits of a work breakdown structure?
The WBS template can help you visualize your project needs and outcomes easily and better manage your team capacity and resources.
Get started with this template right now.
PERT Chart Template
Works best for:
Mapping, Project Planning
A Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) diagram is used to plan projects efficiently. They help you set a clear timeline, plan out tasks and dependencies, and determine a critical path.
Planning With Purpose
Works best for:
Agile Workflows, Agile Methodology, Kanban Boards
Planning With Purpose template offers a structured approach for setting and achieving goals effectively. By aligning actions with objectives, teams can prioritize tasks and track progress towards desired outcomes. This template fosters clarity and accountability, enabling teams to stay focused on what matters most and adapt their plans as needed to drive success.
Kanban Planner 2024 Week & Month
Works best for:
Kanban Boards, Agile Methodology, Agile Workflows
KANBAN Planner 2024 Week & Month template provides a flexible framework for planning and managing tasks on a weekly and monthly basis. By organizing tasks by priority and deadlines, teams can optimize their workflow and ensure timely delivery of projects. This template fosters transparency and accountability, enabling teams to collaborate effectively and achieve their goals efficiently.
Sprint Planning with Jira Template
Works best for:
Sprint Planning, Agile
The Sprint Planning with Jira template in Miro is a powerful tool designed to streamline and enhance your sprint planning sessions. One of the key benefits of this template is its Jira integration, which saves time and effort when planning and aligning teams. By integrating directly with Jira, the template allows for seamless import and management of tasks, ensuring that all your Jira tickets are up-to-date and easily accessible within Miro. This reduces the need for manual updates and minimizes errors, making the planning process more efficient and effective.
Agile Product Roadmap
Works best for:
Roadmap, Planning, Mapping
The Agile Product Roadmap template enables teams to visualize and communicate the strategic direction of their product development in an agile environment. It allows for flexibility and adaptation to changing requirements while providing a clear overview of priorities and timelines. By incorporating feedback loops and iterative planning, teams can ensure alignment with stakeholder expectations and deliver value incrementally.
Decision Tree Template
Works best for:
Decision Making, Mind Mapping, Diagrams
Making difficult decisions gets easier when you can look clearly at your choices and visualize the outcomes. That’s just what a decision tree will help you do, empowering you to invest your time and money with confidence. A decision tree is a flowchart that looks just how you’d imagine—with “branches” that represent your available choices. It provides a stylized way to play out a series of decisions and see where they lead before you commit your real-world resources, which is especially valuable for startups and smaller companies.