Product Breakdown Structure – PBS

Once the requirements are finalised, the next logical step is to decompose the requirements into a product breakdown structure (PBS)

A Product Breakdown Structure (PBS) is a hierarchical decomposition of the deliverables or products that must be produced to complete a project. It breaks down the project into manageable components, making it easier to plan, manage, and track the project’s progress.

Here are examples of Product Breakdown Structures for both Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) projects and Information Technology (IT) projects:

Example 1: Product Breakdown Structure for an EPC Project (Construction of a Bridge)
  1. Bridge Structure
    • Substructure
      • Foundation
      • Piers
      • Abutments
    • Superstructure
      • Deck
      • Girders
      • Bearings
    • Decking Materials
    • Expansion Joints
    • Guardrails
    • Drainage System
  2. Roadway Approach
    • Roadway Pavement
    • Curbs
    • Sidewalks
    • Signage
    • Lighting
    • Traffic Signals
  3. Utilities
    • Electrical Infrastructure
    • Lighting Fixtures
    • Water Drainage System
    • Stormwater Management
    • Utility Relocations
  4. Landscaping
    • Vegetation
    • Trees
    • Shrubs
    • Grass
    • Irrigation System
  5. Environmental Considerations
    • Erosion Control Measures
    • Wildlife Habitat Preservation
    • Wetlands Mitigation
Example 2: Product Breakdown Structure for an IT Project (Development of a Mobile Application)
  1. Mobile Application
    • User Interface
      • Home Screen
      • Navigation Bar
      • Menu
      • Buttons
    • Functional Modules
      • User Registration/Login
      • Profile Management
      • Messaging
      • Search Functionality
    • Database
      • Data Storage
      • Database Management System
    • Security
      • Authentication
      • Authorization
      • Encryption
  2. Backend Services
    • Server Infrastructure
    • Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)
    • Data Processing
    • Business Logic
  3. Integration
    • Integration with External Systems (e.g., Payment Gateways, Social Media APIs)
    • Compatibility Testing (across different devices and operating systems)

In both examples, the Product Breakdown Structure breaks down the project deliverables into hierarchical levels, providing a structured framework for planning, organizing, and managing the project’s components. It helps ensure that all necessary products or deliverables are identified.

Application of PBS in Projects

The PBS serves several purposes:

  1. Scope Definition: The PBS helps define the scope of the project by breaking down the project’s high-level objectives into smaller, more manageable components. It provides a comprehensive list of all the products or deliverables that must be produced to complete the project.
  2. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Development: The PBS serves as the basis for developing the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), which further decomposes the project deliverables into smaller, more manageable work packages. The WBS organizes project work into hierarchical levels, making it easier to assign responsibilities, estimate resources, and schedule activities.
  3. Resource Allocation: By breaking down the project deliverables into smaller components, the PBS helps identify the resources (such as personnel, equipment, and materials) needed to complete each deliverable. This facilitates resource allocation and helps ensure that adequate resources are available to support project activities.
  4. Risk Management: The PBS helps identify potential risks and dependencies associated with project deliverables. By analyzing the relationships between different components of the PBS, project teams can identify critical paths, dependencies, and areas of potential risk, enabling them to develop risk mitigation strategies and contingency plans.
  5. Cost Estimation: The PBS provides a basis for estimating the costs associated with each project deliverable. By breaking down the project scope into smaller components, project teams can more accurately estimate the costs of labor, materials, and other resources required to produce each deliverable, helping to develop a more accurate project budget.

Overall, the PBS is a valuable tool used to define scope, organize project work, allocate resources, manage risks, and estimate costs. It provides a structured framework for project planning and helps ensure that all necessary components of the project are identified and accounted for, laying the foundation for successful project execution.

Once the Product Breakdown Structure (PBS) is defined, the next logical step is to arrive the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)