How does a Project Manager decompose project components

How does a project manager decompose project components

Managing a project requires a project manager to gain an understanding of the project scope
and the work to complete it. However, to make the project work successfully, a project
manager will break the entire project down into smaller more manageable elements. To
achieve this, there are several methods to choose from by most opt to take a top-down
approach. This will mean that they begin the process from the largest steps through to the
smallest steps.

Gain an understanding of the Project Deliverables

When it comes to successfully decomposing a project, a project manager will identify the
milestones or deliverables and they will then broken down into manageable components.
This will enable them to create work packages and to assign them to a specific team
member. By turning the deliverables into smaller packages, it enables the project manager
to actively manage the project.

Separate the Deliverables

It is common for a project manager to seek complete clarity in the initial stages between
each deliverable. With the deliverables split up and understood to the lowest level possible, it
makes it easier for the project as a whole for the project manager to execute it.

Work on the Deliverables Separately

The scope statement will provide an insight into the size of the project but ensuring that the
project is a success will require the project manager to gain an idea of the level of detail for
each deliverable. In doing so, they can work on them one at a time, ensuring confusion is
kept at a minimum. At this point, the decomposition of the work will allow them to seek out
the next smallest step to take and that is possible after they have taken the time to separate
the deliverable and gain a clearer understanding. This will enable them to take the right
steps to ensure the project becomes a success.

Understand When to Stop

It might seem as though there are many levels associated with each deliverable after they
have been broken down. However, understanding when to stop is crucial and you will be
able to determine this once you find yourself in a position of being able to provide an
accurate estimate of the time and the cost and what is required at every step. After completing the first
deliverable, the process can be repeated for the next step and that can
be done for each deliverable.

Put Tasks into Work Packages and Estimate Durations
With the pmp project management professional having successfully break down the
deliverables, it is now important to ensure to place them into work packages. There
will be action items within the work packages and these will be given resources that can
assist completion. However, before this, it is important that to identify the time each task will
take. It is then possible to group together tasks based on the resources required
or their type. According to the Project management Institute pmi, work packages should have between eight and eighty hours worth of work.

Identify Task Costs

At this point, the project manager will need to estimate the cost of each task. This will enable
accurate budgeting based on time and resources required as every task is likely to be
different. At this point, the project manager will create a wbs so the deliverables can then be
placed into the work breakdown structure (wbs) . The different levels of the wbs will provide
further clarity of the tasks and how they can be worked on individually.

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