ACCA Strategic Professional · Strategic Business Leader · Leading and managing projects
Brightwell Renewables is planning a solar farm build. The project manager has divided the project into deliverables (site preparation, panel installation, grid connection), then into smaller work packages, each with an owner and a budget. Which planning tool is being used and what is its main benefit?
The project manager is using a work breakdown structure. It decomposes the project into deliverables and work packages, defining the total scope and allowing budgets and responsibilities to be assigned. Scheduling tools such as Gantt charts and critical path networks are then built from it.
- AA Gantt chart, showing the sequence of tasks against a calendar
- BA work breakdown structure, defining total scope and enabling cost and responsibility allocationCorrect
- CA critical path network, identifying tasks with zero float
- DA risk register, ranking threats by probability and impact
Explanation
Decomposing deliverables hierarchically into work packages with owners and budgets is a work breakdown structure. It defines the full scope (the 100% rule) and underpins estimating, scheduling and accountability. A Gantt chart or network would be built afterwards using the WBS.
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