Hierarchical structure of works: concept and purpose. Project management

Each project has goals and stages of implementation. The introduction of the project implies the existence of goals, certain activities, skills and abilities. At each stage, process control is required. This is a complex, creative art of coordinating all the resources involved in the project: human and material.

Basic concepts

Project management is a process with unlimited potential. Despite this, all types of actions can be predicted. Throughout the life cycle of the project, modern methods and technologies of management are applied. Purpose: to achieve certain results, based on the composition, volume, cost, quality and time costs in the project. Ultimately, all participants in this process must be satisfied with the result.

The very first and main tool is the definition of the content of the project. Here such concept as hierarchical structure of works (ISR) is important. To create the correct present document in theory is simple, but in practice, as a rule, it turns out to be a complex process that requires its own specifics and nuances.

IDR - fully defines the content of the project and is focused on its results. To determine the goals and composition of the stages, the methodology is excellent: the structure of work decomposition (SDR), or in English WBS. Another technique called SRP, which means the structure of the division of works. But most often use the abbreviation ISR.

As a result of the creative activity of the entire team, an official document is born, explaining the content of the project and its components. Works that are not included in the IDE are not project-related. The document itself can contain several levels, each element of which is unique, has a code and, according to the rules, should be described in the SDR dictionary.

The method by which a hierarchical structure of works is created to achieve success

The value of the WBS with increasing scale of the problem also increases. This is one of the key success factors. IRS serves for:

• Detailing the tasks of the project;
• Planning of risks, resources, schedule, cost and quality;
• Accurate distribution with a clear framework and definition of responsibility of participants;
• Organization between the participants of the interaction project;
• The organization of control over the performance of work and the introduction of changes;
• Organization of accountability;
• Create a structure of the project, which is called organizational.

All elements that have a hierarchical structure of works are executed in a convenient graphical form. This feed has advantages over the list. Due to the collective work in creating the IRS, the level of communications is increased, the best visibility, monitoring and control is achieved. The information given in graphical form allows you to visually cover the whole scheme.

Packages and dictionaries

An important element that has a hierarchical structure of work is the packages that include the lists of operations necessary to achieve the result of the task. Thanks to this, the work is done without the need for additions. It gives you the opportunity to see a realistic assessment and measurable result. Such a package is quite suitable for transfer to the contractor.

A special dictionary plays a significant role in the implementation of works. It gives an opportunity to interpret all the elements and terms that the hierarchical structure of the project works, and the manager - to define the boundaries of responsibility for each member of the team. This is necessary to avoid duplication of operations.

The dictionary contains: element numbers; Their names; The time allotted for the implementation of a certain operation; The order of actions of the elements; Expected result and responsible at each site of the project.

Elements

The hierarchical structure of the project is developed by the whole team using the integration method. All aspects of the project are divided consistently: goals, results, criteria, achievements, products, functional areas, volumes, technical requirements. The conditions necessary to create a work structure are as follows:

• Each element must have its own formulated measurable result;
• Each result of the element above is the product of the decomposition elements;
• Packages and part of the operations must be unique.

To organize the work successfully, the structure is complete, but not excessive.

Elements of the upper levels are necessarily combined with the entire organizational structure. Elements of the lower level should not be of excessive size, but they are quite sufficient for the implementation of the task and for monitoring.

To split the results of a project into elements, there are two main approaches: functional and product. At one level, these criteria can not be combined. However, at different - it is even very appropriate. It is also important not to confuse managerial and substantive work. The product approach is necessary for the customer to see when and what products the manager will hand over to him. Functional - for the interaction of the manager with the performers and the appointment of those responsible for certain areas of work.

Approaches

If the organization of work on the project will occur in several stages, you can use the approach coming from the cubic structure of the project.

At the top level, the results are divided based on the life cycle stages. After, structuring is carried out for the project products. At the final stage, work packages are completed according to a functional criterion or according to the types of activity.

For the project management, the construction of the hierarchical structure of the work and all the key information necessary for this is laid down in the statute. The description of substantive works is done first. After that, you can form a description of the management unit. It is usually allocated to a conditional module like "Project Management System". In addition, at the first level of the hierarchy, modules are created for the project documentation and the facility put into operation.

Often, project implementation is unprofessional, ignoring IRS. Such an approach at best will lead to a number of errors, the correction of which will be a large amount of material and physical costs.

Decomposition

For the result to be obtained in the form that was originally conceived, at the same time a minimum of resources was spent, it is necessary to approach the project professionally. This is the purpose of the hierarchical structure of work - an effective tool managers.

The decomposition is performed for the time being:

• There will be no possibility to realistically estimate the time, risks and costs;
• The element can no longer be logically broken.

If the element can be executed quite quickly (up to 10 working days), the decomposition is considered to be completed.

Stages of IRS

1. The tasks are set and the goals are planned.
2. The stage of the decomposition of goals.
3. The operations are defined.
4. The content is planned.
5. The resources are determined.
6. The resource assignment phase.
7. The cost is estimated.
8. The budget is estimated.
9. Estimated time and volume.
10. Scheduled.
11. A plan is being developed to implement the project.
12. Interrelations are defined.
13. Criteria for success are determined.

Economic planning can become a valuable aid in planning. Correctly designed functional model will reduce the time of detailed operations and detail the priority operations.

To compile an optimal project schedule, a sufficient number of methods have been developed, among them: the heuristic approach and the critical path method. It is advantageous to present the timetables in the form of a diagram of control points (events of zero length corresponding to the moment of achievement of the result and the onset of important stages in the project). This diagram reflects the real and planned time frame.