Another factor that can impact understanding of the WBS term and concept is that many industries utilize other breakdown structures and related acronyms that can confuse this subject. Therefore, to better understand what is meant by a WBS, you should be familiar with these other types of breakdown structures, as listed in Table 6.2, and how they are different from a WBS.
Caution
Any work not defined in the WBS is considered to be outside the project scope.
TABLE 6.2 Different Types of Breakdown Structures
| Acronym | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CWBS | Contractual WBS | Defines the level of reporting between the seller and buyer. The CWBS is not as detailed as the WBS used to manage the actual work. |
| OBS | Organizational Breakdown Structure | Maps work components to organizational units. |
| RBS | Resource Breakdown Structure | Maps work components to individuals. |
| BOM | Bill of Materials | Describes the physical components needed for the project. |
| PBS | Project Breakdown Structure | The PBS is actually the same as the WBS. This term is only used in areas where the term WBS is incorrectly used to refer to a BOM. |
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