Page 86 -

5 - PROJECT SCOPE MANAGEMENT

5.4.2.2 Expert Judgment

See Section 5.4.2.2 of the PMBOK Guide.
®

5.4.2.3 Activity-Oriented WBS

An example of an activity-oriented WBS is illustrated in this section of the Software Extension; it is descriptive
of an approach to creating a WBS for a software project; it is not intended to be prescriptive. The top level of an
activity-oriented WBS for a software project includes the full scope, at a high level, of all the work required to 5
complete the project successfully, as illustrated in Figure 5-3. The top level of an activity-oriented WBS is reflected
in, and can provide an input for refining the project scope statement. The subordinate levels can provide an input
for refining the product scope statement because the elements of work to produce the product components are
embedded in an activity-oriented WBS. The lowest level elements of work for the software construction activity of
the WBS produce specific deliverables. The tasks for Activity 3.2 in Figure 5-3 include work to reuse, construct, and
buy some software components. For brevity of presentation, the example includes only the subordinate elements
of Construct Software.

Embedding product scope in an activity-oriented software WBS is depicted in Figure 5-3, which illustrates a
partial WBS for developing the software for an automated teller machine; the product components are indicated in
bold font. The figure in Section 5.4.2.4 of this Software Extension illustrates further decomposition of the “Construct
FINAT” element of the WBS in Figure 5-3.

ATM Project

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Manage Analyze and Construct Verify Validate Deploy
Project Design Software Software Software Software

3.1. 3.2. 3.3. 3.4. 3.5.
Reuse Construct Construct Buy Integrate
ATMSD FINAT MAIND COMM and Test
ATMSD, FINAT,
MAIND, COMM
ATMSD: Software Drivers
LEGEND FINAT: Financial Transactions
MAIND: Maintenance & Diagnostics
COMM: Communication Package

Figure 5-3. Partially Decomposed Activity-Oriented WBS

©2013 Project Management Institute. Software Extension to the PMBOK Guide Fifth Edition 75
®