Product breakdown structure

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In project management, a product breakdown structure (PBS) is an exhaustive, hierarchical tree structure of components that make up an item, arranged in whole-part relationship.

A PBS can help clarify what is to be delivered by the project and can help build a work breakdown structure.

The PRINCE2 project management method mandates the use of product based planning, part of which is developing a product breakdown structure.

[edit] Example

PBS of a computer:

Main unit
- Housing
- Motherboard
  - CPU
  - RAM chips
  - ...
- FDD
- HDD
- Video card
- Sound card
- Network card
- LPT port card
Monitor
- CRT
- Housing
- Electronic components
Mouse
- Body
- Marble
- Cable
Keyboard
- ...