The WBS dictionary is the document that accompanies the WBS (Work Breakdown Structure) which further elaborates upon the individual components of the WBS. The WBS Dictionary is an output of the fourth edition PMBOK®’s Create Work Breakdown Structure process. Together with the WBS and Scope Statement, it composes the project’s Scope Baseline which becomes part of the Project Management Plan. The WBS Dictionary can include: code of accounts identifiers, description of work, responsible organization, list of schedule milestones, associated schedule activities, resources required, cost estimates, quality requirements, acceptance criteria, technical references, and contract information. If useful, the WBS Dictionary can contain additional information about the components as well. Also see the earlier posting of Create Work Breakdown Structure Process (posted February 27, 2009) and WBS (Work Breakdown Structure) (posted July 21, 2009).
WBS Dictionary
Posted on July 23, 2009 by tapuniversity
Posted in: PMP Exam, Project Management
Rich
February 26, 2010
I would like to know what additional information can be included, as you have mentioned if useful?
lhilkemann
March 1, 2010
The fourth edition PMBOK has really expanded the WBS Dictionary document. In the third edition, only 4 types of information were listed to describe a component and now we have the 11 potential types of information listed above. Even with these 11 types, the PMBOK states “the WBS dictionary includes, but is not limited to” these 11 things (page 121). Since we’re not limited we can add other information that would be useful– for example, there may be a particular constraint that you would find useful to include for a certain component in your WBS dictionary.