Comparing Uses for Work Breakdown Structure Components

Before you decide which work breakdown structure components to use, make sure that you understand the differences between these components.

Naming Conventions

The information on this page uses the DPS default names for work breakdown structure and other elements, including "project," "phase," "task," "organization," "labor code," and "employee."

However, you can change these names to meet your business requirements. For example, you might make changes such as these:
Level Default Label Alternate Ex. 1 Alternate Ex. 2
One Project Client Matter
Two Phase Engagement Task
Three Task Event Deliverable

Once you make naming changes, these changes flow through the DPS user interface and the online help.

Comparison of Components

WBS Component Used for Billing Used for Cost and Expense Reporting Used for Labor Budgeting Set Firmwide
Project numbers Yes Yes Yes No

Set at the project level

Project delimiters Yes

Project delimiters let you break project work into sub-projects, similar to phases or tasks. The key difference is that you can bill work on an individual sub-project, but you cannot bill work on an individual phase or task.

Yes Yes No
Phases and tasks No

You cannot bill phases or tasks individually, but you can show them separately on the project invoice.

Yes Yes No

Set at the project level

Phase or task delimiters No

You cannot bill sub-phases or sub-tasks, but you can show them separately on the project invoice.

Yes Yes No
Labor codes Yes

Labor codes are typically used only for internal budgeting or planning purposes. However, some enterprises choose to base labor billing amounts on labor codes. If you bill labor based on activity rather than based on employee or employee level, you may want to use labor codes.

No Yes

Labor codes are often used for budgeting. You cannot track expenses or costs, or attribute work to a particular project manager using labor codes.

Yes

Labor codes are set on an enterprise-wide basis. You select from the same set of labor codes for each project.

Parent Topic: Work Breakdown Structure