Product breakdown structure
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In project management, a product breakdown structure (PBS) is an exhaustive, hierarchical tree structure of components that make up a project deliverable, 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.
E.g. 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
- ...
The PRINCE2 project management method mandates the use of product based planning, part of which is developing a product breakdown structure.