Tool ReviewsWBS Chart Pro - WBS Chart Generating Software At Portfolio-Engineering, we believe that work breakdown structure (WBS) may very well be the most valuable, the most simple and yet the most underused project management technique around. We spend much of our time preaching the gospel of WBS technique, but, until recently, did not have an equally simple tool to partner with it. We are pleased to say that we have discovered "WBS Chart Pro" by Critical Tools and now have a full service offering (technique and tools) in WBS training and facilitation. Description According to the User's Guide, WBS Chart Pro is "a Windows-based project management software application that is used to create and display projects using a Work Breakdown Structure chart." While the tool definitely has WBS at its heart, since the tool is designed to interface bi-directionally with Microsoft Project ('98 and 2000), it has come to be a little more than just a WBS tool. WBS Chart Pro can be used to: Create, edit, print and distribute a stand-alone WBS (per PMI's PMBOK 5.3 Scope Definition) Continue the breakdown to activity definition (per PMI's PMBOK 6.1 Activity Definition) Add activity duration estimates (per PMI's PMBOK 6.3 Activity Duration Estimating) Add and assign resources (per PMI's PMBOK 7.1 Resource Planning) Add cost estimations (per PMI's PMBOK 7.2) Use the Microsoft Project interface to continue the schedule development process (per PMI's PMBOK 6.4 Schedule Development)
Thus we would describe WBS Chart Pro as a very strong, functionally rich, visually rich and easy to use WBS tool that can also be used as an alternative display / edit interface for Microsoft Project plan task details. Overall Assessment WBS Chart Pro is: Easy to install Extremely easy to learn to use (took a few minutes) Functionally rich (for WBS development) Visually rich (its options make good use of screen / paper space and present information succinctly) Easy to customize (you can change the look and content of the chart as you go) Fast at creating and editing complex WBS charts Seamlessly interfaced to Microsoft Project ('98 and 2000)
We have used many software tools over the years to create WBS charts including Microsoft Excel, Word and Visio. We find these tools generally tedious to use for WBS development and maintenance. In contrast, WBS Chart Pro enables us to create and edit complex WBS charts very rapidly. We spend our time on the work of WBS instead of fighting with software. While we usually do not recommend using software tools while facilitating project planning meetings (we prefer low-tech post-it notes and poster paper generally), we recommend considering the use of the WBS Chart Pro tool directly during WBS creation sessions. The WBS Chart Pro technology remains unobtrusive during meetings and it allows for progressive versions of the WBS to be printed and distributed as the development progresses. As a standalone breakdown structure tool that has application beyond WBS, we recommend using WBS Chart Pro for use in creating: Contractual WBS (CWBS) Organizational breakdown structure (OBS) Resource breakdown structure (RBS) Bill of materials (BOM) Project breakdown structure (PBS) Program breakdown structure
The Microsoft Project ('98 and 2000) interface has been carefully developed making use of the "WBS" fields and summary task features to record the WBS details in Microsoft Project. These features were very easy to use to both create a new Microsoft Project schedule or to read the details of an existing one. We are assured that a version of WBS Chart Pro that is compatible with "Microsoft Project Standard" and "Microsoft Project Professional" (the new 2002 line of products) will be ready as these new products begin to ship. Installation The tool was easy to acquire on the Internet and the installation was very simple. At the installer's discretion, components can be automatically added to the Microsoft Project interface (through the "global.mpt" file), adding WBS Chart Pro functionality directly to Project, supporting the bi-directional interface. The installation documentation was very thorough covering both stand-alone and network installations appropriately. Functionality The tool included all of the functionality we require for supporting the creation and editing of WBS charts, customizing their appearance and content. Our only regret with the tool came in the way that the interface to Microsoft Project was created. As the WBS content is always transferred to Project as multi-leveled Summary Tasks, the tool cannot be used to create and transfer multiple breakdown structures (such as OBS and WBS) for the same project. Critical Tools has indicated that in its next major release of WBS Chart Pro (perhaps a year away) they are considering adding support for transferring WBS to Microsoft Outline codes to allow support for multiple breakdown structures in each project. Documentation The help system was short but well written and included all of the information that I needed. The User's Guide included an installation guide, a product overview, a tutorial and a reference guide with various appendix that answered all of my questions fully. Process Integration As consultants, Portfolio-Engineering believe that, as far as possible, the process should be determined by the requirements NOT the tool. With this in mind, we present the following thoughts that you may wish to consider when implementing WBS Chart Pro in your organization: WBS is about planning what needs to be done whereas activity definition and sequencing is about planning how the work will be accomplished. WBS Chart Pro can be used for both. In practice (or in your process), be careful to isolate these two actives as appropriate so as to accomplish them both well. WBS Chart Pro is not an ideal tool for activity sequencing. While your activity sequencing determination will be stored in Microsoft Project, Project is also not an ideal tool for collaboratively determining appropriate activity sequencing. Determine how you wish to determine your activity sequencing when determining which tool or technique you will use for initial activity definition with a group.
Pricing As of May 2002, WBS Chart Pro is listed at www.CriticalTools.com at $199 per copy with volume discounting available. | 