Work breakdown structure template

Streamline project management with a work breakdown structure template that offers collaboration, lists, customization, and integration. It breaks down big, overwhelming tasks into bite-sized pieces, making everything more manageable. The WBS template also provides a visual representation of the project’s scope. This makes it easier for teams to understand the work they need to do and the relationships between different tasks and deliverables.

Use free work breakdown structure template

Board view of a kanban project in Jira Software

What is a work breakdown structure template?

A work breakdown structure template is a visual project management tool that breaks projects down into smaller, more manageable tasks. A hierarchical structure simplifies projects and makes it easier to allocate resources, assign responsibilities, and estimate time and costs.

The work breakdown structure consists of three main levels:

Level 1: Outlines all major deliverables for the final project
Level 2: Breaks down major deliverables into more manageable ‘sections’
Level 3: Further breaks down these deliverable ‘sections’ into specific subtasks to assign them to a team

The work breakdown structure template provides a clear roadmap of all tasks and subtasks which makes it necessary to achieve the project's objectives. It also assists teams in understanding the true scope of the work to facilitate more accurate scheduling and budgeting.

Why use a work breakdown structure template?

A work breakdown structure template brings clarity and precision to project management. It organizes tasks to show how each one fits into the bigger picture.

Basic roadmap

By dissecting a project into individual components, the template provides a clear hierarchy of tasks and time allocations. A project work breakdown structure template can include everything from broad objectives to minute details. With this roadmap, project managers can anticipate bottlenecks and allocate resources efficiently so every team member knows their role and deadline.

Scrum board

The work breakdown structure template allows teams to update statuses in real-time. This continuous feedback loop keeps everyone aware of any changes so they can make informed decisions promptly without losing momentum.

Workflows

The work breakdown structure template fosters team synergy and offers a central hub for collaboration, especially when integrated with tools such as Jira and Jira Service Management. Keeping all team members on the same page eliminates silos and redundancies.

With Jira’s template library, which includes 42 different templates, teams have many options to explore. Jira templates cover areas ranging from Operations to Design, Finance, and everything in between.

Backlog

Explain how a work breakdown structure template can help with scope management
It explicitly lists all deliverables which can prevent scope creep

Sprint commitment insight

Explain how a work breakdown structure template can enhance clarity by breaking down a project into smaller, more manageable tasks so it’s easy for team members to understand their responsibilities

Featured products:

Work Breakdown Structure app

The Work Breakdown Structure app pairs a dynamic template with Jira integration to streamline collaborative project planning. Users can dive into project planning with ease, using pre-configured templates that provide a solid starting point. The app’s real-time capabilities mean that as one team member makes an update or adjustment, everyone sees it instantly. This fosters a truly collaborative environment.

Jira Software

Jira Software is a comprehensive work management solution for planning, collaborating, and delivering projects effectively from a single platform. JSW stands out for its robust set of features tailored to Agile project management, including Scrum and Kanban boards that provide teams with a visual representation of their workflow. With its extensive reporting and analytics capabilities, teams can leverage various charts and graphs to measure efficiency and identify areas for improvement.