5.1 Introduction

Work Breakdown Structure, popularly referred to as WBS, is a crucial part of project management, particularly the project lifecycle and timeline. By definition, WBS is a deliverable-oriented project breakdown where the project is broken down into smaller components. Devi and Reddy (2012) define the Work Breakdown Structure as “Representing the sum total decomposition of all work that the project encompasses, from beginning to end” (p.684). Since planning is one of the most critical elements of project management, the Work Breakdown Structure starts by categorizing tasks and levels into a hierarchy, thereby identifying how the project would flow per the project manager’s specified timeline. 

 

Experienced project managers acknowledge that various things could go wrong in a given project despite strategic planning and execution. Antony and Gupta (2019) disclose that full or partial project failures can often be traced to non-existent or poorly developed Work Breakdown Structure. For instance, a poorly developed Work Breakdown Structure may facilitate adverse project outcomes such as unmanageable project scope, budget overrun, re-plans, and missed deadlines. Therefore, the Work Breakdown Structure is a foundational building block that facilitates the initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and control processes necessary to manage projects as outlined in the PMBOK Guide (Rosenberg & Tick, 2019). There are various project management tools and approaches that employ Work Breakdown Structure and its components. For instance, the Work Breakdown Structure employs the project charter as its preliminary point. Thus, the Work Breakdown Structure’s high-level components must match the words used in the description of the project outcomes laid out within the scope statement. Besides that, the Resource Breakdown Structure (RBS) defines the available project resources and may be used alongside the Work Breakdown Structure to define the project work packages. Therefore, this reveals the importance of a Work Breakdown Structure in project management. 

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Emmanuel Addo
Founder
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Emmanuel Addo is the founder of the Young Global Leaders Network, an international non-governmental organization registered in six (6) countries namely, Ghana, United Kingdom, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Sudan and has a membership strength of over 15,000 young black professionals, students, graduates, and aspiring leaders.

The organization also operates in 25 other African countries. Emmanuel also doubles as the chief convener and founder of the Young African Leaders Summit, one of the largest continental youth summits in Africa.  

Currently works at Kingston University as a Business Engagement Team Member in their Partnerships and Engagement Department. 

He characterizes energy, integrity, result-oriented, and ground-breaking service in each detail of strategic management, change management, stakeholder management, and leadership acquaintances.
Emmanuel owns a core background in Sociology and Psychology from the University of Ghana.

Leveraging his experience as a youth activist and a dynamic young man, Emmanuel founded the Young Global Leaders Network, a youth organization that comprises young diplomats, young politicians, and aspiring politicians, business/entrepreneurial business leaders with the aim of championing a mutual agenda for the African youth and promoting youth participation in governance as well as promoting entrepreneurial culture.
Emmanuel nurtures an environment of teamwork and has expertise in data collection and analysis as well as both quantitative and qualitative methods.

Emmanuel worked as an Associate Lecturer at the London College of Advanced Management where he delivered a wide range of business management courses that involved principles of marketing, leadership, operation management, and research methods. Emmanuel has always maintained high teaching and learning standards to ensure that his students’ stand out in academic achievements and successful progression. As a stout believer and passionate key player in volunteering; Emmanuel creates quality time to giving back gladly to his community what he has learned and to educate individuals with free consultancy on career development. He is a leader anyone would love to look up to and with great integrity, commitment, and passion to make the world a better place.
Emmanuel worked as Qualifications Manager at the Open University in the UK.

Emmanuel is also the founder of Kickstart Innovation Hub Ltd, the entrepreneurial hub of Young Global Leaders Network.