Your project team has completed the work breakdown structure (WBS) for a complex infrastructure project. During the activity definition process, a senior team member suggests that some work packages are still too large and should be decomposed further into smaller activities. Another team member argues that further decomposition is unnecessary and will create excessive administrative overhead. The work packages in question represent approximately 120 hours of work each. How should you proceed?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is B. In predictive project management, work packages (the lowest level of the WBS) should be decomposed into activities during the activity definition process to enable effective scheduling, estimating, and control. Work packages of 120 hours (approximately 3 weeks) are too large for detailed scheduling and tracking purposes. Activities should typically be sized at a level that allows meaningful progress monitoring—usually ranging from a few hours to 80 hours maximum (the 8/80 rule). Option B follows the proper process flow: WBS → work packages → activities → estimates. Option A is incorrect because it confuses work package sizing with activity sizing; while 120-hour work packages might be acceptable at the WBS level, they need to be broken into activities for the schedule. Option D applies an inconsistent approach that would create planning and control challenges. Option C inappropriately makes a process decision by vote rather than following established project management practices.

PMP Practice Question: Process — Predictive, Medium

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