This will help to define each small task, so Agile team members know exactly what they are working on. This is complementary to the hierarchy of the WBS, which can be tailored to suit an Agile project.įor the Scrum methodology, in particular, an Agile WBS can be used at the beginning of every sprint. These user stories are often connected via the process of story mapping, which forms a hierarchy and helps to create a holistic view of the project. Teams can use an Agile work breakdown structure to simplify large epics, breaking them down into smaller units: themes, stories, and tasks. However, WBS can be a highly useful tool in an Agile methodology.
Because WBS is suited to this predictive framework, some believe that it is not flexible enough to match the Agile mindset. WBS is often associated with traditional project management methodologies such as Waterfall, where tasks are interdependent and goals are not expected to change.
The main goal of a WBS is to break complex projects down into smaller chunks that are easier to manage. It is often presented as a simple flow chart. WBS, which stands for work breakdown structure, is a popular model that is used across many different branches of project management.
