Fundamentals of Project Management 1
Module 1:
Work Breakdown Structure
(Pragya Case Study)
Pragya is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that operates in India, Nepal, Sub-Saharan Africa, the USA,
and the UK. Pragya delivers development services to vulnerable ecosystems and communities in the most
remote, undeveloped corners of the world.
This year, Pragya is beginning an agricultural development project in India.1 The goal of the project is to
increase the incomes of farming communities. To do this, Pragya will set up eight “Agri-Support Centres:”
buildings in their beneficiaries’ communities where farmers can access advice, agricultural tests, insurance,
technology, and information. To deliver these services, they will train twenty local youth to be “Agri-Advisors.”
Pragya needs a WBS for the first three months of this project. In these three months, Pragya would like to
open their Agri-Support Centres, train their Agri-Advisors, and begin serving local farmers. For their work
breakdown structure, they are dividing their work into two main categories: preparing Agri-Support Centres and
preparing Agri-Advisors. In addition, their project will require planning, monitoring & evaluation, communication,
and other types of work.
Some of the tasks that Pragya will have to do include hiring Agri-Advisors and selecting sites for their Agri-
Support Centres. However, they need your help to brainstorm the rest of the tasks that they will do!
Instructions:
1. On the next page, complete the question in step 1. Describe the deliverable scope that Pragya
has promised to deliver, including any quality or quantity requirements.
2. In the work breakdown structure, list all of the work that Pragya will need to complete. Try to
imagine all of the work packages that Pragya will need to complete to successfully create their
deliverable scope. List at least 20 work packages. We have provided a few examples, but you have
never worked on an agricultural development project like this you will need to use your imagination.
3. Categorize each work-package by category (“Agri-Support Centres,” “Agri-Advisors,” or “Other”).
4. Invent subcategories within each category. For example, sub-categories within “Agri-Advisors”
might include “Hiring” and “Training.” Each work package should fit inside one of your sub-
categories.
1 Note: This case study is based on an actual project that Pragya has done. However, many of the details have been changed for
clarity and simplicity.
Fundamentals of Project Management 2
Step 1: Deliverable Scope
What products or services will Pragya’s project provide? Re-read the project description and list out
each of the deliverables that Pragya will provide. Include a short description of each deliverable as
well as any quality or quantity requirements.
Eight Agri-support centres
Advice for local farmers
Agricultural tests
Insurance
Technology
Information
Twenty Local Agri-advisors
Step 2: Work Scope
What work will need to be done? In the “Work Package” category, imagine all of the work that Pragya
might need to do to open their Agri-Support Centres and prepare their Agri-Advisors. List at least 20
work packages. Remember, each work package should be small enough that a single person could
manage it. Then, assign a subcategory and a category to each work package.
*Note: If you have not done this type of work before, it is okay to simply imagine what work packages
would need to be done. We do not expect you to create a perfect agricultural development WBS!
Category Subcategory Work Package
Agri-Support Centres Site selection 1. Select several potential sites in each village
Agri-Advisors Training 2. Develop training curriculum with local universities
3.
Agri-Advisors Counselling Counsel local farmers
4.
Agri-Advisors Hiring Hire additional staff when necessary
5.
Agri-Advisors Planning Plan the daily activities
6.
Agri-Advisors Monitoring/Supervision Supervise and assure smooth running of operations
7.
Agri-Advisors Reporting activities Report activities to the right sources as they unfold
8.
Agri-Advisors Recording activities Record activities for references and reports
9.
Agri-Advisors Evaluation Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses
10. Provide furniture for offices, meeting spaces, waiting room, etc
Agri-Support Centres Furniture
11.
Agri-Support Centres Roofing tiles Provide durable roofing tiles for constrution
12.
Agri-Support Centres Meeting auditorium Provision of space for meetings and other gatherings
13.
Agri-Support Centres Cement Provision of cements for construction
Fundamentals of Project Management 3
Category Subcategory Work Package
14.
Agri-Support Centres Sand Provision of sand for building constructions
15.
Agri-Support Centres Centre plan (Architecture) Professional plan for the buildings
16. Provision of fertilizers for enhanced agriculture and crop growth
Agri-Support Centres Fertilizers
17. Provision of tractors to enhanced agricultural activities
Agri-Support Centres Tractors
18. Training centres for Agri-advisors and local farmers
Agri-Support Centres Training centres
19.
Agri-Support Centres Counselling centres Centers for counselling local farmers
20.
Agri-Support Centres Insurance Provide insurance for local farmers
21.
Agri-Support Centres IT Support Centres Provide IT support centres for farming aid
22.
Agri-Advisors Welfare Do follow up on local farmers to identify improvements and lapses and respond necessarily
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Agri-Advisors
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Agri-Advisors
