About work breakdown structures

Applies To: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Feature Pack, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012

A project often consists of multiple tasks. In Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, a work breakdown structure (WBS) is a hierarchy that represents the sequence of tasks for a project. In a WBS, you can schedule a task, specify the education and experience that are required for the task, assign qualified workers, and enter the estimated cost and revenue for the task.

You can make a task dependent on the completion of another task or tasks in the same WBS. For example, make the start of a design task dependent on finishing a planning task. In the WBS, the starting date for a dependent task is automatically set to the day after the predecessor task ends.

You can create a WBS manually, or copy the WBS from another project into the current project and then modify the WBS details for the current project. You can also save a WBS as a template, and then use the template as a starting point to create a WBS for projects that are frequently repeated. By using a template, you can set up a WBS for a new project more efficiently.

In Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3 or cumulative update 7 or later for AX 2012 R2, you can use Microsoft Project to manage the work breakdown structure (WBS) for a project or a project quotation, and then publish the WBS to your project in Microsoft Dynamics AX. For more information, see Create or update a project by using Microsoft Project.

In AX 2012 R3, you can also easily transfer item estimates from a WBS to project forecasts. For more information, see Transfer work breakdown estimates to project forecasts.

In a WBS, you can add the following details for each task:

• The estimated effort, expressed in number of hours.

• The cost per hour.

• The sales price per hour to charge the customer.

• The number of workers needed to complete the task.

• The starting date and ending date.

  If there are conflicts or overlaps in the date range that you select for tasks, you can view and fix these scheduling discrepancies.

• The name of the worker who is expected to complete the task. You can add more than one worker per task.

See also

Work breakdown structure (form)

Create a work breakdown structure of tasks for a project

Create a work breakdown structure template for projects

Transfer work breakdown estimates to project forecasts

Activities (form)