Reviewing the IJPM for WBS: the search for planning and control

Kenley, Russell; Harfield, T.

Reviewing the IJPM for WBS: the search for planning and control

Files

KENLEY_HARFIELD.pdf (191.1 KB)

Authors

Kenley, Russell
Harfield, T.

Date

2014-03-19

Type

Journal Article

Keyword

Work breakdown structure (WBS)
WBS
International Journal of Project Management (IJPM)
IJPM
project management research
research

ANZSRC Field of Research Code (2020)

150312 Organisational Planning and Management

Citation

Kenley, R., and Harfield, T. (2014). Reviewing the IJPM for WBS : the search for planning and control. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 119 (19 March) .887-893.

Abstract

The ‘Rethinking Project Management’ research agenda created an environment for reconsidering project management practice. One suggestion is to focus on project management as an expression of creating value. However, this endgame perspective does not take into account the necessity of all projects to be created through tasks. In the first issue of the International Journal of Project Management (IJPM) published in February 1983, the editor wrote that one purpose of the Journal was to describe “…procedures, concepts and techniques that lead to successful planning and control…” Thus, one method of responding to the appeal for reconsideration of traditional perspectives is to explore the IJPM related to the agenda set in the 1980s. Work breakdown structure (WBS) is a one “procedure, concept or technique” utilized for project planning and control. Thus the search term WBS was instrumental in this review of IJPM Original Research Articles published between 1983 and 2013. A simple numerical ranking protocol indicated WBS significance in 140 documents. Although over 70% of articles used the term once or twice, WBS was not the article focus. A comprehensive document analysis found only 19 articles with substantive WBS content. However the review identified 11 research papers in which project management knowledge was expanded through development of more effective use of the WBS to plan and control project processes. Although this review did not find large numbers of WBS related planning and control articles, articles spanning three decades of IJPM indicates continuing WBS relevancy, if not popularity.

Publisher

Elsevier

Permanent link

https://hdl.handle.net/10652/3188

DOI

doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.03.099

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Author

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