WBS elements - I recall they are never to be below 40 hours????

[ProjectMGR]

I recall somewhere that a WBS element is never to be below 40 hours - in that
you do not want to track 5 hour or 10 hour work tasks in a gantt. Does
anyone recall this in the PMI documents or study materials...

 

[JulieS]

Hi ProjectMGR,

The most guideline I hear (and suggest) most frequently is workpackages
(lowest level of the WBS) should follow an 8 hr / 80 hr guideline.
Generally no workpackages below 8 hours and none above 80 hours. That being
said, I think you need to treat the guideline as just that -- a guideline.
To the best of my knowledge, no one from PMI will track you down and berate
you if you go below 8 nor above 80

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

I doubt this is ever published as a guidance.
It may be true in most projects but some projects (like moving and
reinstalling a server room) sometime must be done within 48 hours - with
tasks averaging 1 hour.
HTH