The next step in our planning process is to break the larger project down into smaller, more manageable tasks. To do this you will be introduced to the Work Breakdown Structure or WBS. Smaller work packages will allow you to do some additional things in upcoming lessons to better manage the project and increase the chances of success. For instance, once you have smaller tasks identified you can then assign timelines for each task and plot the timeline on a graph that is called a Gantt chart. You can also identify colleagues for each task and determine their level of responsibility and/or accountability for the task. The WBS is an important step in properly planning any change initiative, regardless of the size or scope of the project. In this assignment, you will define and document the project’s tasks and project’s deliverables and their relationships to each. You will develop the work-breakdown structure (WBS) and project timelines using a Gantt chart. The WBS identifies the project’s tasks that need to be completed by priority. This breakdown helps the project team identify all tasks needed to get the work done and the resources necessary to complete it. This framework allows you to assign tasks to individual team members, making them accountable for those tasks in the process. It is important that all tasks be identified and broken down since project delays or even failure frequently result from forgotten or overlooked tasks rather than imprecise guesstimates. The Gantt chart, named after Henry Gantt, clearly shows the start and completion dates for all major project activities and subtasks. The Gantt chart is straightforward, easy to understand, and simple to change. It provides a snapshot of the project, and one can immediately identify task durations and distinguish tasks dependent upon other tasks to be completed before they are started. Understanding of all dependencies is critical for the project manager who is ultimately responsible for time, budgets, and resource allocation. There are many ways to build a Gantt chart, and you will be provided with several aids to help you. There are many “how to” videos on sites like YouTube that you might want to explore as well. Although you will see two separate tools in the lesson, most often a combined WBS/Gantt chart is developed that combines the two tools. A template for a combined WBS/Gantt chart is provided here that you may use if you wish.