Purpose
The WBS Quality Check Checklist provides lean project teams with a structured method to validate that the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and its Dictionary meet the required standards of completeness, clarity, and alignment before being baselined. Its purpose is to ensure that Memorres projects have a sound planning foundation, where deliverables and work packages are unambiguous, traceable, and approved.
A poorly structured WBS leads to inaccurate estimates, unclear responsibilities, and uncontrolled scope creep. This checklist prevents such risks by giving Project Managers a repeatable verification process that confirms all requirements are represented, all deliverables are decomposed to a manageable level, and every work package is clearly described. For lean PM teams (1–3 members), this ensures efficiency by avoiding costly rework later in the project lifecycle.
By enforcing this quality gate, the checklist strengthens governance, ensures auditability in MIC, and provides sponsors with confidence that the WBS baseline is fit for estimation, resource planning, and scheduling.
Scope
This checklist applies to all projects managed by the Memorres Project Management Department and is mandatory during the Planning phase, after the WBS & Dictionary have been prepared and before estimates and schedules are finalized.
The scope of the checklist covers verification of structure, traceability, completeness, uniqueness, ownership, and approval of all WBS elements. It also confirms that assumptions, dependencies, and constraints linked to the WBS are documented in MIC.
The checklist excludes task-level engineering detail or technical design breakdowns, which belong to delivery teams. Responsibility for executing this checklist lies with the Project Manager, with oversight by the PMO and final approval from the Sponsor.
Main Section
Table: WBS Quality Check Checklist
| Step | Action | Execution Guidance | Example/Evidence |
| 1 | Verify scope coverage | Cross-check that all requirements are represented in the WBS. | Requirement BR-001 mapped to WP-01. |
| 2 | Validate decomposition levels | Confirm deliverables are broken down to manageable, non-overlapping work packages. | “UI Wireframes” distinct from “Final UI Design.” |
| 3 | Check dictionary completeness | Ensure each work package has description, deliverables, acceptance criteria, dependencies, assumptions, and owner. | WP-02 entry includes acceptance criteria. |
| 4 | Confirm traceability | Link each WBS element back to scope statement and requirements. | Req-to-WBS matrix in MIC. |
| 5 | Test clarity | Confirm that work package titles and descriptions are unambiguous. | WP-03 titled “User Training Materials” with clear scope. |
| 6 | Validate uniqueness | Ensure no duplicate work packages exist. | WP-02 and WP-03 not overlapping. |
| 7 | Confirm ownership | Each work package has a named owner responsible for delivery. | Design Lead owns WP-02. |
| 8 | Check assumptions/dependencies | Ensure linked assumptions and dependencies are logged. | Assumption A-001 linked to WP-01. |
| 9 | Verify approval readiness | Confirm stakeholders reviewed and Sponsor is ready to sign-off. | Draft circulated, feedback resolved. |
| 10 | Archive evidence | Store WBS, Dictionary, and checklist in MIC before baseline approval. | Folder “Project X/WBS v1.0” complete. |
Closing Note & Cross-References
The WBS Quality Check Checklist ensures Memorres projects do not move into estimation, resource planning, or scheduling with incomplete or unclear scope structures. It provides lean PM teams with a lightweight but disciplined quality gate, strengthening governance and preventing downstream rework.