Plans/schedules are referred to as "living" because they can change at any time. As a minimum throughout the lifecycle of the project the plan will be updated at least as often as the update period, be that a month, week or day. In between these updates a plan can change it's logic, durations, scope etc (through proper change control). It is living because it constantly evolves and ages and (should) never remain the same for long.
As for the WBS, personally I would say that the responsibility for initially building it is probably a joint effort with input from the planner, project manager and project team. The responsibility for keeping it maintained and for developing it throughout the project lifecycle (at least within the planning tool) I would say is that of the planner. But like with anything else in the plan, we are responsible for much but we are only accountable for maintaining planning processes and best practice. The information contained within the plan - it's WBS structure and activities etc - is ultimately owned by the project manager and accountability lies with them. All we can do is advise and hopefully a good PM will listen.
Member for
9 years 4 monthsHi Shailesh, Plans/schedules
Hi Shailesh,
Plans/schedules are referred to as "living" because they can change at any time. As a minimum throughout the lifecycle of the project the plan will be updated at least as often as the update period, be that a month, week or day. In between these updates a plan can change it's logic, durations, scope etc (through proper change control). It is living because it constantly evolves and ages and (should) never remain the same for long.
As for the WBS, personally I would say that the responsibility for initially building it is probably a joint effort with input from the planner, project manager and project team. The responsibility for keeping it maintained and for developing it throughout the project lifecycle (at least within the planning tool) I would say is that of the planner. But like with anything else in the plan, we are responsible for much but we are only accountable for maintaining planning processes and best practice. The information contained within the plan - it's WBS structure and activities etc - is ultimately owned by the project manager and accountability lies with them. All we can do is advise and hopefully a good PM will listen.