Kanban template

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Use free work breakdown structure template

Board view of a kanban project in Jira Software

What is a work breakdown structure template?

A work breakdown structure template is a visual project management tool that breaks projects down into smaller, more manageable tasks. A hierarchical structure simplifies projects and makes it easier to allocate resources, assign responsibilities, and estimate time and costs.

The work breakdown structure consists of three main levels:

Level 1: Outlines all major deliverables for the final project
Level 2: Breaks down major deliverables into more manageable ‘sections’
Level 3: Further breaks down these deliverable ‘sections’ into specific subtasks to assign them to a team

The work breakdown structure template provides a clear roadmap of all tasks and subtasks which makes it necessary to achieve the project's objectives. It also assists teams in understanding the true scope of the work to facilitate more accurate scheduling and budgeting.

Why use a work breakdown structure template?

A work breakdown structure template brings clarity and precision to project management. It organizes tasks to show how each one fits into the bigger picture.

Basic roadmap

By dissecting a project into individual components, the template provides a clear hierarchy of tasks and time allocations. A project work breakdown structure template can include everything from broad objectives to minute details. With this roadmap, project managers can anticipate bottlenecks and allocate resources efficiently so every team member knows their role and deadline.

Scrum board

The work breakdown structure template allows teams to update statuses in real-time. This continuous feedback loop keeps everyone aware of any changes so they can make informed decisions promptly without losing momentum.

Workflows

The work breakdown structure template fosters team synergy and offers a central hub for collaboration, especially when integrated with tools such as Jira and Jira Service Management. Keeping all team members on the same page eliminates silos and redundancies.

With Jira’s template library, which includes 42 different templates, teams have many options to explore. Jira templates cover areas ranging from Operations to Design, Finance, and everything in between.

Backlog

Explain how a work breakdown structure template can help with scope management
It explicitly lists all deliverables which can prevent scope creep

Sprint commitment insight

Explain how a work breakdown structure template can enhance clarity by breaking down a project into smaller, more manageable tasks so it’s easy for team members to understand their responsibilities

How to get started with a work breakdown structure template

1. Choose your project type

Choose between two different project types depending on your team’s needs.

Team-managed projects are ideal for autonomous teams who want to get going quickly and control their own projects and work flow. They can be set up and maintained by anyone.

Company-managed projects are the best choice if you want to standardize configuration across multiple Jira projects in your organization. These are set up and maintained by a Jira admin.

2. Organize and prioritize the Kanban board

The kanban board is a visual representation of all your team's work. Each column on the board represents the steps that work passes through on its way to ‘done’. Make sure you limit work in progress (WIP) so your team can stay focused, quickly identify blockers and make constant progress.

3. Continuously improve with agile reports

The only thing better than delivering a successful project is to do it better again next time. The kanban template comes with all the reports you need to analyze issues, help with forecasting, and more to better predict future performance. Create a single snapshot of all your critical data points and reports with customizable dashboards.

3. Continuously improve with agile reports