Node A6 · Acronym decoder
WBS
Work Breakdown Structure
What it actually means
The hierarchical decomposition of everything a program must produce — hardware, software, services, data — into elements that can be assigned, estimated, scheduled, and measured. It's product-oriented by design (things, not org charts or verbs), and it's the shared skeleton that cost, schedule, and earned value all hang on. MIL-STD-881 gives the standard templates for defense systems.
Where you'll meet it
Program setup, cost estimating, and EVM structure on every serious project.