Breakdown Summary

Tips for Effective Task Breakdown

1. Start with the Main Goal

Clearly define the overall project or the largest task you want to accomplish.

2. Identify Major Phases or Deliverables

Break the main goal into high-level components or phases. These become your first level of tasks.

3. Decompose Further

For each major task, ask "What smaller steps are needed to complete this?" Continue breaking down tasks until they are manageable and actionable.

4. Aim for Manageable Chunks

A common rule of thumb is that a task should be small enough to be completed by one person (or a small team) in a reasonable timeframe (e.g., a few hours to a few days). If a task seems too big, break it down further.

5. Ensure Clarity

Each task should have a clear description so that anyone involved understands what needs to be done.

6. Define Outputs/Deliverables

For each task, know what the expected output or result is. This helps in determining when the task is truly "Completed".

7. The 100% Rule (WBS Principle)

The sum of all sub-tasks should represent the entirety of the work required for their parent task. Avoid gold-plating or missing scope.

8. Review and Refine

Once you have an initial breakdown, review it. Does it make sense? Are there any gaps? Is anything unclear? Get feedback if possible.