What is a WP?

A work package is a subset of a project that can be assigned to a specific party for execution. Because of the similarity, work packages are often misidentified as projects.

Collection of work actions

Similar to a work breackdown structure, a work package is part of a Plan Breakdown Structure, representing a collection of work actions necessary to create a specific result.

The work package is the lowest level of the WBS where both the cost and the duration can be reliably estimated.

Work packages are defined by brief statements of Activity Description, Activity Resources of Skill and Expertise, Activity Estimates of Effort and Duration, Activity Schedule, Activity Risks, and Activity Budget. Work Packages are assigned a Work Authorization or Control Account.

Estimates of work packages are used in Earned Value Management to calculate the Planned Value. Progress made in the work package is used to calculate the Earned Value. Actual costs charged to the work package are used in variance analysis.