WBS level Vs. Project Coding

[Former Member]

Hi;

i recently came up with a situation where my client asks for level 6 (Child WBS) upto level 8 wbs.

But the problem is my project coding mask doesnt permit me goin down further, as coding mask filed is restricted to only 24 chracters.

Also cant change the Coding Mask.(doc's signed of from client)

Any way out?

Poits will be rewarded.

Regards

[Former Member]

Hello!

There is no easy solution here.

Project coding masks cannot be changed as long as a single project is assigned to it or using it. All existing projects should be archived before you are allowed to make any changes.

Also, the coding mask cannot be longer that 24 characters. So even if you archive all existing projects, you will not be able to add any more characters to the mask.

I guess you will have to redifine your WBS naming conventions.

I´m sorry I cannot provide a better answer.

Regards

Martina

[Former Member]

Hi,

Project coding mask is very critical functioanlity. I don't think there is standard process for changing the mask in order to fit the project numbers. Morever on release of the project, coding mask can't be changed. You need to archive the projects then change the mask.

You need to change the mask taking into confidence of your customer.

Regards,

Rakesh Pradhan

[Former Member]

Can you please eloborate what exactly you meant by level 6 (Child WBS) upto level 8 wbs?

Regards

Sreenivas

[Former Member]

Dear SAP Fellows;

let me elborate it for your convininece.

wxyz-0001-01 Project

wxyz-0001-01-01 WBS (Level 1)

wxyz-0001-01-01-01 WBS (Level 2)

wxyz-0001-01-01-01-01 WBS (Level 3)

wxyz-0001-01-01-01-01-01 WBS (Level 4)

wxyz-0001-01-01-01-01-01-01 WBS (Level 5)

wxyz-0001-01-01-01-01-01-01-01 WBS (Level 6)

Now here u can clearly see that my coding exceeds than th elimit of 24 chatacters here.

I have no issue of archiving the projects but its not solution to my Question.

Kindly any good solution to this problem.

Regards.

[Former Member]

I wouldn't suggest anyone to use such a lenght mask but if there is a business case you can. Imagine the pain in quoating such long numbers while booking actuals!

You can still get you level 6's if you use following numbering convention. What've done is removed the suffix '-01-' for the project and top level WBS. Usually the project definition number is kept similar to top level WBS and I assume you have only one root. Your 6th level WBS is now exactly 24 characters.

wxyz-0001 Project

wxyz-0001 WBS (Level 1)

wxyz-0001-01 WBS (Level 2)

wxyz-0001-01-01 WBS (Level 3)

wxyz-0001-01-01-01WBS (Level 4)

wxyz-0001-01-01-01-01 WBS (Level 5)

wxyz-0001-01-01-01-01-01 WBS (Level 6)

Regards

Sreenivas

[Former Member]

Hi;

the problem here is that :

wxyz-0001-01 Project

wxyz = nature of project

0001 = code of the project executor

01 = no of projects executed by project executor.

i've been through all this by myself...

so i cant eliminate -01 fro project ID.

Thanx

[Former Member]

I'm not sure about the rationale you/business followed in determining the coding mask. I think you'll have problems down the line if you go ahead with it.

What would happen if the number of projects executed is > 99? Your mask doesn't have any provision of that! You need to re-think on your masks.

Sorry!

Regards

Sreenivas

[Former Member]

Hello,

If you cannot reduce the code in your project defintion, you might want to consider reducing it in the lower WBS elements:

Instead of

wxyz-0001-01 Project

wxyz-0001-01-01 WBS (Level 1)

wxyz-0001-01-01-01 WBS (Level 2)

wxyz-0001-01-01-01-01 WBS (Level 3)

etc...

Consider

wxyz-0001-01 Project

wxyz-0001-01-1 WBS (Level 1)

wxyz-0001-01-11 WBS (Level 2)

wxyz-0001-01-111 WBS (Level 3)

Is this suitable?

Also you can consider using letters:

wxyz-0001-01 Project

wxyz-0001-01-A WBS (Level 1)

wxyz-0001-01-AA WBS (Level 2)

wxyz-0001-01-AAA WBS (Level 3)

Hope this helps!

Regards

Martina

[Former Member]

Hi;

Thanx for the suggestion but that still does not solve my problem...

Also i have four numeric fileds for Project number.. so i can go upto 9999 number of projects.

Take Care.

[Former Member]

Hi,

My suggestions to you for the naming convention of WBS

will be a slight modification as below.

wxyz-0001-01 Project

wxyz-0001-01-01 WBS (Level 1)

wxyz-0001-01-02WBS (Level 2)

wxyz-0001-01-03 WBS (Level 3)

wxyz-0001-01-04 WBS (Level 4)

wxyz-0001-01-05 WBS (Level 5)

wxyz-0001-01-06 WBS (Level 6)

I hope this type of changing convention might provide some help to you.

Reward if it helps you.

Best reagrds,

R.Srinivasan

[Former Member]

Hi;

Dear u have propsed a solution but i dont see any good logic behind it...

kindly do let me know how would i name several wbs on one level (same level)

thanx