Include Work Activities: Activity Attributes and Activity List
PMBOK v8 Definition
Include Work Activities is the process of identifying and documenting the specific actions required to produce the project deliverables. This process belongs to the Planning Process Group and the Schedule Management Knowledge Area. The core artifacts are the activity list and activity attributes, which progressively elaborate work packages into schedule activities. Activity attributes are multiple components associated with each schedule activity that evolve over time—initially including the unique activity ID, WBS ID, deliverables ID, and activity label or name, and later expanding to include descriptions, predecessor/successor activities, logical relationships, leads and lags, resource requirements, imposed dates, constraints, and assumptions.
Why It Matters for the Exam
This concept appears frequently in definition-based and scenario questions on the PMI exam, particularly those testing your ability to distinguish between the activity list, activity attributes, and the WBS. The exam often asks which components are included at which stage of the project, or tests your understanding of how activity attributes support schedule development and reporting.
Key Points to Remember (for the exam)
- Main Artifacts: Activity list, activity attributes, and milestones
- Initial Components: Unique activity ID, WBS ID, deliverables ID, activity label/name
- Completed Components: Activity descriptions, predecessor/successor activities, logical relationships, leads and lags, resource requirements, imposed dates, constraints, assumptions
- Additional Uses: Activity attributes identify the place where work should be performed, the project calendar assigned, and the type of effort involved
- Purpose: Used for schedule development and for selecting, ordering, and sorting planned schedule activities in reports
- Activity List: A documented tabulation showing activity description, activity identifier, and sufficiently detailed scope of work description so team members understand what work to perform
- Progressive Elaboration: Work packages are progressively elaborated into activities throughout the project
Typical PMI Exam Example
A project manager is defining activities for a construction project. During the initial stage, the team assigns each activity a unique identifier and links it to the corresponding WBS element. Later, they add predecessor relationships and resource requirements. Which document captures this evolving information?
Answer: Activity attributes
PMI Exam Traps
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Trap: Confusing the activity list with activity attributes Reality: The activity list is a tabulation of schedule activities with description, ID, and scope of work; activity attributes extend the description with multiple evolving components
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Trap: Thinking activity attributes are static once defined Reality: Components evolve over time—initial attributes are minimal (ID, WBS ID, deliverables ID, label), while completed attributes include many more elements
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Trap: Confusing work packages with activities Reality: Work packages are elements of the WBS for which cost and duration are estimated; they are progressively elaborated into activities during the Define Activities process
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Trap: Assuming activity attributes are only used for scheduling Reality: They are also used for selecting, ordering, and sorting planned activities in various reports
Important PMI Connections
| Related Concept | Relationship Type | Exam Attention Point |
|---|---|---|
| Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) | Input to Define Activities | Activities are derived from work packages; WBS ID is an initial activity attribute component |
| Schedule Development | Output of Define Activities | Activity list and attributes are artifacts used as inputs for determining sequence and developing the schedule |
| Work Performance Data | Related concept | Raw observations and measurements identified during activities being performed; derived from activity execution |
| Milestones | Co-artifact | Milestones are identified alongside the activity list and activity attributes during Step 1 of schedule development |
Quick Review Questions
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What are the three artifacts produced during the Define Activities step of schedule development?
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A project is in its initial planning phase. Which four components must be included in the activity attributes at this stage?
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What is the difference between the activity list and activity attributes?
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How are work packages related to activities in the context of progressive elaboration?
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Name three ways activity attributes can be used beyond basic activity description.
PMBOK v8 Reference
Section 2.4 - Schedule Performance Domain (specifically the "Define Activities" step in Figure 2-23: Steps for Developing the Schedule)