WBS Element Manager
EVM Terms
Reviewed by forProject Technology - updated Sep 2026
Quick definition: A WBS Element Manager is the individual assigned responsibility for accomplishing the work identified for a summary-level WBS element, above the Control Account level.
Unlike a Control Account Manager, who owns a specific control account, a WBS Element Manager is accountable for a broader summary element that rolls up multiple control accounts underneath it. They're responsible for the overall progress and performance of everything within that higher-level piece of the WBS.
Why it matters
Having a named owner at the summary level, not just at each control account, creates clear accountability all the way up the WBS hierarchy. That makes it easier to escalate issues and track performance at whatever level management needs to review.
Also known as
N/A
Used in
Work Breakdown Structure management above the Control Account level
See also
FAQ
How is a WBS Element Manager different from a Control Account Manager?
A WBS Element Manager oversees a summary-level element above the Control Account, while a Control Account Manager owns a specific control account underneath it.
Does every WBS element need its own Element Manager?
Typically only summary-level elements are assigned one; lower-level work is owned through Control Account Managers instead.
Definition maintained by forProject Technology.
© 2026 forProject Technology, Inc.
© 2026 forProject Technology, Inc.
