When too much detail on a WBS becomes a To-Do List

In all my years of doing project management I have noticed that the WBS keeps getting bigger with ever increasing detail. I have observed that the PM on these projects who are maintaining these WBS documents is quite proud of the detail and their ability to manage this detail. In reality they are micro managing their projects, which are many cases is not what the PM really believes they are doing. All this detail has changed the WBS into a “To Do” list. This not what the WBS was intended to do.
Micro-management is appropriate when you have slackers working for you. This style tends to encourage dependency on the project manager rather than on the team members who should be held responsible for their results.
PMs are consistently more effective when they hold team members accountable for reaching measured achievements rather than just completing a “to do” list.
“To Do” lists are very hard to maintain and consumes PM time in clerical functions rather than managing the project. Members have to report on detail tasks which decrease the odds of receiving accurate and timely status reports. Also who is looking at the detail? Most of the reporting on a project is done at the summary level or on the critical path. Leave the detail to the task leaders they will break down what needs to be done and report back up to the summary status.
So how long should a task be on a WBS? I have found that the durations be between 1 week and 8 weeks long. Status reporting at a minimum should be weekly on the activities in the WBS. There can be no compromise on weekly reporting. With high level tasks the entry of status should take no more than 15-30 minutes per week of a member’s time to report, even considering multiple projects.

http://projectsolversblog.com/2011/07/05/when-too-much-detail-on-a-wbs-becomes-a-to-do-list/

How to become certified by ASME (Status: Januar 2010)

1.	The "Applicant" (Manufacturer) sends a telefax/letter to the ASME Accreditation Department / National Board (NB) to request original "Application Forms" (ASME Fax No: 001 212 591 8599 / NB: 001 614 847 1828) or download it from: http://www.asme.org/Codes/CertifAccred/Certification/Application_Forms_2.cfm http://www.nationalboard.org/SiteDocuments/Registration/nb211.pdf
2.	Signing of an inspection Service Agreement between the AIA (OneBeacon America Insurance Company / ONE/TÜV/BV) and the "Applicant".
3.	Completion of the "Application Forms" indicating the type / scope of certification and stamps applied for and the "AIA" (Authorized Inspection Agency) selected and contracted
4.	The completed "Application forms" are returned to the ASME Accreditation Department / National Board by air courier (copy to AIA) / e-mail. ca@asme.org / information@nationalboard.org
5.	Procurement of ASME Code Books, as required per type of certification applied for, with ASME / NB directly
6.	ASME notifies the AIA contracted to confirm to ASME that an Inspection Service Agreement has been signed with the "Applicant"
7.	The AIA and the "Applicant" establish a Time Schedule for all action to be taken to prepare the Joint Review
8.	Scheduling of the Joint Review date with ASME
9.	Preparation of the Joint Review: preparation of the Quality Manual preparation of a representative component or component part as demonstration item preparation of the Welding Procedure Specification (WPS), Procedure Qualification Record (PQR), Welding personnel (WPQ / WOPQ) preparation of the drawing and the design calculation preparation of work procedures (e.g. for the hydrostatic test, heat treatment, handling of welding filler material, calibration, NDE) demonstration (qualification) of NDE procedures to the AI (Authorized Inspector) qualification of NDE personnel material purchasing preparation of Traveler (Fabrication/Testing/Inspection Sequence Plan) preparation of the Manufacturers Data Report (MDR)
10.	Implementation of the above-mentioned quality program by the "Applicant"
11.	Pre-Joint Review to verify the implementation of the quality program performed by the AI and the AIS approx. 4 weeks before the Joint Review
12.	Joint Review with the AIA and ASME
13.	ASME issues the certificate(s) and the Code symbol stamp(s) to the "Applicant"
14.	The "Applicant" applies to the National Board for the "Certificate of Authorisation for Registration" and the NB-Stamp. This certificate is required to register components built and stamped in compliance with the ASME Code.The registration fee is depending on the size of each item.
15.	Receipt of the "Certificate of Authorisation for Registration" and the NB stamp.
16.	Fees: US $ 10,000.00 Advance payment for Joint Review (This is balanced with actual costs after the Joint Review)  ASME US $ approx 4,400.00 for Code books and binders ASME US $ 2,610.00 per ASME certificate (For "H" or "UM":870 US $) ASME US $ 260.00 per ASME stamp ASME US $ approx  20.00 bank handling fee ASME US $ Free of charge for Certificate of Authorisation for Registration and NB-stamp National Board US $ approx 500.00 for NB Review (when the Review is conducted in conjunction with an ASME Joint Review) National Board US $ 600.00 NB Certificate fee ("R"-stamp or "VR"-stamp or "NR"-stamp) National Board US $ 60.00 per NB stamp ("R"-stamp or "VR"-stamp or "NR"-stamp) National Board US $ Hard Copy 150.00 for National Board Inspection Code (NBIC) ANSI/NB-23 (electronic version on CD or Flash drive: 395 US $) National Board   * Code books and certificates are valid for three years only. REsource : www.onetb.com