Project Management - Work Item Types

Work Item Types

Module: Project Management → Work Item Types

Work Item Types define the different categories of work items that can be created and managed within a project.
These types help structure project tasks, issues, phases, and other work breakdown elements, ensuring consistent classification and reporting across all projects.

Each record represents one work item type, which users can select when creating new work items.

Access Path

Control Center → Project Management → Work Item Types

1. Purpose of Work Item Types

Work Item Types are used to:

• Organize project activities into clear and meaningful categories
• Provide structure to project planning and execution
• Support reporting and dashboards by grouping similar items
• Improve navigation and filtering within work item boards or lists
• Enable organizations to tailor the system to their methodology
• Separate conceptual work (e.g., Phases) from actionable tasks (e.g., Tasks, Subtasks)

Using standardized work item types ensures consistency and clarity across project teams.

2. Work Item Types List

The list displays all configured work item types that users can assign when creating or managing project items.

Typical columns:

• Name – The type of work item (e.g., Tasks, Issues)
• Description – Clarification of purpose
• Company – Indicates if the type is Tenant-Wide or tied to a specific company

Available actions:

• Add a new work item type
• Edit or delete existing records
• Sort and filter the list
• Export for reporting or auditing

3. Adding a Work Item Type

Click Add Work Item Type to open the entry form.

3.1 Required Fields

3.2 Optional Fields

4. Example Work Item Types

Note:
The records shown in the system are example values only provided for demonstration.
Organizations should define work item types according to their internal project methodology.

Examples from the screen:

• Tasks – Standard work units representing actionable items
• Subtasks – Smaller units of work, typically dependent on a parent task
• Issues – Items representing problems, bugs, or blockers requiring resolution
• Phases – Major segments of the project lifecycle
  Description: “Major segments of the project lifecycle (e.g., Initiation, Planning, Execution, Closure).”
• Project Timeline – High-level representations of key chronological segments

These types help teams classify and manage work efficiently.

5. How Work Item Types Affect Project Management

Work Item Types influence:

• Task boards and workflow structure
• Filtering, sorting, and reporting capabilities
• Work breakdown structures (WBS)
• Dependencies and hierarchy between work items
• Portfolio-level consistency across projects

Clear work item types help avoid confusion when multiple teams are collaborating.

6. Recommendations

• Define only types that reflect real operational needs.
• Avoid excessive granularity — too many types can complicate workflows.
• Align naming conventions with internal project frameworks (e.g., PMO standards).
• Use descriptions to ensure all teams understand when each type should be used.
• Review types periodically to ensure relevance and remove unused entries.

7. Summary

Work Item Types categorize project activities into structured, meaningful groups.
They are essential for:

• Organized project planning
• Clear task management
• Better team collaboration
• Consistent reporting across the organization

Establishing well-defined work item types supports efficient and scalable project delivery.

Related Articles

Project Management – Status – Work Items
Project Management – Work Item Types
Project Management – Status – Milestones
Project Management – Project Types
Project Management – Impacts - Scores
Project Management – Impacts - Levels
Project Management – Impacts - Risks
Project Management - Impacts - Categories
Project management - Impacts - Probabilities