Skip to main content

[New Manager] What is a Gantt chart?

 As a new project manager, understanding Gantt charts is essential for effective project planning and management. Let’s dive into what Gantt charts are, how they look, how to identify key elements, common mistakes to avoid, and some useful references.

What Is a Gantt Chart?

A Gantt chart is a powerful project management tool that visually represents project activities over time. It provides a clear timeline, allowing project professionals to monitor progress, allocate resources, and manage dependencies. Here’s a concise definition:

Gantt Chart: A graphical representation of activity against time, showing tasks, start and end dates, dependencies, and task ownership.

Project milestone: a key event or action that signifies a significant stage of progress. It can denote the start or finish of a project, completion of a major task, or any other noteworthy achievement. Milestones help track project progress and ensure alignment with project goals.

Anatomy of a Gantt Chart

  1. Timeline: The top of the chart displays the project’s time frame.
  2. Task Bars (Gantt Bars): Each task/activity corresponds to a colored bar. The position and length of the bar represent the task’s start and end dates.
  3. Dependencies: Arrows connecting bars indicate task dependencies (e.g., Task B depends on Task A).
  4. Task Ownership: The responsible person/team for each task is specified.
  5. Deadlines: Milestones or project deadlines are marked.

How to Create a Gantt Chart

  1. Task Identification: List all project tasks and estimate their durations.
  2. Dependencies: Determine which tasks are dependent on others.
  3. Timeline: Arrange tasks in chronological order.
  4. Resource Allocation: Assign team members to tasks.
  5. Bar Creation: Draw bars for each task based on start and end dates.
  6. Critical Path: Identify the longest path from start to completion (critical tasks).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Overloading the Chart: Keep it concise; too many tasks clutter the view.
  2. Ignoring Dependencies: Accurate task sequencing is crucial.
  3. Neglecting Updates: Regularly update the chart as progress occurs.
  4. Lack of Clarity: Ensure task descriptions are clear and concise.
  5. Not Using Software: Manual charts can be error-prone; use project management tools.

References

  1. Henry L. Gantt: The inventor of Gantt charts in the early 20th century1.
  2. APM: Learn more about Gantt charts from the Association for Project Management2.
  3. TeamGantt: Explore examples and templates for project management3.

Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Getting PMP certified

I've got a lot of friends asking me about how to get certified. Each time, I had to remember how many hours of experience one had to have, and how many hours of learning, and then which where the links that were most useful for me, as well as all the books and software I have ever used. In terms of specific requirements for getting certified, the best resource will always be pmi.org, with a direct link to the requirements: PMI site - Obtaining the Credential . The site lists a credential overview, and then there (currently) 5 handbooks for the 5 available certifications. There is also a page with how to prepare for the exam, from an administrative point of view. If you are new to project management, then you will have to go with the CAPM certification. Then, the rest of certifications are for more and more experienced PMs. I only know well about the PMP certification, as it's the one I've got. First step is to ensure that you meet the elgibility requirements. At the t...
1 comment
Read more

How to handle whiners

We are all going through stressful situations and times. Yet, some handle better the stress, while others tend to stick into the complaining mode. I was actually these days in one such meeting, and it was really interesting to observe the tone and message of the various people when they were raising issues in a large audience: some brought up issues and tried to listen and understand the answers, while others were just continuing to ramble with their own minor issue (which was, of course, exploding in their face). So I was a bit puzzled why this was happening, and starting to search to learn and understand how to handle these reactions. Whining vs. Venting: What’s the Difference? Whining: Attitude : Whining typically stems from a negative attitude. It’s repetitive, unproductive complaining without seeking solutions. Focus : Whiners often focus on problems without considering potential fixes. Energy Drain : Whining drains energy from both the complainer and...
Post a Comment
Read more

[Goal driven] Why should I care?

A few days ago, I was on a call where we were discussing the status of each person's projects and ideas. One individual was visibly upset because their project wasn't progressing as quickly as they had hoped. The reason? The people they were relying on weren't being as reactive as needed. The facilitator had a brilliant approach to this situation. Instead of letting the person dwell on the lack of support, they suggested looking at the story from a different angle: rather than waiting for others to take action, why not drive the action yourself? Don't just stop at proposing ideas; take the lead and make them happen. And this is especially important when the project is important for you, but for the other party it’s just one more thing to do on their plate, and maybe not even a top priority. When you’re telling yourself the story of “they don’t care about this important project”, don’t forget to consider the story from their shoes as well.  Also, way too often we tend to...
Post a Comment
Read more