An Introduction to Gantt Charts

A Gantt Chart is a project management tool used to illustrate the project schedule. The presentation aims to provide the reader with an overview of the tool, including its purpose, preparation, merits, and demerits.

1. INTRODUCTION TO GANTT CHARTS. Prepared by Atego L. Laurean

2. What is a Gantt chart? A Gantt chart is a graphic representation of activities against time. It is used as a planning tool in project management. It was developed by Henry L. Gantt, a management consultant and engineer in 1910.

3. WHAT DOES THE GANTT CHART SHOW? The Gantt chart allows us to see at a glance the following: 1. The project start and end date. 2. The project tasks. 3. The task’s start and finish date. 4. The task relationships. 5. The resource to carry out the task.

4. PURPOSE OF THE GANTT CHART The major purpose of the Gantt chart include the following: 1. It is used to illustrate the relationship between project activities and time. 2. It is used to provide a summary of the project tasks on one chart. 3. It is used to easily and simply illustrate project scheduling.

5. GANTT CHART LAYOUT Figure 1 Figure 1 provides us with the general look of a Gantt Chart. On the vertical axis is the list of activities while the horizontal axis represents the time. Each activity is represented by a bar in which the position and length of the bar represents the start, duration and end of the activity.

6. TECHNIQUES FOR CREATING A GANTT CHART A Gantt chart may be created using one of the following 2 techniques. A) Forward scheduling- Here, start from the beginning of the project and work your way down to the deadline. B) Backward scheduling- Here, start from the deadline and then logically work your way up to the start.

7. STEPS IN CREATING A GANTT CHART 1. Determine the start and end date of the project. 2. Identify the project’s list of important activities. The Work Breakdown Structure(WBS) would be an important tool in carrying out this exercise. From it extract the activities list and estimated duration of the activities. 3. Evaluate task dependencies. Gantt charts show the relationship between project tasks. Dependent tasks are those tasks where one has to be completed for another to start. They are known as linear tasks. Parallel tasks on the other hand are those tasks which are independent. Task dependencies are presented next.

8. STEPS IN CREATING A GANTT CHART (CONT.) Task dependencies 1.Finish to Start.(FS)- The preceding task must finish before the succeeding task can start. 2. Start to Start.(SS)- The preceding task must start before succeeding task starts. 3. Finish to Finish.(FF)- The preceding task must finish before the succeeding task finishes. 4. Start to Finish.(SF)- The preceding task must start before succeeding task finishes.

9. Task dependencies illustrated Finish to Start Start to Start Start to Finish Finish to Finish

10. STEPS IN CREATING A GANTT CHART (CONT.) 4. After identifying the task relationships in a graph shell use either forward or backward scheduling add bars to the graph considering the task dependencies and task duration.

11. MERITS OF THE GANTT CHART 1. It is quite simple to understand. 2. It is simple and easy to create and nowadays softwares can actually produce Gantt charts. 3. It provides a simple overview of the project. 4. It serves as a good basis for project planning. 5. It helps in clearly illustrating task dependencies. 6. It serves as an aid in monitoring project progress.

12. DEMERITS OF THE GANTT CHART 1. Gantt charts do not consider costs in carrying out project tasks. 2. Gantt charts are difficult to update manually. 3. Due to their one-step approach to planning, Gantt charts may prevent flexibility in planning.

13. THANK YOU! Prepared by Atego L. Laurean.