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An Introduction to Gantt Charts
Gantt charts are probably the most widely-used visual tool in project management. Most, if not all project managers utilize this charting technique with the projects they manage. Gantt charts are basically charts which visually illustrate the project flow measured against time, allowing project managers to view the schedules for the whole project at a glance.
A very simple template will display the tasks vertically, usually on the left part. For each task, there is a corresponding horizontal bar, usually to the right. The horizontal axis of the template represents units of time. The horizontal bars adjacent to the task represent the task’s schedule. The length of the bar would depend on the estimated duration of the task, and its location on the horizontal plane would depend on the start date, and the projected end date of the task.
A complex Gantt chart template may show other details, such as information about the person responsible for the tasks and resource data. For projects with a longer duration, some tasks may be broken down into simpler subtasks. Milestone indicators may also be present, which are basically short-term goals which add up and eventually lead to the project’s completion. Complex chart templates may also indicate task interdependencies using colored arrows.
Henry Gantt, an American engineer, manager, and consultant, popularized the charting technique in te 1910s for use with shipbuilding and construction. However, a similar charting technique was said to be developed by a Polish steelworks engineer named Karol Adamiecki during the 1890s. The charting technique was nevertheless named after Henry Gantt, and by the time of his death, it was already being used in other fields, such as civil engineering and construction projects, business projects, and even IT projects.
With today’s technology, it has never been easier to make Gantt charts. A number of chart templates are downloadable from the internet. Several templates are also included in Microsoft Visio and Microsoft Project, two examples of computer software which utilize it.
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Source by Vik Tantry
