Henry Laurence Gantt, AB, ME was an American mechanical engineer and management consultant who

is best known for developing the Gantt chart in the 1910s.

Project planning is part of project management, which relates to the use of schedules such as Gantt
charts to plan and subsequently report progress within the project environment
1.

A Gantt chart is a type of bar chart, first developed by Karol Adamiecki in 1896, and
independently by Henry Gantt in the 1910s, that illustrates a project schedule. Gantt charts illustrate
the start and finish dates of the terminal elements and summary elements of a project.

DEFINITION OF 'GANTT CHART'

A Gantt chart is a visual representation of a project schedule. A type of bar chart, a Gantt charts show the
start and finish dates of the different required elements of a project. Henry Laurence Gantt, an American
mechanical engineer, is recognized for developing the Gantt chart.
Typically, tasks are shown on the vertical axis, and the project time span is represented on the horizontal
axis. Each task has a corresponding bar that shows the time span required for that task. The bar can be
filled in to show the percentage of the task that has been completed. Gantt charts also indicate
dependencies, those tasks that are dependent upon other tasks.
A Gantt chart is a horizontal bar chart developed as a production control tool in 1917 by Henry L. Gantt, an
American engineer and social scientist. Frequently used in project management, a Gantt chart provides a
graphical illustration of a schedule that helps to plan, coordinate, and track specific tasks in a

project.
Gantt charts may be simple versions created on graph paper or more complex automated versions
created using project management applications such as Microsoft Project or Excel.

A Gantt chart is constructed with a horizontal axis representing the total time span of the project, broken
down into increments (for example, days, weeks, or months) and a vertical axis representing the tasks
that make up the project (for example, if the project is outfitting your computer with new software, the
major tasks involved might be: conduct research, choose software, install software). Horizontal bars of
varying lengths represent the sequences, timing, and time span for each task. Using the same example,
you would put "conduct research" at the top of the verticle axis and draw a bar on the graph that
represents the amount of time you expect to spend on the research, and then enter the other tasks below
the first one and representative bars at the points in time when you expect to undertake them. The bar
spans may overlap, as, for example, you may conduct research and choose software during the same time
span. As the project progresses, secondary bars, arrowheads, or darkened bars may be added to indicate
completed tasks, or the portions of tasks that have been completed. A vertical line is used to represent
the report date.
Gantt charts give a clear illustration of project status, but one problem with them is that they don't
indicate task dependencies - you cannot tell how one task falling behind schedule affects other tasks.
The PERT chart, another popular project management charting method, is designed to do this. Automated
Gantt charts store more information about tasks, such as the individuals assigned to specific tasks, and
notes about the procedures. They also offer the benefit of being easy to change, which is helpful. Charts
may be adjusted frequently to reflect the actual status of project tasks as, almost inevitably, they diverge
from the original plan.

Pros and cons of the Gantt chart

By EDITOR | Published: AUGUST 30, 2013

Projects are usually defined as a process that can be either individual or collaborative and are planned to
achieve a desired result. They are usually different from your day-to-day work tasks and have a set start
and end date. Some projects can be incredibly complex, so to stay on top of every aspect you need an easy
way to see what needs to be done and when. Many people use the classic project schedule Gantt chart, but
is there anything better out there?
The Gantt chart was developed by Henry Gantt as a way to visually see a projects schedule. Since 1910,
these bar charts have been an integral part of managing projects. Gantt charts allow us to visualize a
projects start and end date along with each element or task that needs to be completed. Because many
project tasks are dependent on previous tasks, these charts also allow us to see these dependencies and
schedule around them.
In order to construct a chart, you first need to list all of the required tasks in a project, along with the
projected time each task should take. While you can create the chart by hand, its usually better to use
project management software, largely because many projects can get complicated and there will inevitably
be changes.
Because of the relative complexity of this method, some managers question whether Gantt charts are
really the best solution for small businesses. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages to using
this type of chart for scheduling.

Gantt chart advantages

1. Allows for efficient organization In order for a Gantt chart to be successful, you first need to
identify project elements or tasks. If you are using this type of chart you are essentially forced to
focus on what truly needs to be done, thus making you somewhat more organized and encouraging
a potentially higher chance of success.
2. Helps establish timeframes Because many project elements often depend on other tasks, it can
be tough to deduce how long one task should take and when to start and finish it by. Gantt charts
use bars to indicate how long a task should take and what this does is give you a better perspective
of the total project, and timeframe as a whole. Just be sure to consider time factors outside of the
project such as holidays.
3. Highly visual Gantt charts are visual, and give you an excellent way to instantly see and
comprehend all of the different elements in once place, thus bringing thoughts and ideas together.
Beyond that the visuals provide users with an easy to see chart of what needs to be done next.
Gantt chart disadvantages
1. Potentially overly complex If youve ever worked on a complex project, and looked at the Gantt
chart, you know that these charts can be large and hard to read. For big projects businesses may
need to hire specific managers to look after the details of the project, something which could be
costly for small businesses that dont have an in house project manager.
2. Need to be updated Gantt charts are developed early in the planning stages of a project, there is a
good chance that the project will change, thus the chart will need to be updated. Also, as tasks are
completed or reviewed the chart will need to be updated to reflect these changes too. Any
amendments take time, especially if there are dependent tasks that need to also be revised. It is a
pretty sure thing that most people involved in the project probably dont have the time to do this
3. Dont show the whole picture Gantt charts show what tasks need to be done and the time they
should take. They dont show how much work each task will involve or how many people/resources
each task will require. This can give some people an incomplete picture or the wrong idea about an
individual task, which can cause issues as the project gets underway.
Should I use Gantt charts?
If you are about to start a project in your organization, it is be a good idea to consider whether or not a
Gantt chart is suitable. If the project is short, with few elements, then a Gantt chart might be ideal. If you
have a longer project with a high number of elements and tasks, it might be a good idea to look into
project management software that can help you develop and schedule a plan more efficiently.
Most of these software options will utilize a Gantt chart, but they are easier to update, edit and share with
project members. Regardless of what you choose, properly planning your project is key to its success, and
Gantt charts can be a great tool in promoting efficiency, especially if you use project management
software.
If you are looking for a way to run more efficient projects we may have the perfect tool for you, so give us a
call today.