Gantt chart: what, why and how

The Gantt chart is a visual way to plan and manage tasks.It was invented by the American engineer Henry Gantt.The main function of the chart is to organize tasks, group them by date and priority

You can also use the chart for planning holidays, renovations, writing an article, or preparing for a session.

What can you see and track with Gantt charts?

• What tasks does the project include;

• Project start and end dates;

• Duration of tasks;

• Who works on each task;

• Ways to combine tasks.

Benefits of Gantt charts

• All tasks and deadlines are visible;

• Helps to identify critical points;

• Optimizes scheduling and task allocation;

• Can be drawn by hand or done in a special program;

• Can be easily upgraded with software and applications;

• The stages and sequence of works are visible.

Disadvantages

• Dependence of tasks.In the process of presenting projects, the manager needs to reflect the tasks that are related to each other, but the format of the diagram does not allow this.To solve this problem, managers add vertical lines to the graph that show key dependencies.

• Inflexibility.Projects are not static, but it is impossible to take into account the shifts in the diagram.For this reason, the Gantt chart is rarely used for large scale projects.

Where and how to build a Gantt chart

First, a table with the original data is created.For the table, you need: the name of the tasks, the start dates and the duration or the projected completion date.

The choice of tool depends on the size and value of the project.If you make a diagram foryourself, use free programs.Large companies that work with expensive projects will find professional software suitable.

On paper

You can make a Gantt chart on paper:

• Make a list of tasks;

• Write the start and end date;

• Draw a graph;

• Submit tasks and mark dates;

• Make a schedule;

• Share projects with your team members (if necessary);

• Analyze the final diagram.

Programs

Microsoft Excel is the most popular program for working with tables and graphs.You can use a template to create charts.

LibreOffice Calc - an analogue of MS Excel from the non-profit company The Document Foundation.To build a Gantt chart, create a table with source data.Enter the names of the tasks, their start dates, and the duration in days in the three columns.Then select the range with values ​​and start the chart wizard using the corresponding icon.

OnlyOffice - a program for project management.The diagram is built automatically after entering all tasks into the project structure.Dependencies and deadlines can be set directly on the chart by dragging and dropping tasks with the mouse.The interface is intuitive, there are tips.