Gantt Charts
for project management
Jeff Barratt
Supply Chain and Operations Management
Dr. Tom Foster
Marriott School of Management
Brigham Young University
What is a Gantt Chart
Gantt Chart Applications
Gantt Chart Exercise
Gantt Chart Example
What is a Gantt Chart?
• A visual representation of a project over
time
– Used to schedule, coordinate, and allocate
the resources needed to complete a project
– Shows start, end, and specific target dates
called “milestones”
Benefits of Gantt Charts
• Efficiency Increase
– Project tracking
– Set deadlines
•
•
•
•
Communication Increase
Coordination Increase
Provides motivation through scheduling
Encourages creativity
Features of Gantt Charts
• Easy to create
– Freehand Gantt charts
– Microsoft Excel
– Microsoft Project
– SmartDraw, Primavera, and other programs.
• Easy to modify and adjust
• Simple to understand
Disadvantages of Gantt Charts
• Activity descriptions often lack detail
• A lack of precedent and subsequent task
relationships
• Does not allow for uncertain situations
such as late or early finish times.
How Can This Tool Be Used in Your
Organization?
• Upcoming projects?
• Communication barriers?
• Time restraints?
Gantt Chart Fundamentals
• Separate tasks are listed in vertical rows
• Time spans horizontally along the top
• Each task is represented by a bar along
the time horizon
How to Create a Gantt Chart
using Microsoft Project
Enter Task
Name
Choose task
duration
Adjust start
and end times
List any
resources to
be used
Exercise
Water Tight Security Systems
just got a bid for installing the security system
on a new government building…
Exercise continued
• Schedule the project’s completion using a
Gantt chart.
Include the following steps:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Test the system (0.5 days)
Install the system (4 days)
Order and await supplies (9 days)
Evaluate facility’s security needs (4 days)
Schedule installation time (1 day)
Installation crew travel (2 days)
Solution
Real World Examples
• Government Uses
– Hoover Dam construction, 1931
– Interstate Highway Network, begun 1956
• Private Uses
– Specific projects such as launching a new
product
– Construction planning such as building a
home
– Personal planning
A Personal Planning Example:
Medical School Application
Additional Information
• Microsoft Office homepage Link
• Academy of Management Journal. 2002,Vol. 45, No. 5,
956-970. “Charting Time: Timelines as Temporal
Boundary Objects.” Elaine K. Yakura.
• Cost Engineering. Vol.47/No.7 July 2005, 14-21.
“Effective Use of Gantt Chart for Managing Large Scale
Projects.” Pankaja Pradeep Kumar, CCE.
Additional Information Cont.
• IEE Engineering Management. June/July 2003.
“Uncharted Territory?” Alan Orr.
• Project Management Fifth Edition, 1995. Harold
Derzner, Ph.D. Pp 705-711.
• See also:
– Program evaluation and review technique (PERT)
– Critical path method (CPM)
Summary
• Gantt charts are visual representations of
a project over time.
– Includes start, finish, and milestone dates.
– Useful in project planning and tracking.
– Helpful in resource communication and
allocation