What is a Gantt Chart?
The Gantt Chart is a Tool that helps Organize and Plan the Tasks that make up a Project.
- It was invented by Henry Laurence Gantt in the early XX Century.
This Method lists all the Tasks Vertically with a Horizontal Bar Chart representing the period during which these Tasks must be Completed.
How to create a Gantt Chart
1. Identify the Main Activities that Comprise a Project.
- How can all the Tasks be Organized and Sorted.
2. Define and List all the Tasks that make up these Activities.
- All the Tasks that will be listed and Tracked.
3. Estimate the amount of Time that will be needed to complete each Task.
- In days, Weeks, Months… Or even Years (for Long-Term Strategic Plans).
4. Create the Chart, Prioritizing the Tasks that have to be completed First.
- Organize the Activities according to when they should be carried out.
Gantt Chart Template.
Let’s now explain Why this Tool is Important with one example:
Gantt Chart example
Imagine that you want to build a Website for a Company
- Or for yourself, it doesn’t matter.
One of the best ways you would have to Organize your Tasks would be to use a Gantt Chart.
Let’s see How you can use it:
Gantt Chart example – Website Creation.
According to this Approach, you can’t Start to Design the Site until you have not finished the Basic Tasks.
- Having a Domain, a Hosting (where the Site is placed), etc.
That is why you placed the most Basic Activities, first.
- It makes things a lot easier when it comes to getting a big Picture.
But, if you were a professional Website Designer, you could actually Design the Site First, offline.
- There are multiple ways in which this Chart could be developed.
* As you can see, we have only defined 6 Tasks.
- This in just an example for you to Understand this Tool.
As we usually say, this Tool seems so Simple that some people even question its Usefulness.
- But, believe us: it is extremely Useful
But… What is the Gantt Chart Used for?
What is the Gantt Chart used for?
To Organize Projects that imply lots of Tasks.
- And Define the Activities and the Tasks that have to be carried out.
To Track the Progress of Complex Projects.
- By looking at the Chart, you immediately know the Status of the Project.
To Correctly Manage the Resources of a Project.
- And decide Who has to work in parallel, and on what Tasks.
Now, we’ll see more examples:
Gantt Chart Examples
We have created 2 simple Examples of 2 situations where the Gantt chart can be of great help.
These examples could be much longer, of course.
- But, we have synthesized them so that you Focus on How this Tool works.
Let’s begin:
Construction Project - Gantt Chart example
Let’s imagine that you work for a Construction Company.
Construction Projects imply lots of Professionals, Tasks, Activities…
That is why you decided to use a Gantt Chart to Track the Progress of your Projects:
Gantt Chart example – Construction Project.
Again, this Gantt Chart could be 10 pages long but, you get the Idea:
- You organize Tasks by their Priority.
- You estimate How long they will take.
- You Create the Chart.
Then, you Allocate the Resources where they are truly needed.
Once it is done, you have a guideline to Maximize your efforts.
- You don’t worry about the First Floor until it is time to do it.
- You know that you have 2 weeks to finish the Foundations not one more.
- etc.
And, you can check at any time if you are meeting the Schedule.
* It seems very obvious but, trust us, you can’t imagine How common is to waste Efforts, Time and Resources in things that are not important at the right moment.
- We have Restructured lots of Companies; This is a very common mistake.
Business Plan - Gantt Chart example
Now, we’ll imagine that you want to create a Business Plan for your Company.
- You want to get Financing and you need to present a Business Plan.
As you want to develop a very good Document, you decide to develop a Gantt Chart:
Gantt Chart example – Business Plan.
As you can see, in the First day, you can analyze the Current Status of the Company, in parallel:
- Revenue.
- Costs.
- Assets.
- Debt.
Then on the second day, when you prepare your forecasts, you worry about future growth.
And, the last thing you’ll prepare are:
- Investments Needed.
- Additional Debts.
Why?
Because only when you are sure about your Future Income, you’ll be able to define them.
- You can’t know what to Invest in, if you don’t know How much you’ll manufacture.
- And you can’t know How big your Debt will be, if you don’t know What Investments you will need.
* Again, this example could be much longer.
- We have synthesized it to highlight How the Gantt Chart can be used.
Summarizing
The Gantt Chart is a Tool that helps Organize and Plan the Tasks that make up a Project.
To do this, it lists all Tasks Vertically with a Horizontal Bar Chart that represents the period during which these Tasks must be Completed.
How to Create a Gantt Chart:
- Identify all the Main Activities that Comprise a Project.
- Define and lists all the Tasks that make up these Activities.
- Estimate the amount of time that will be needed to complete each Task.
- Create the Chart, Prioritizing the Tasks that need to be completed First.
What is the Gantt Chart used for?
- To Organize Projects that imply lots of Tasks.
- To Track the Progress of Complex Projects.
- To Correctly Manage the Resources of a Project.