Project Planning and Control with Gantt Charts

Gantt Chart: A Project Planning and Control Method

A Gantt chart is a graphical method of planning and control in which a project is divided into different activities, and estimates are made about how long each activity takes. This chart shows the timing relationships between events of a program and was developed by Henry L. Gantt. Gantt charts are useful for monitoring relatively small projects.

Understanding Key Concepts

• Task: Project activities are carried out in a particular sequence.
  • Predecessor Task: A task that must start or finish before another can begin.
  • Successor Task: A task that depends on the start or finish of a preceding task.
  • Summary Tasks: These are made up of subtasks and summarize those subtasks.
• Milestones: A task without duration that is used to identify significant events in the schedule, such as the completion of an important phase.
• Work: The effort required to perform a task. There are two types of work: the work of individual resources on a task and the total work on the task.
• Project Schedule: Designates the default work schedule for all resources allocated to the project. Indicates non-working periods.

Steps for Planning with a Gantt Chart

Planning includes all activities required for the selection of the systems analysis team. The first decision of the systems analyst is to determine the degree of detail that will be used to define the activities.

1. List the activities in a column.
2. Note the time available for the project.
3. Calculate the time for each activity.
4. Represent these times as horizontal bars.
5. Reorder chronologically.
6. Adjust the time or sequence of activities.

Relationships or Links Between Activities

• Finish-to-Start: One task cannot begin until another ends.
• Finish-to-Finish: One task cannot finish until another ends.
• Start-to-Start: One task cannot begin until another starts.
• Start-to-Finish: One task cannot finish until another starts.

Benefits of Using a Work Schedule

• Indicates non-working periods.
• For individual resources, it indicates holidays, leave, and absences due to illness.
• Allows for the programming of project activities.
• Sets start and end dates for each activity.
• Is an essential factor in any plan.
• Allows administrators to ensure that they are progressing toward their goals.