Introduction to Gantt Charts

Gantt Chart:

A Gantt Chart is a visual project management tool used to plan, schedule, and track the
progress of tasks and activities over time. It provides a clear and structured representation of
a project's timeline, showing the start and end dates of tasks, their dependencies, and the
allocation of resources. The chart is typically composed of horizontal bars, with each bar
representing a specific task or activity within the project. Gantt Charts are widely used to
improve project planning, monitor task completion, and facilitate effective communication
among project stakeholders.

The Gantt Chart holds significant importance in project management for several reasons:

1. Visualization: Gantt Charts provide a visual representation of the project's timeline,

making it easier for project managers and team members to understand the project
schedule at a glance.
2. Task Sequencing: They clearly depict the sequence of tasks and their
interdependencies. This helps in ensuring that tasks are executed in the correct order.
3. Resource Allocation: Project managers can assign resources to specific tasks on the
chart, allowing for efficient resource allocation and management.
4. Progress Tracking: Gantt Charts facilitate tracking the progress of individual tasks and
the project as a whole. Deviations from the planned schedule can be quickly identified.
5. Communication: Gantt Charts are effective communication tools. They can be shared
with team members, stakeholders, and clients to convey project timelines and
expectations.
6. Risk Management: Identifying task dependencies and timelines helps in assessing
project risks. If one task is delayed, it's easier to predict the impact on subsequent tasks
and the project's overall timeline.
7. Schedule Adjustments: If changes are needed, project managers can adjust the Gantt
Chart to reflect alterations in the project schedule, and this information can be
disseminated quickly to the team.
8. Baseline Comparison: Gantt Charts often include a baseline, which serves as a
reference point for comparing planned schedules with actual progress. This aids in
performance evaluation and decision-making.
9. Historical Data: Over time, Gantt Charts can serve as a repository of historical data,
helping organizations improve future project planning based on past experiences.

Key Elements of a Gantt Chart

A Gantt Chart is a comprehensive project management tool, and its effectiveness in project
planning and monitoring lies in its key elements. These key elements are the building blocks
that make Gantt Charts valuable for project managers and teams. They include:

1. Task and Activity Listings: Gantt Charts list all the tasks and activities involved in a
project. Each task is represented as a separate item, making it easy to identify and
manage each step in the project.
 2. Timeline: Gantt Charts display a timeline, typically in the form of a horizontal axis,
where tasks are positioned based on their start and end dates. This allows project
members to see when each task should begin and end.
3. Task Duration: Each task is associated with a specific duration, indicating the amount
of time it will take to complete. This element helps in estimating how long the project
will take.
4. Dependencies: Gantt Charts illustrate task dependencies. Some tasks must be
completed before others can start, and these dependencies are crucial to
understanding the project's flow.
5. Progress Tracking: Gantt Charts enable real-time progress tracking. As tasks are
completed, progress can be marked directly on the chart to monitor how the project is
advancing.
6. Critical Path: The critical path, if included, identifies the sequence of tasks that, if
delayed, would cause a delay in the entire project. It helps project managers focus on
the most critical aspects.

Manual Gantt Chart Creation

Drawing a Basic Gantt Chart :

1. Begin by drawing a horizontal line along the bottom of your paper. This line
represents the project's timeline.

project's timeline

2. List all the project tasks vertically on the left side of the paper, with the first task at
the top and subsequent tasks below it.

A 5
B 6
C 3
D 7
E 5
F 2
G 4

project's timeline

3. Above the timeline, draw horizontal bars for each task. These bars represent the task
durations.
4. Add task labels within or near the corresponding bars to identify each task.

A
B
C
D
E
F
G

5. If there are task dependencies, use arrows to connect tasks. An arrow should go from
the end of one task to the start of the dependent task.
Define the critical path From Gant chart:

Calculate Slack or Float: Slack (also known as float) is the amount of time a task can be delayed
without affecting the project's completion date. Tasks with no slack are considered critical.

Identify Critical Tasks: Tasks with zero slack are critical because any delay will affect the
project's completion date. These tasks are usually on the project's longest path, known as the
"critical path."

Define the Critical Path: The critical path is the sequence of tasks that must be completed on
time for the project to finish on schedule. It's the path with the longest duration through the
project, taking into account task dependencies.

Highlight Critical Path Tasks: In your Gantt chart, highlight or mark the tasks that are part of
the critical path. This makes it easy to focus on these tasks and their deadlines.

Monitor and Manage: Throughout the project, regularly monitor the progress of critical path
tasks. If any of these tasks are at risk of delay, it's essential to take corrective actions to keep
the project on schedule.

Exercises:
Exercise 1 :
1- Draw the Gant chart for the “Software Development” project schedule:

Task Dependencies Duration (days)

A - 5
B A 7
C B 14
D C 10
E D 4
 2- Identify and highlight the critical path.

Exercise 2 :
1- Draw the Gant chart for the “Research Project” project schedule:

Task Predecessor Tasks Duration (days)

A - 7
B A 5
C B 6
D A, C 8
E D 4
F B, E 3
G F 5
H G 4

2- Identify and highlight the critical path.

Exercise 3 :
1- Draw the Gant chart for the “Build a house” project schedule:

To simplify the table, we will name each task by a letter:

2- Identify and highlight the critical path.