Gantt Charts for project management

Gantt Chartsfor 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 List any resources to be used Enter Task Name Adjust start and end times Choose task duration

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

Medical School Application A Personal Planning Example:

Additional Information • Microsoft Office homepage • 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. Link

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

Gantt Charts for project management