Unit 6: Business Management Toolkit — BMT 9 Gantt Charts
What is a Gantt Chart?
Gantt Charts are visual scheduling tools widely used in project management. They display tasks or activities along a timeline, showing start and end times, dependencies, and progress — making it easier to monitor, allocate resources, and keep projects on track.
Key Features:
- Horizontal bars for each task, mapped over time
- Shows which tasks run in parallel and which are sequential
- Helps identify project bottlenecks and manage deadlines
Main Components of a Gantt Chart
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Task List | All project activities that need scheduling |
| Timeline | Dates/days divided into equal intervals (e.g., days, weeks) |
| Bars | Horizontal bars represent the duration of each activity |
| Milestones | Key project checkpoints or completion points |
| Dependencies | Links showing which tasks depend on completion of others |
| Progress | Visualization of completion status for each task |
How to Construct a Gantt Chart
- Identify every task required for the project
- Estimate the duration of each task
- Establish relationships and dependencies between tasks
- Draw a time axis and add horizontal bars for each task
- Mark milestones and progress updates as the project advances
Formula: Project Duration
Project\ Duration = \max(End\ Date_{Tasks}) - Start\ Date_{Project}
Project\ Duration = \max(End\ Date_{Tasks}) - Start\ Date_{Project}
Worked Example
Suppose a website launch project includes:
- Design (1-5 March)
- Development (6-14 March, starts after design)
- Testing (12-17 March, overlaps with late development)
- Launch (18 March, after testing)
The Gantt chart would show overlapping bars for development and testing, and arrows to indicate dependencies.
- Design (1-5 March)
- Development (6-14 March, starts after design)
- Testing (12-17 March, overlaps with late development)
- Launch (18 March, after testing)
The Gantt chart would show overlapping bars for development and testing, and arrows to indicate dependencies.
Benefits & Limitations
| Benefits | Limitations |
|---|---|
|
- Enhances project transparency - Visualizes task dependencies - Improves resource management - Simplifies communication and reporting |
- Can become cluttered for large projects - Requires regular updates - May not show resource allocation in detail |
Conclusion
Gantt charts are effective tools for planning and managing projects — helping managers track progress, manage dependencies, and communicate efficiently throughout the project lifecycle.