| The Project schedule is a calendar that links the | | | | task in a project. Tasks may run sequentially, in |
| tasks to be done with the resources that will do | | | | parallel or overlap each other. |
| them. Before a project schedule can be created, | | | | Henry Laurence Gantt (1861-1919) developed |
| the project manager must have a work | | | | Gantt charts in the second decade of the 20th |
| breakdown structure (WBS), an effort estimate | | | | century as a visual tool to show scheduled and |
| for each task, and a resource list with availability | | | | actual progress of projects. Accepted as a |
| for each resource. | | | | common-place project management tool today, it |
| The first step in building the project schedule is to | | | | was quite a radical concept and an innovation of |
| identify the resources required to perform each | | | | world-wide importance in the 1920s. Gantt |
| of the activities required to complete the | | | | charts were first used on large construction |
| project . When preparing a schedule estimate, | | | | projects like the Hoover Dam in 1931. |
| consider that transition between activities often | | | | Gantt charts illustrate the start and finish dates of |
| takes time. | | | | the terminal elements and summary elements of |
| A Gantt chart is a type of bar chart that | | | | a project. Gantt Charts are useful tools for |
| illustrates a project schedule. A Gantt chart is a | | | | analyzing and planning complex projects. When a |
| graphical representation of the duration of tasks | | | | project is under way, Gantt Charts help you to |
| against the progression of time. In a Gantt chart, | | | | monitor whether the project is on schedule. If it is |
| each task takes up one row with dates running | | | | not, it allows you to pinpoint the remedial action |
| across the horizontal axis in increments of days, | | | | necessary to put it back on schedule. This can be |
| weeks or months. The bars in the Gantt chart | | | | essential for the successful and profitable |
| visually show the start and end dates of each | | | | implementation of the project. |