Gantt Chart: How to Create a Gantt Chart in 4 Steps

A Gantt chart is a project management tool that assists in planning and scheduling a sequential list of tasks and resources—and how they relate to each other—for a project. The Gantt chart is one of the most widely used charts for scheduling complex projects, such as large construction projects, software development, or marketing campaigns.

Polish engineer Karol Adamiecki developed an early version of the chart called a “harmonogram” in the late 1890s before Henry Gantt—a US engineer and project management consultant—produced his take on the chart, which became the industry standard for such charts in Western countries. Workers hand-drew early versions of the Gantt chart, which required reconfiguration for each new project. Today, computers generate Gantt charts with project management software.

A Gantt chart has a horizontal bar chart structure with a horizontal and vertical axis. The vertical line lists the project’s individual tasks, while the horizontal axis depicts the project timeline, including the task start date and end date. Horizontal bars on the chart depict workflow by tracking the time in which team members complete project tasks. Simple Gantt charts show project progress through milestones and deadlines; newer Gantt chart templates share a capability with another project management tool called a PERT chart, which tracks task dependencies—or the factors that connect each project task.

Gantt charts also track progress by displaying the critical path in any project plan. The critical path highlights all tasks that need completion to meet the project schedule’s finish dates. Planners use this information to determine what tasks need more time to complete or need completion first, which in turn helps them create a more accurate roadmap for project progress.

Online Gantt charts and apps have numerous features that make it a useful resource management tool. Among the features are:

• Collaboration: All members of a project team need access to the business plan to meet milestones and deadlines. Gantt chart software allows project managers to share business plans and initiatives in real time with not only team members but also clients, stakeholders, and project executives.
• Integration: Many forms of Gantt chart software allow users to integrate their data with other project and workflow management software.
• Scheduling: Online Gantt charts make it easier to assign team members to tasks by streamlining the scheduling process. Many charts have drag-and-drop features that allow managers to easily move stacked bars; they also facilitate tracking project resources like equipment.

You can use Gantt chart software or create your own. Follow these steps to start:

1. 1. Assess: Begin your Gantt chart creation by carefully examining all the steps required to complete the project. Use a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), a tree diagram that delineates the tasks and deliverables needed to meet project deadlines. The WBS is the foundation for your Gantt chart.
2. 2. Determine: Look at each task and track the dependencies. They determine the critical path of the project and make it easier to allot more or less time to specific tasks.
3. 3. Assign: Using an online Gantt chart template or project management software, enter the project timeframe and the tasks that need completion. Some tasks are too large to complete within the project schedule and need reassignment as subtasks.
4. 4. Add: Include additional information to clarify the scope of the Gantt chart for team members. This includes descriptions of and pricing for each task, the budget needed to complete the project, and most importantly, the individuals or project teams responsible for completing each task. Add their names to the Gantt chart as collaborators.

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