Gantt Chart for Smaller Projects

Some projects are complex and need proper and advanced project management methods and tools to be broken down into simple parts. A Gantt chart is a popular tool that can be used here. The chart aids you in scheduling your project tasks and tracking your progress.

The chart is an effective way to complete a project because it allows all team members to glance at the tasks that need to be done quickly and when they need to be done.

What is a Simple Gantt Chart?

A Gantt chart without complex features is a simplified project timeline focusing on tasks, start and end dates, and durations. It’s beneficial for small projects where advanced dependencies, resource allocation, or software integration aren’t necessary. A typical Gantt chart lists tasks vertically down on the left, while a timeline runs horizontally across the top area of the chart.

The horizontal bars, or Gantt bars, represent every task’s progress and duration, along with start and end dates. The Gantt chart displays milestones, assignees, and dependencies between tasks.

Download

What does a Simple Gantt Chart do?

The Gantt chart will help you visualise all tasks and subtasks against the project time frame. It will provide you with time-centric insight concerning the progress of every task. You can know what has to be done by a particular date to proceed with the next task, etc. This will help you eventually deliver the project and reach your goals.

How to create a Simple Gantt Chart?

When making a simple Gantt chart, you should know what to consider and add so that it can help you with your project aims:

Define project scope

Know your project’s scope before you start making the chart. The project scope will outline its goals, resources, and deliverables. It will give a clear vision and even direction for those involved. This step will help lay the groundwork for the project and ensure the whole team knows what needs to be done.

It is a good idea to consult everyone involved to make goals measurable and achievable. You must also consider points like your budget, time, and resource restrictions, as these will impact your project’s success.

State all tasks plus activities

Identify the tasks and activities that must be completed to complete the project. The project will have to be broken down into different tasks. This can include research, meetings, design work, etc. When you do this, you can better plan, organise, and allocate resources.

Create a list that states what has to be done and when. The list can be organised further by categorising the items into bigger tasks and smaller subtasks.

Have a timeline

You must set start and end dates for every task that the horizontal bars represent. This gives you a realistic estimate of the number of days, weeks, and months a task or activity will take. Everyone can know the deadlines and important milestones.

Figure out task dependencies.

When looking at task dependencies, show the relationship among tasks in a project. Some tasks depend on completing previous tasks before they are executed. The Gantt chart should reflect these dependencies so that you can accurately capture the project timeline. You can determine which tasks depend upon others for start or completion.

Assign tasks

You can allocate the tasks to team members who have the most suitable skills to complete them. The workload should be balanced evenly.

Mark the milestones

Milestones should be marked in the Gantt chart at the right points in the timeline.

Monitor and update

You must monitor and update the Gantt chart throughout the project lifecycle. The chart should be up-to-date so that you can accurately reflect what is occurring concerning the project.

Importance of a Simple Gantt chart:

The Gantt chart is important as it gives a high-level overview of the timeline and the project’s activities. This will let you identify what is occurring at any given point. You can schedule and even track tasks under the project.