Gantt Charts (DP IB Business Management)
Revision Note
Written by: Lisa Eades
Reviewed by: Steve Vorster
Gantt Charts
A Gantt chart is a project management tool used to visualise and plan tasks and their dependencies over time
It lists the tasks to be performed on the vertical axis
Time intervals are shown on the horizontal axis
The width of the horizontal bars in the graph shows the duration of each activity
The current schedule status can be illustrated in the diagram
Diagram: Gantt chart
In this example the project comprises seven distinct activities
Market research
Starts on 8th January and ends on March 17th
Duration of 40 days
Currently 40% complete
App design
Starts on 16th February and ends on July 20th
Duration of 154 days
Currently 84% complete
Development
Starts on May 29th and ends on September 3rd
Duration of 98 days
Currently 51% complete
Testing
Starts on July 29th and ends on September 7th
Duration of 40 days
Currently 48% complete
Launch
Starts on September 8th and ends on November 18th
Duration of 72 days
Currently 0% complete
Support
Starts on October 1st and ends on December 31st
Duration of 92 days
Currently 0% complete
Maintenance and documentation
Starts on June 13th and ends on December 11th
Duration of 152 days
Currently 72% complete
Gantt charts can also show who is responsible for an activity and any dependencies between activities
This example shows the tasks the business has been employed to complete over the year
Project managers for each task are identified in the key
Dependent tasks are identified by lines
Worked Example
Neuheit Möbel is planning to relocate its head office. The operations manager has identified the tasks required to complete the relocation efficiently
Relocation is expected to commence on 1st July. It is hoped that it will be complete by 1st December
Task | Preceded by | Duration (weeks) |
|---|---|---|
A | - | 3 |
B | - | 4 |
C | A | 3 |
D | B | 6 |
E | C/D | 2 |
F | E | 1 |
G | F | 4 |
H | F | 2 |
I | H | 3 |
(a) Construct a Gantt chart using the data in the table [4]
[4]
(b) Identify the total number of weeks the head office relocation is expected to take [2]
4 months x 4 weeks = 16 weeks
1 month x 2 weeks = 2 weeks [1]
16 weeks + 2 weeks = 18 weeks [1]
(c) State whether the head office relocation will be complete by 1st December [1]
Yes - the relocation will be complete by mid-November
Evaluating Gantt Charts
The effectiveness of Gantt charts as a project management tool depends on the specific project's characteristics
They are useful for projects with well-defined timelines and dependencies
They are less useful for highly dynamic or complex projects
Gantt charts should be combined with other project management tools to maximise their usefulness
An Evaluation of Gantt Charts in Project Planning
Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
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