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Download gantt chart template in Microsoft Excel format.
Gantt Chart Template: Project Management Made Simple
Are you a project manager looking for an ideal way to chart the progress of a given project? Have you considered using a Gantt chart template to help with this process? Gantt charts have been around for several years and are the perfect medium for creating a visual tracking of all sorts of different projects. In this article we will briefly define what a Gantt chart is, and show you how you can use of these charts to streamline your next project.
What is a Gantt Chart?
A Gantt chart, invented and first created by Henry Gantt, is a type of bar chart that paints a perfect picture of a project schedule. These revolutionary charts not only depict the start and finish dates of each phase of the project, but can also show how each phase relates to each other. Gantt charts can help keep the project team focused on what needs to be completed each day, giving a work breakdown structure for each phase, and listing which person is responsible for certain elements of the project. They are used by many different types of businesses, including Information Technology, and are a great way to track progress and organize team members.
What Should Be Included on a Gantt Chart Template?
If you search online, you’re bound to find many different types of Gantt chart templates, but as a rule, a quality template should include all of the following:
• Project Phases. Most businesses that enter into large projects—projects that will be completed over time—will typically break down the project according to phases. These phases can best be described as a priority list of the activities that will need to be undertaken to complete the project successfully.
• Planned Start Date of Each Activity. When first constructing a Gantt chart, the planned start date should be listed. This may eventually differ from the actual start date of the activity, but it will show clearly whether the project is ahead of, or behind schedule.
• Planned Duration of Each Activity. Like the planned start date, the planned duration is an estimate as to how long each phase of the project will last.
• Actual Start Date of Each Phase. Recording the actual start date and comparing it to the “planned start date” will give an accurate depiction of how well the project is going.
• Actual Duration of Each Activity. Again, recording the actual duration of each activity and measuring it against the “planned duration” will show how well the project is going in terms of time spent, and can also be analyzed when scheduling future projects.
• Percent of the Project Completed. This portion of the Gantt chart is often seen as the motivational tool, showing team members what percent of the project has been completed to date.
Although very common now, the Gantt chart template, when it was first introduced, was a major innovation. By recording just a few pieces of information into a spreadsheet program project managers and team members can get a visual depiction of the project status, keeping them focused on what tasks need to be accomplished each day.