Revision as of 16:29, 24 September 2016

Gantt Chart in Project Management

Abstract

Nowadays using one of THE most known project management tool, Gantt chart, can almost be considered as world standard even though the method is quite old. ^[1] It can be easily mentioned that Gantt chart is one of the essential tool for project managers in order to construct and schedule different tasks and see these different tasks of a project against time.^[2] The tool simply offers to visualize different tasks, their dependencies, time limitations and other project management related specifications in order to allow project managers to follow and act for completing the intended work at intended duration. In short, the tool offers project managers to define problems,control them and accept different solutions when there is a need. ^[2] Especially, with the increase of more powerful microchip usage in today's computers, usage of Gantt chart also increased radically since the new tools allow users to create and follow the Gantt chart for more complex and detailed projects. In addition, these tools also allows project managers to interfere and fix complex situations and problems easily. Using the tool was accepted as almost being a project manager back in days, which indicates how well known it is as well as how big it's social impact can be on the other people. Therefore, Presenting projects to the stakeholders,higher authorities or other people by using Gantt Chart may have serious social impacts such as; being considered as a more respected,rigorous, professional project manager in the industry. ^[3]

The article simply explains the concept of Gantt Chart and its usage by providing the details about its history, application, pros and cons as well as its observed limitations.

The Author and History

As like most of the innovation has been found during or with the cause of the war, the Gantt Chart has also been found during the World War 1 by industrial process consultant H.L. Gantt in order to help the American army due to the fact that there was an over production demand and thus this process needs to be managed as a project.^[4] The first intention of H.L. Gantt to create a visual to show a comparison between promises and performance. After the General Croizer’s ( former mathematic instructor, general, planner of American Army) appreciation regarding the creation of the first Gantt Chart, this simple tool spreader through the different fields of the military. ^[4]

Traditional Approaches

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In terms of the project management approaches, according to Wysocki’s paper, if the goals and solutions are known from the beginning of the project, the simplest project management approach to facilitate a project is, the method called, Traditional Project Management (TPM) which were introduced as 1950s and it is known that this method is used widely around the world.^[5]

According to this approach, the process order is named as project life cycle and can be listed as; initiation, planning & Design, Execution, Monitoring and Controlling Systems and completion. ^[6]

TPM aims to complete the project with defined limitations with the given knowledge about each steps during the initiation step. Since the aim is to complete the project just in time as planned, it does not allow for external participation, so called client participation is not allowed. Even though, it may be mentioned that to change people mind and habit is one of the toughest work in the world, nowadays, people start using Agile method really often. ^[7]

Some of them can be given as; “uncovering better ways of developing software by doing it and helping others to do it”, “costumer collaboration over contract negotiations” and “Responding to change over following a plan”. ^[8]