Gantt Chart Software: A Key Tool For Project Management (Infographic)

When you're managing projects, it's all too common that tasks slip and releases get pushed back. To remedy the situation, you need to learn from your mistakes and improve planning in the future. Online Gantt chart software is a great way to help your team organize your schedule so that you hit every deadline on time.

If you've never heard of or used a Gantt chart before, take a look at this infographic. It highlights the key ways you can use Gantt chart makers and proper project management to make sure work stays on track.

Learn something new from this infographic, or want to spread the knowledge? Share this infographic on social media, or paste it on your blog using the code below:

Why do you use Gantt charts?

If you're already using an online Gantt chart for your project management, tell everyone about it in the comments. How has work improved since you started using them? What are some tips to help make using a Gantt chart easier? We value your input in helping us teach people better ways to manage work.

You can also get an in-depth breakdown of how to use a Gantt chart for project management here.

Project Management 3 min read

What Is a Gantt Chart for Project Management? (Infographic)

Today, Gantt charts are a staple tool in project management software. They show up in project binders, on boardroom walls, and in project management plans — all because they are able to visually convey what would take paragraphs of boring text. But who invented them? What makes them beneficial for project planning? And what are the useful parts of every Gantt chart? Try Wrike for free Below we've put together an infographic to explain what is a Gantt chart, how it came to be, and why it's an awesome management tool that isn't going away anytime soon. Feel free to download it now and share it with your social networks, or read on for some more information about this ever-popular tool. What is a Gantt chart? Put simply, a Gantt chart is a visual tool used in project management that provides an illustrative timeline for tasks or activities involved in a project. Named after its inventor, Henry Gantt, this chart is essentially a horizontal bar chart that displays project tasks against a timeline. Each task is represented by a bar; the position and length of the bar reflect the start date, duration, and end date of the task. Gantt charts can also show dependencies between tasks, i.e., how the tasks are interconnected. This visual representation aids project managers in scheduling, managing, and communicating the project plan, making Gantt charts an essential tool in effective project management. The evolution of Gantt charts in project management Gantt charts have evolved significantly since their inception. Initially, they were used as a basic visual tool to track the progress of tasks. However, with the advent of digital project management software, Gantt charts have transformed into dynamic and interactive tools. Modern Gantt chart software now offers features such as real-time updates, drag-and-drop adjustments, and integration with other project management tools. This evolution has made Gantt charts and Gantt chart software an indispensable part of 21st-century project management. The benefits of Gantt charts in project management Gantt charts for project planning offer a visual overview of projects, enhancing planning and scheduling. They illustrate task dependencies, aiding in sequencing activities and identifying potential bottlenecks. By promoting transparency, they improve communication among team members and stakeholders. Gantt charts facilitate efficient resource allocation, preventing over or under-utilization. Moreover, they serve as a reliable tool for tracking progress and keeping everyone informed about accomplishments and upcoming tasks. They're a great tool for successful project management. If you’re wondering how to use a Gantt chart for project management, learn more about Wrike’s award-winning Gantt chart software here. Ready to try for yourself? Start your two-week trial now. Try Wrike for free

Project Management 5 min read

3 Ways To Create Your Project Manager Calendar

Here are three different ways to build a digital project manager calendar to support your project planning efforts. It’s up to you to decide which one is right for your team.

Project Management 5 min read

How to Complete Your Student Projects on Time with Wrike's Timeline

If you're a university undergraduate or graduate student, you should know that we recently announced our Wrike for Students program. We want to give you a Wrike account to keep track of all of your assignments, group projects, and random to-dos completely free — because you're already spending enough on your education. Student projects, especially group projects, have unique requirements. You have to figure out how to collaborate effectively, which is even harder when you can't meet in person every day. Using the Timeline in Wrike is one way to make sure you're getting all your work done on time. Basic Organization for Your Group Project To get started, create a new Project and share it with all the members of your team in Wrike. Inside that project, create individual tasks for every piece of work required to reach your end goal. Assign each of those tasks to the responsible group member(s) in your Wrike account, and set the durations and due date for that piece of work. For example, say your project is to write a group report. If you want to finish basic research six weeks before your final deadline, your task called "Complete basic research" should be due six weeks before the task, "Print & submit the final report." Check the Timeline to Review Your Project Schedule Once your group project is in Wrike, with due dates set and individual assignments doled out, everyone can use the Wrike Timeline to view and track the overall progress. The Timeline will show you what tasks are completed (green), overdue (red), and what deadlines are coming up (blue). Set Key Dates as Milestones Any project-related date that absolutely cannot be shifted should be set up as a task with a milestone date. Examples include final deadlines from your professors and presentation dates. Once you set a milestone, that date cannot be automatically adjusted by the rescheduling of other tasks. Create Dependencies to Automate Task Rescheduling If you have a series of tasks for your project that depend on one another (e.g. You can't start "Write first draft of paper" until "Complete basic research" is done), set them up as dependencies on your timeline. There are four common types of dependencies: Task B can't start until Task A is completed. (Most common scenario.) Task B can't start until Task A has started. Task B can't be completed until Task A is completed. Task B can't be completed until Task A has started. By linking all your tasks together as dependencies, you'll be able to reschedule everything (except milestones) with one drag-and-drop movement on the Timeline. This is helpful if work gets pushed back or moved forward. When you drag one task three days either direction, every dependent task will be shifted accordingly. Add Missing Tasks in the Schedule If you've built your project but missed a key step, you can create a new task right from the Timeline to set the due date and dependencies immediately. Then, click to open your task and you can assign the new task to a group member. More on How to Use Wrike for Student Projects If you want to learn more about how to use Wrike for your student projects, check out these other helpful articles: The In-Depth Guide to Using Wrike’s Online Gantt Chart Maker Achieve fast, easy, efficient project management using Gantt charts 4 Common Mistakes New Wrike Users Make, and Tips to Avoid Doing the Same If you're a student and you'd like to take advantage of Wrike to manage your classwork, sign up for your free student account now.

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Gantt Chart Software: A Key Tool For Project Management (Infographic)

Why do you use Gantt charts?

Ashley Coolman

Gantt Chart Software: A Key Tool For Project Management (Infographic)

Why do you use Gantt charts?

Ashley Coolman

Related articles

What Is a Gantt Chart for Project Management? (Infographic)

3 Ways To Create Your Project Manager Calendar

How to Complete Your Student Projects on Time with Wrike's Timeline

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