Project management
Gantt Chart
Dr A. S. Ngcobo
Introduction to Gantt Chart
What is a Gantt Chart?
A Gantt chart is a graphical project management tool that
visually represents a project schedule.
It uses horizontal bars to show tasks plotted against time.
Each bar represents a task with its start date, duration, end
date, and progress.
Tasks are listed on the vertical axis, while time is plotted on
the horizontal axis.
History and Origin
The chart was Originally used to
independently measure factory
popularised by Henry workers' productivity, it
Gantt, an American evolved into a key
mechanical engineer, project planning and
around 1910. scheduling tool.
Key Features of a Gantt Chart
• Tasks: Activities or milestones to be completed.
• Timeline: Days, weeks, or months over which the project spans.
• Bars: Represent task durations and progress.
• Dependencies: Visual links indicating task relationships and sequences.
• Milestones: Important deadlines or achievements marked on the timeline.
• Task Owners: People responsible for each task.
Key Features of a Gantt Chart Cont…
Bars represent start and end dates of tasks
Dependencies show how tasks relate to each other.
Milestones mark significant deadlines or achievements.
Benefits of Using a Gantt Chart
Allows teams and managers to easily visualise project plans and
timelines.
Shows task progress at a glance, making it simpler to track status.
Helps manage task dependencies and scheduling.
Supports resource management by showing team workloads and
availability.
Identifies the critical path — the longest sequence of dependent
tasks determining project duration.
Gantt chart 1
Gantt chart on excel
Slack and the Critical Path
Tasks on the Critical Path which have zero slack.
Any delay in these tasks directly delays the project.
Tasks off the critical path may have slack
(flexibility).
Slack is a safety net for project rescheduling.
Types of Slack
Total Slack:
• The maximum delay a task can have before
delaying the project’s finish.
Free Slack:
• The delay allowed without affecting the next
immediate task.
What is Slack (Float) Time?
Slack Time = the amount of time a task can be delayed without affecting:
The project’s overall completion date (Total Slack)
The start date of the following dependent task (Free Slack)
It helps project managers identify which tasks have flexibility.
It is also critical for resource allocation and risk management.
Importance of Slack Time
• Helps prioritise tasks (focus on critical tasks first).
• Allows flexibility in resource reallocation.
• Provides a buffer against uncertainties and risks.
• Improves project efficiency and reduces stress.
Project Scheduling
Gantt chart Applications
Widely used across industries: construction, software development,
manufacturing, and more.
Effective for any project coordination of multiple tasks and stakeholders.
Many project management platforms integrate Gantt charts to provide
comprehensive scheduling, resource allocation, and progress tracking.
Thank You
Q&A
