A Gantt Chart, named after its creator Henry Gantt, is a type of bar chart used in project management.

What is a Gantt Chart?

The Gantt Chart, or Gantt diagram, was developed by Henry Gantt in the early 1910s to closely resemble its current form. It was created to monitor progress and manage time effectively during project management processes.

The use of Gantt Charts quickly became popular, and with the widespread adoption of computer systems and the internet, it has become a frequently used tool for project management. A Gantt Chart displays the project schedule. It shows the tasks that make up the entire project, the timing required to complete these tasks, and data to track the project's progress on a single graph.

Gantt Charts have tasks listed on the left side and time intervals (year, month, and day) at the top. A horizontal bar is marked on each task’s row to indicate the start and end dates of that task. Interrelated tasks and the individuals responsible for them are also indicated on the graph. As progress is made on a task, the corresponding bar is shaded according to the percentage of completion. In some implementations, an additional bar parallel to the task can also indicate the progress percentage.

When checking the progress from the graph, a vertical line is drawn downwards from the current date. The sections to the left of this line should be shaded, and the sections to the right should remain unshaded. If this is the case, it indicates that the plan is being followed.

Although the use of Gantt Charts was beneficial before digital systems, factors such as the complexity of the graphs or the need to redraw them made their implementation difficult. Nowadays, with computer applications, Gantt Charts can be used in a more accessible and detailed manner by all project stakeholders.

When is a Gantt Chart Suitable?

A Gantt Chart can be used for projects of any scale. However, it is more suitable for projects with a clearly defined delivery date and where multiple people or teams need to work simultaneously. Gantt Charts are also helpful in situations where managers and clients need to be regularly informed about the project's progress. Gantt Charts are suitable for various fields, including production, marketing, software development, and construction.

The History of the Gantt Chart

The first known use of a Gantt Chart was by Polish engineer Karol Adamiecki, who called it a harmonogram. Adamiecki developed his system in the late 1890s, but it did not gain much recognition outside of those who spoke Polish and Russian. In 1912, Hermann Schürch used a similar tracking system for a construction project.

The true origin of the Gantt Chart came when Henry Gantt created it in 1910, giving the chart its name. One of the first extensive uses of the Gantt Chart was by the United States during World War I. By 1929, the Soviet Union also started using the Gantt Chart, which soon became known and used worldwide.

With the spread of personal computers, digital solutions for using Gantt Charts were developed. As the internet became widely used, web-based Gantt Chart applications became increasingly popular.