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Lesson 3: Planning and Scheduling Projects

Tools for Visualizing and Managing Project Schedules

Gantt charts are widely used to visually represent project schedules, displaying tasks, dates, durations, and dependencies. For smaller projects, a simple spreadsheet can be a useful scheduling tool. Check out the Level of Effort Excel spreadsheet for reference (Donahue, 2020).

Network diagrams provide an overview of task dependencies and critical paths—the tasks that directly impact the project’s completion date. Calculating the critical path enables project managers to prioritize essential tasks and allocate resources effectively.

Different Scheduling Tools

Gantt Chart

"A Gantt chart is defined as a graphical representation of activity against time; it helps project professionals monitor progress" (Association for Project Management, n.d., para. 1).

Milestone Chart

A project milestone chart lists project activities and deadline dates.

Critical Path Method (CPM)

A method used to estimate the minimum project duration and determine the amount of schedule flexibility on the logical network paths within the schedule model.

Program Evaluation Review Technique (PERT)

A technique for estimating that applies a weighted average of optimistic, pessimistic, and most likely estimates when there is uncertainty with the individual activity estimates.

Network Diagrams

A graphical representation of the logical relationships among the project schedule activities.

The following chart reviews the criteria to consider when you evaluate and select tools for a project and provides a high/low assessment of the methods/approaches mentioned above.

Table 3.1. Criteria for Selecting Scheduling Tools (***** = High, * = Low)
CriteriaGantt/Bar ChartMilestone ChartSmall Project Tool (Spreadsheet)Deterministic/Critical Path Method (CPM)Probabilistic/Program Evaluation Review Technique (PERT)
Ease of Preparation****************
Ease of Updating**************
Use With Simple Projects*****************
Use With Complex Projects**********************
Useful as a Communication Tool******************

Discover More

The following four videos covers topics that help you

  • develop Gantt charts (Video 1),
  • use a spreadsheet to schedule small projects (Video 2),
  • develop a project network diagram (Video 3), and
  • calculate the critical path (Video 4).

Select each of the following video titles to read its description and play the video.

Video 1: How to Create a Gantt Chart in 9 Easy Steps

This video describes how to create a Gantt Chart.

Note: Video removed. You will have access to the video in the actual course.
Video 2: Top 5 Excel Project Templates

This video identifies five excel templates to use when managing a project.

Note: Video removed. You will have access to the video in the actual course.
Video 3: How to Draw a Project Network Diagram

This video demonstrates how to draw a project network diagram based on the relationship of the tasks with various examples.

Note: Video removed. You will have access to the video in the actual course.
Video 4: How to Calculate Critical Path

This video demonstrates how to calculate critical path.

Note: Video removed. You will have access to the video in the actual course.

Reference

Donahue, W. (2020). Small Projects Tool - EMPTY SPREADSHEET. https://app.box.com/s/gq1t096g0cs51bbi4dwzi681xutzrh72

Association for Project Management (n.d.). What is a Gantt Chart? https://www.apm.org.uk/resources/find-a-resource/gantt-chart/


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