example of gantt chart for research project

Gantt Chart for a Research Project Proposal: Step-by-step guide

In project management, there are few tools as effective and illuminating as the Gantt chart . This simple yet powerful visual tool is invaluable for anyone overseeing a complex task, including research project proposals. It is particularly beneficial in the early stages of a project, where meticulous planning is required to ensure that all elements of the project are understood, accounted for, and scheduled appropriately. Therefore, whether you're an academic researcher, a project manager in a corporate setting, or even a student planning your thesis, understanding how to create and use a Gantt chart can be a significant asset.

What is a Gantt Chart and what is it used for?

A Gantt chart, named after its creator, Henry Gantt, an American mechanical engineer and management consultant, is a type of bar chart that visually represents a project schedule. It was first developed in the early 20th century and has since become a staple in project management across various fields and industries. Today, it's used by project managers in sectors like construction, software development, research and development, and more.

At its core, a Gantt chart consists of two main components: tasks and time. The tasks related to the project are listed on the vertical axis, while the horizontal axis represents time. Each task is represented by a horizontal bar, the length of which corresponds to the duration of the task.

Make your own Gantt chart in Gleek .

Gantt charts are incredibly useful for planning and scheduling projects, tracking progress, and managing dependencies between tasks. They provide a clear visualization of the project timeline and help to identify potential bottlenecks and overlaps. This makes them an ideal tool for coordinating teams, allocating resources, and keeping stakeholders informed.

The versatility of Gantt charts solves numerous problems faced by project managers. They simplify complex projects by breaking them down into manageable tasks and visualizing their sequence and duration. This can help in avoiding over-scheduling, underestimating deadlines, and mismanaging resources.

Whether you're a seasoned project manager or a student working on a research proposal, mastering the use of Gantt charts can significantly streamline your project planning process and enhance your team's productivity.

Components needed for Research project proposal diagram

Creating an effective research project proposal diagram requires several key components. These elements provide a comprehensive overview of the project, including its timeline, tasks, and significant milestones.

Project Stages: Each stage of your research project should be clearly defined. This can include the literature review, methodology development, data collection and analysis, results compilation, proposal drafting, peer review, and final edits.

Timeline: The timeline provides a visual representation of the project's duration. It should outline the start and end dates of the project, as well as the estimated completion time for each stage.

Tasks: Each task within the project stages should be clearly outlined. This includes what needs to be done, who is responsible for it, and when it should be completed.

Milestones: Milestones mark significant achievements or phases in your project. These can help track progress and ensure that the project is moving forward as planned.

Dependencies: Dependencies show the relationship between different tasks. It's crucial to highlight how the delay in one task can impact others.

Status: The status of each task and stage helps monitor the project's progress. It can indicate whether a stage is completed, in progress, or yet to start.

Notes/Comments: Any additional information, observations, or feedback about the project can be included here. This could be insights gained during the research, changes made to the project plan, or issues that have arisen.

By incorporating these components into your diagram, you can create a well-structured, transparent, and efficient project proposal.

Creating a Research project proposal Gantt chart using the Gleek App

Step 1: launching gleek and selecting 'new diagram'.

First, launch Gleek.io in your web browser. Once you're in, select 'New Diagram' from the options available. In the diagram type, choose 'Gantt'.

Step 2: Defining Research Goals

The research project initiates with an active phase dedicated to defining research goals, which commenced on December 15, 2023, lasting for a week. This phase involves brainstorming, outlining objectives, and establishing the research's overarching scope.

Step 3: Literature Review Phase

Transitioning to the next stage, we have the completed 'Literature Review' phase spanning two weeks. This phase entails an in-depth analysis, sourcing relevant publications, synthesizing existing knowledge, and aligning it with the predefined research goals.

Step 4: Methodology Design Phase

Progressing to the 'Methodology Design' phase, currently active for three weeks, this stage intricately structures the research approach. It involves designing methodologies, frameworks, and strategies based on insights gleaned from the literature review, ensuring a robust research plan.

Step 5: Data Collection Phase

Following the planning stages is the critical 'Data Collection' phase, slated for four weeks. This phase involves meticulously gathering and assembling primary data, employing various methodologies such as surveys, experiments, or interviews, aligning with the established research framework.

Step 6: Data Analysis Phase

Post-data collection, the active 'Data Analysis' phase spans three weeks. This phase engages in thorough data examination, statistical analysis, and deriving insights from the accumulated information. It involves identifying patterns, correlations, or trends relevant to the research objectives.

Step 7: Results Compilation Phase

Subsequently, the 'Results Compilation' phase consolidates and organizes the analyzed data over two weeks, presenting it in a coherent format. This phase involves preparing comprehensive reports, graphs, or summaries, showcasing the findings derived from the data analysis stage.

Step 8: Drafting Proposal Phase

Advancing further, the active 'Drafting Proposal' phase, extending over three weeks, involves crafting the research proposal. It includes outlining the research problem, detailing methodologies, and structuring a cohesive proposal aligned with the project's objectives.

Step 9: Peer Review Phase

Upon completion of the draft, the two-week 'Peer Review' phase gathers insights and constructive feedback from peers or subject experts. It involves peer evaluations, discussions, and recommendations aimed at refining and enhancing the proposal's quality.

Step 10: Final Edits

Finally, the one-week active 'Final Edits' phase focuses on meticulous revisions, addressing feedback, and ensuring the proposal's completeness, accuracy, and compliance with set standards. This stage includes proofreading, formatting, and polishing the final document.

Step 11: Proposal Submission Milestone

The 'Proposal Submission' milestone, set for May 15, 2024, marks the conclusive stage, signifying the submission of the crafted and refined research proposal for evaluation and potential implementation.

Hurray, You Did It!

And there you have it! Your Research Project Proposal Gantt Chart is now complete.

This comprehensive diagram, with its clearly defined stages, tasks, timeline, dependencies, resources, and status, provides a holistic view of your research project. It not only serves as a visual representation of the entire project but also acts as a roadmap guiding you from the initial brainstorming phase to the final proposal submission. Utilizing such a diagram can greatly enhance your project planning and execution, ensuring all aspects are considered, dependencies are taken into account, and milestones are tracked. It fosters better coordination, communication, and understanding among team members, leading to more efficient and effective project management.

About Gleek.io

Gleek.io is a powerful tool that can further enrich your project planning needs. It's an intuitive app designed to help you visualize complex ideas, processes, and systems through various types of diagrams. Whether you need to create a flowchart, UML diagram, or even a Gantt chart like the one we've just built, Gleek.io makes the process straightforward and hassle-free.

With its keyboard-centric approach, Gleek.io allows you to create diagrams faster than traditional drag-and-drop tools. You can quickly jot down your ideas and see them evolve into structured diagrams in real-time, making it an ideal tool for brainstorming sessions, project planning, and presentations.

In conclusion, Gleek.io is more than just a diagramming tool. It's a platform that enables you to visualize your thoughts, communicate complex ideas simply, and manage your projects more effectively. Give it a try for your next project and experience the difference it can make!

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How to use a Gantt chart for a research project

Using a Gantt chart for a research project can give all stakeholders a better understanding of timelines and the resources needed for each task.  With all project activities neatly laid out within a timeline and every minor detail accounted for, a Gantt chart provides your team with the framework for successful project operations.

In this article, we’ll discuss a Gantt chart and how you can use it in a research project to maximize efficiency and promote greater transparency. We’ll also share how you can use monday.com’s project management Work OS to simplify the management of any research project further.

What is a Gantt chart?

A Gantt chart is a bar chart popularized in the early 1900s by Henry Gantt. It lets you establish a detailed project plan according to when you need each task completed.

If done correctly, a Gantt chart creates a realistic time frame for a project by establishing a start date for the whole project and each task. Then, you can pair these start dates with an estimation of how long the task will take, broken down by days, weeks, or months.

What makes a Gantt chart unique is that it establishes dependency relationships between all relevant tasks, which can help you better understand necessary workflows.

For example, let’s say you’re creating a research proposal. One of your tasks is to promote awareness and garner support for the proposal on social media. However, before you can do that, you need to create informational materials you can distribute and have the proposal outline ready for viewing. Since these necessities are clearly outlined in the Gantt chart, you can plan your project timeline accordingly.

How can you use a Gantt for research projects?

Research projects are vast undertakings that require a lot of your time, effort, and brain power. Sometimes it’s easy to get sidetracked or confused about what comes next in your research or how you should put it together.

A clear understanding of objectives and deadlines can help you organize even the most complex research project undertakings. Even better, a Gantt chart provides clear step-by-step instructions with dependency relationships marked to ensure every team member understands their responsibilities.

A Gantt chart ensures all research project team members clearly understand objectives, deadlines, and task dependency relationships.

Best practices for planning and scheduling a research project

Understanding the best practices for planning and scheduling a research project can help you get the most out of your Gantt chart . A few best practices include:

• Have a clear goal : Before sitting down to plan your research project, ask yourself some crucial questions. What are you trying to achieve? Why are you trying to achieve it? When do you need to complete it?
• Use scheduling tools : Use task and resource scheduling tools when possible to reduce the risk of human error.
• Get the team involved :  Gather your team together for a brainstorming session, if possible, when developing a list of tasks required to meet your final objective.
• Consider dependency relationships :  Consider the dependency relationships between objectives carefully and be realistic about time frames. Ensuring your team has enough time to successfully and thoroughly complete each task from the beginning sets your research project up for success.
• Identify potential issues : Identify risks and potential roadblocks in your schedule and have a backup plan for each to ensure a steady workflow with minimal pushbacks.
• Consider resource requirements : Consider the resources necessary to complete each task. Remember to include work hours as resources and schedule each team member appropriately to achieve objectives in the desired time frame.
• Plan for reporting : Assign specific times, or interval periods, for progress reports and compare these with your initial estimations. If these reports show alterations are necessary, don’t be afraid to make changes.
• Identify KPIs :  Before the research project begins, identify key performance metrics and track them as you go to define your success clearly. You may find using a relevant tool or platform the easiest way to track performance metrics.

Having the right tools can increase efficiency, decrease downtime, and ensure objective deadlines are not only met but exceeded.

Managing research projects on monday.com

monday.com’s robust project management Work OS makes managing research projects easier by:

• Centralizing projects from start to finish : Our Work OS lets you centralize all projects from conception to completion, with customizable dashboards that show you the information you deem most important. Quickly assess risks, bottlenecks, and roadblocks to keep your research project moving forward.
• Streamlining project workflows : Streamline workflows by automating routine tasks and assigning teammates to the work they’re most qualified for. Then, track individual and project-wide progress in real-time with regular task updates. Use color coding to make task management even more straightforward.
• Enabling communication across teams :  Our Work OS promotes communication between project members and across different teams, so all stakeholders know where things stand at all times. You can share documents, leave notes, and work together in real-time for more effective communication that allows you to exceed every deadline and meet every objective.

monday.com can provide your team with a Gantt chart view to make project management easier. Get started with monday.com’s powerful Work OS by building a research project workflow from scratch or try a few of our other templates for managing research projects easier.

Related templates

A basic Gantt chart can help you plan your research project in detail. On monday.com, you can add a Gantt View to any type of project board. Below are some of our recommended templates from our Template Center that you can use to fine-tune other essential aspects of your research project.

Keyword power tools template

Our  Research Power Tools Template uses a Gantt chart format to help you visualize project timelines, manage project resources, and monitor each phase of your research projects from one platform.

Publication and journals template

Our  Publications and Journals Template is an excellent tool for content publishing companies. You can use our template to:

• Manage your publication process: Our template enables whole-process management from submission to approval. Easily track article status and monitor writer workload to ensure you meet publishing deadlines.
• Visualize your publishing pipeline: Customizable dashboards allow you to receive a high-level overview of all current and upcoming articles and where they stand.
• Track individual contributions: Ensure each writer meets minimum contributions and isn’t given too large a workload by tracking individual contributions.

By now, you should have a working idea of Gantt charts and how they increase transparency and efficiency in project management. However, if you still have questions, we’ve answered a few FAQs below.

How do you create a dissertation in a Gantt chart?

To create a Gantt chart for a dissertation, you should first understand your timeline and deliverables. Once you’ve written these down, create detailed task lists of how you’ll accomplish each deliverable and consider dependency relationships between each. Finally, use the Gantt chart to outline your dissertation from start to finish.

What should be in a dissertation timeline?

In a dissertation timeline, you should include the following:

• Role assigning (if applicable)
• Research tasks
• Experiments, social or scientific (if applicable)
• Data collection and analysis
• First draft completion
• Submission to the advisor (first) and dean (at completion)

How do you create a Gantt chart in Word?

You can create a Gantt chart in Microsoft Word by:

• Opening a new Word document
• Change the document orientation from vertical to horizontal
• Insert a bar graph into your document
• Make format alterations as necessary to make the graph look like a Gantt chart
• Insert information and customize as necessary

Any team can increase transparency in their research projects with monday.com

Using a Gantt chart to create a detailed project timeline can help increase transparency and promote greater efficiency in your organization’s research projects.

When you pair a Gantt chart with monday.com’s robust project management system, you have the tools you need to meet deadlines, complete objectives, and exceed expectations.

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How to write a Research Proposal: Creating a Gantt chart

• Components of a research proposal
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• Research proposal - examples
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What is a Gantt chart

Some University departments require students to create a Gantt chart to represent a schedule for the research project. The Gantt chart shows the timelines of the various steps of the project including their dependencies and any  resources needed . In other words, the chart depicts when an event is supposed to take place in your project by providing an outline regarding the order in which the various tasks  need to be performed .

An example of a Gantt chart.

Gantt chart on Moodle

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Gantt Chart Examples, Templates, and Styles

By Diana Ramos | October 31, 2022

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Gantt charts are the bread and butter of project scheduling. We’ve assembled dozens of example images and templates to help you make the best Gantt charts possible. 

Included on this page, you’ll find 30 downloadable Gantt charts, with helpful examples for marketing , software development , project management , product development , and human resources . Plus, read expert tips on making Gantt charts for various formats , including Google Sheets, Excel, Microsoft Word, and more.

What Does a Gantt Chart Look Like?

A Gantt chart is a simple bar chart that shows all the tasks, events, and milestones in a project. The x-axis depicts the project timeline, and the y-axis depicts project phases. Each horizontal bar represents a project task. 

In most Gantt charts, the current date is represented by a vertical line, which looks like a progress bar. 

Other common symbols are diamonds or stars, which represent milestones. 

Many Gantt charts use color-coding to separate project phases.

“When creating a Gantt chart, each task is represented by a bar that extends over the duration of the task,” says Danny Trichter, Co-Founder of AccessibilityChecker.org . “The length of the bar indicates the duration of the task, and the placement of the bar indicates when the task will begin and end. In addition, Gantt charts often include information such as task dependencies, milestones, and resources.” 

For some projects, especially those with tight deadlines, it can be helpful to include project dependencies in your chart. These are typically represented with arrows. You can use arrows to distinguish between the four types of dependencies: finish-to-start, start-to-start, finish-to-finish, and start-to-finish.

You can also use Gantt charts to represent lead time, lag time, predecessor tasks, and successor tasks when necessary. 

“Gantt charts should be created in a way that is easy to read and understand. I believe if it's not simple, people won't use it,” says Chad Sibila , Sales Manager at VT Industries. “I really like to see a left-to-right, start-to-finish for one project, with the steps to complete along the way.”

For more detailed information about making and using Gantt charts for your upcoming projects, see this basic Gantt chart guide with how-to videos.

Gantt Chart Examples by Format

The format you choose for your Gantt chart depends on the type of project, accessibility needs, and preference. For example, if your team conducts most of their work in Microsoft Suite, then PowerPoint, Excel, and Microsoft Word are better options.

Gantt charts are popular because they are easy to use and adaptable. You can create them in any spreadsheet, word processing, or presentation software. For projects where collaboration and access are key, Google formats such as Google Docs and Google Sheets are the most useful.

Jan Schiller, Partner and Chief Project Officer at Berkshire Consulting, LLC , recommends that you select a tool that can create a Gantt chart from source data, such as Excel or Google Sheets. “The Gantt chart can be lifted into any format that is meaningful to stakeholders,” she explains. “I recommend using one format consistently. Why? For information integrity and transparency that supports informed decision-making. Seamlessly switching between source data and the Gantt chart improves trust and credibility while greatly reducing the effort of maintaining an accurate Gantt chart.”

Gantt Chart Example Template for Excel

Download the Sample Construction Project Gantt Chart Template for Excel Download the Blank Construction Project Gantt Chart Template for Excel

Microsoft Excel is a popular software for creating and designing Gantt charts. For example, streamlined formulas allow you to keep all of your data in a centralized location, while generating Gantt charts automatically. Download the sample or blank template to see an example Gantt chart in Excel for a new home construction project.  

“I prefer using Excel for creating Gantt charts because it is easy to use and provides a lot of flexibility,” says Trichter. “I can easily add more information, such as task dependencies, milestones, and resources. Also, I can easily format the chart to make it look more professional.”

Find a how-to video, a step-by-step guide, and helpful tips for creating your own Gantt chart with this comprehensive guide to creating Gantt charts in Excel .

Gantt Chart Example Template for PowerPoint

Download the Sample Architecture Project Gantt Chart Template for PowerPoint Download the Blank Architecture Project Gantt Chart Template for PowerPoint

Download a detailed example of a Gantt chart or a blank version in PowerPoint for an architecture project. This easy-to-use Gantt chart PowerPoint is the perfect solution for anyone looking to create or present a dynamic project schedule in a presentation format. 

“If I were creating a Gantt chart to share with a large group of people, I might choose to use PowerPoint so that I could include more visuals and make the chart easier to understand,” explains Trichter.

To learn how to create, import, and customize your own Gantt chart for a presentation, see this comprehensive guide to creating Gantt charts in PowerPoint .

Gantt Chart Example Template for Microsoft Word

Download the Sample Clinical Trial Project Gantt Chart Template for Microsoft Word Download the Blank Clinical Trial Project Gantt Chart Template for Microsoft Word

Get started with a blank Microsoft Word template, or download the sample template for a prepared version that shows real data for a research project. In this case, the example is for a clinical trial of a new product. Microsoft Word is a great format option if you need a simple, printable Gantt chart. Use this template to track daily project tasks in a single document. Assign start and end dates, responsible team members, and statuses for each task in the chart. 

“Microsoft Word and Google Docs are formats that I typically use for more static content, such as reports or articles,” says Tricther.

To learn how to make and customize a Gantt chart, use this step-by-step guide to creating Gantt charts in Microsoft Word .

Gantt Chart Example Template for Google Sheets

Download the Sample Business Plan Gantt Chart Template

Excel | Google Sheets

Download the Blank Business Plan Gantt Chart Template

Download the sample template in Google Sheets to see how a project manager might use a Gantt chart to make a business plan. Google Sheets is hard to beat for a collaborative, accessible option with lots of helpful formulas and features. Use this template to track every task in your project in one shareable, web-based document. 

For additional templates, guides, and helpful tips, see this comprehensive article on creating a Gantt chart for Google Sheets .

Gantt Chart Example Template for Google Docs

Download the Sample Sales Plan Gantt Chart Template

Microsoft Word | Google Docs

Download the Blank Sales Plan Gantt Chart Template

Google Docs is another easily shareable and printable format option for making a Gantt chart. Try this Gantt chart template to track the phases and milestones of any project. Download the sample template for a version of a Gantt chart for a sales plan.

Gantt Chart Examples for Marketing

Whether it’s a social media, print, email, or other type of marketing campaign, Gantt charts can help you account for every step along the way. We’ve gathered a helpful list of example images and templates for your next marketing project.

“I started using Gantt charts for mobile project development, as they were taking over two to three months and involving dozens of people,” says Benjamin Poirrier, Founder and CEO of the marketing agency Prodima . “Nowadays, I use them to manage smaller digital marketing campaigns with various stakeholders (developers, designers, content writers, account managers), so I can follow up on the progress of their tasks.”

Marketing Campaign Gantt Chart Example Template

Download a Sample Marketing Campaign Gantt Chart Template for Excel | Microsoft Word

Download a Blank Marketing Campaign Gantt Chart Template for Excel | Microsoft Word

This downloadable example template provides a roadmap for a basic marketing project. From project conception and initiation to launch and measurement, this template has you covered. Assign task owners, set deadlines, and track statuses of every step in the project.

Gantt Chart Example for Market Research

Download the Sample Market Research Gantt Chart Template for Excel Download the Blank Market Research Gantt Chart Template for Excel

Use this straightforward Gantt chart template to map all the phases of your market research project, from planning and developing a mission statement to conducting client surveys, focus groups, environmental studies, and more.

Gantt Chart Example for Video Production

Download a Sample Video Production Gantt Chart Template for  Excel | Microsoft Word

Download a Blank Video Production Gantt Chart Template for Excel for Excel | Microsoft Word

Use a Gantt chart for your next video production project to ensure that you account for all important tasks, from pre- to post-production. Download the blank template to begin mapping your project. For more guidance, try the completed template with sample text to see how someone might use a Gantt chart to schedule a video production project.

Digital Marketing Campaign Gantt Chart Example

Download a Sample Digital Marketing Campaign Gantt Chart Template for Excel | Google Sheets

Download a Blank Digital Marketing Campaign Gantt Chart Template for Excel | Google Sheets

A successful digital marketing campaign can significantly expand the reach and impact of your brand or product. Use this template to monitor the various components of a digital marketing campaign. Track the timelines of your local marketing, content marketing, social media, web, and sales campaigns all in one convenient Gantt chart.

Example Gantt Chart for an Email Marketing Campaign

Download a Sample Email Marketing Campaign Gantt Chart Template for Excel | Google Sheets

Download a Blank Email Marketing Campaign Gantt Chart Template for Excel | Google Sheets

Email marketing campaigns are an effective way to inform existing and potential customers of upcoming sales, events, initiatives, and more. Follow the steps and phases in the customizable sample Gantt chart template for an example of how to effectively design, write, review, and release an email marketing campaign. Download the blank Gantt chart template to start from scratch.

Social Media Campaign Gantt Chart Example

Download a Sample Social Media Campaign Gantt Chart Template for  Excel | Google Sheets

Download a Blank Social Media Campaign Gantt Chart Template for  Excel | Google Sheets

Use a Gantt chart to streamline your multiplatform social media campaign to ensure that posts are consistently on-brand, timely, and polished. In this example, the chart separates tasks by platform making it easy for your team to give the appropriate amount of attention to each advertisement, whether it’s on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, or another platform.

Virtual Event Planning Gantt Chart Example

Download the Sample Virtual Event Planning Gantt Chart Template for Excel | Google Sheets

Download the Blank Virtual Event Planning Gantt Chart Template for Excel for Excel | Google Sheets

Event planning can be stressful and complicated. Use a Gantt chart to keep hiring staff, planning music and activities, and booking locations simple and organized. This Gantt chart demonstrates a timeline for planning a successful virtual event.

Gantt Chart Example for Event Marketing for Excel

Download the Sample Event Marketing Gantt Chart Template for Excel Download the Blank Event Marketing Gantt Chart Template for Excel

For an event to be successful, teams need to devote resources to promoting it, reaching out to donors or potential guests, and ensuring there is media in place so that the event will be adequately covered. Track every part of your event marketing campaign simultaneously with this comprehensive color-coded Gantt chart.

Examples of Gantt Chart for Software Projects

For software projects, opt for Gantt charts that support Agile methodology. These charts break down projects into sprints, allowing you to track requests from stakeholders and clearly depict key dependencies. 

“Gantt charts are used in both the Waterfall and Agile project management approaches,” says Rafał Gatkowski, Senior Python Developer at STX Next . “They perform especially well with Waterfall since a linear plan is developed to match customer expectations after gathering them at the beginning of a project. At STX Next, we mostly use the Agile approach to set our goals and use continuous customer feedback to update our plan in real time.”

Agile Gantt charts are a popular option for project managers leading software development projects. Assign various development teams to tackle different features, and trace dependencies using arrows. 

For projects with only one development team, you can use a simpler Gantt chart that tracks the status and dependencies of each individual task.

Gantt Chart Example for a Software Development Project for PowerPoint

Download the Sample Software Development Project Gantt Chart Template for PowerPoint Download the Blank Software Development Project Gantt Chart Template for PowerPoint

This presentation-ready, Agile Gantt chart will help you map out, schedule, and share your software development project roadmap. Diamond symbols represent key milestones, while arrows indicate the dependencies among tasks.

Gantt Chart Example for Website Development

Download a Sample Website Development Gantt Chart Template for  Excel | Google Sheets

Download a Blank Website Development Gantt Chart Template for  Excel | Google Sheets  

A user-friendly, functional website is key to the health of any company or brand. Account for every detail in the website development process by downloading a Gantt chart template for Excel or Google Sheets. Track due dates for design, features, development, and launch.

Gantt Chart Example in Software Engineering for Excel

Download the Sample Agile Software Engineering Gantt Chart Template for Excel Download the Blank Agile Software Engineering Gantt Chart Template for Excel

Track each phase in a software engineering project with an Agile Gantt chart. This Gantt chart tracks the development of each feature, separating each into sprints. Download and customize the blank Gantt chart template to create a dynamic timeline for any Agile project.

External IT Project Gantt Chart Template for Excel

Download the Sample IT Project Gantt Chart Template for Excel Download the Blank IT Project Gantt Chart Template for Excel

Use this sample template as a comprehensive tool to help you plan and schedule an external IT project. Customize the project name, task names, and start and end dates in the left-hand column to populate the Gantt chart on the right. Select and move the milestone markers to indicate the various stages or milestones of your IT project. 

Download the blank version to get started mapping your project timeline, or download the version with sample data to see how an IT project progresses from planning graphics to testing, rollout, and documentation.

Mobile App Development Agile Gantt Chart Example Template

Download the Sample Mobile App Development Agile Gantt Chart Template for Excel Download the Blank Mobile App Development Agile Gantt Chart Template for Excel

Gantt charts that incorporate Agile methodology are perfect for software projects such as mobile app development. In this sample template, you can see how to use an Agile Gantt chart to map the sprints in a mobile app development project, from research and analysis to launch.

See this comprehensive guide on using Gantt charts for Agile with a template and examples to learn more.

Project Management Gantt Chart Examples

Gantt charts are a fundamental tool in project management. These blank and example Gantt chart templates cover various areas of project management. Find samples that you can use as a guide for creating a proposal, planning, consulting on a roadmap, and more. 

“Once properly created and maintained, a Gantt chart brings clarity to a lot of information, which improves the success of the project manager and, therefore, of the organization,” says Schiller. “Gantt charts help to improve project performance by improving coordination, decision making, and communication.”

Whether you’re consulting, drafting a project proposal, or leading a construction project, Gantt charts will help you stay on schedule. Try Gantt charts that incorporate the critical path method.

Gantt Chart Example for a Project Proposal for PowerPoint

Download the Gantt Chart Project Plan Timeline for PowerPoint

Incorporate a Gantt chart into your project proposal presentation with this Gantt chart project plan timeline. This presentation-ready format is a great option for project managers who want to give a broad visual overview of the project timeline to stakeholders or company executives. Simply add this slide to your project proposal presentation to get the most out of this straightforward Gantt chart. 

For more resources and information on project proposals, see this article on writing a winning project proposal .

Project Plan Gantt Chart Example with Template

Download the Sample Gantt Chart Project Plan With Dependencies for Excel Download the Blank Gantt Chart Project Plan With Dependencies for Excel

A project plan is a more detailed version of a project proposal. Use a Gantt chart to allot your team enough time to research and write every section, including overview, scope, schedule, budget, and more. By doing so, you can rest assured that your project plan will be successful. Download the blank version to get started identifying your project plan phases, or download the version with sample data to see how much time to allow for each phase.

To learn best practices and find expert tips on creating project plans, see this guide to writing a winning project plan .

Gantt Chart Example for a Consulting Project Roadmap

Download a Sample Consulting Project Gantt Chart Roadmap Template for  Microsoft Word | PowerPoint | Google Slides  

Download a Blank Consulting Project Gantt Chart Roadmap Template for Microsoft Word | PowerPoint | Google Slides  

Create a consulting project roadmap as a Gantt chart to produce a clear and visually dynamic graphic of your timeline. In this example, every part of a consulting project, from developing partner strategy to reviewing the partnership development process, has a phase with individual tasks to which you can assign an owner, deadline, and status.

Construction Project Gantt Chart Example with a Critical Path

Download the Sample Construction Project Gantt Chart Critical Path Template for Excel Download the Blank Construction Project Gantt Chart Critical Path Template for Excel

By combining Gantt charts with the critical path method (CPM), project managers can optimize their schedules and minimize unexpected delays. Although CPM is appropriate for any project, it is particularly useful for those with many strict dependencies, such as construction projects. 

Try this free, customizable template that combines Gantt charts with critical path methodology. Download the blank version, and enter your tasks, start and finish dates, assignees, and statuses. The template will populate the Gantt chart at the bottom of the spreadsheet as you enter your data. You can also download the version with sample data for a construction project Gantt chart example. 

Learn about Gantt charts and the critical path method in this CPM guide with templates and examples .

Product Development Management Gantt Chart Examples

A Gantt chart can help simplify even the most ambitious product development project. From ideation and research to costing and commercialization, these Gantt chart examples can help set you and your team up for success.

“Gantt charts outline the proper order for completing tasks, as well as the amount of time required,” says Gatkowski. “Having this knowledge is useful while managing projects, as you can monitor the progress, plan the whole project, and manage resources. Project managers can check to see if specific activities are finished on time and modify the project plan accordingly.”

New Product Development Gantt Chart Example for Microsoft Word

Download the Sample New Product Development Gantt Chart Template for Microsoft Word Download the Blank New Product Development Gantt Chart Template for Microsoft Word

A new product development project requires careful planning. Try this simple Gantt chart to break down your project into manageable segments, such as developing a prototype, setting up materials acquisition, and creating a marketing plan.

Gantt Chart Example for Product Roadmap

Download a Sample Product Roadmap Gantt Chart Template for Excel | Google Sheets

Download a Blank Product Roadmap Gantt Chart Template for Excel | Google Sheets

Create a product roadmap using this comprehensive Gantt chart tool. Track every product feature as you move through the development process, from grouping management controls and notifications to drafting product segment reports.

Product Launch Gantt Chart Example for Excel

Download the Sample Product Launch Gantt Chart Template for Excel Download the Blank Product Launch Gantt Chart Template for Excel

This Gantt chart design for Excel allows you to track tasks and phases of a product launch. Copy and paste statuses from the color-coded key on the right-hand side of the template to ensure that anyone can take a quick look at your Gantt chart and understand the status of your product launch. Download the version with sample text to use as a guide to get started or the blank version to enter your own details.

Gantt Chart Example for the Manufacturing Process

Download a Sample Manufacturing Process Gantt Chart Template for Excel | Google Sheets

Download a Blank Manufacturing Process Gantt Chart Template for Excel | Google Sheets

Try this simple Gantt chart template to keep track of every phase in the manufacturing process. In this example, see how the manufacturing process moves from planning and product development to inspection, shipment, and delivery. Enter start and end dates for each task, and watch the Gantt chart populate with color-coded bars.

Gantt Chart Examples for Human Resources 

Human resources (HR) departments can use Gantt charts for varying projects. Download a sample template to help get you started on your HR Gantt chart, or use a basic Gantt chart template to plan your project schedule from scratch. 

“Gantt charts can be used for a variety of HR-related projects, such as onboarding new employees, planning company-wide training events, and tracking employee performance goals,” says Linda Shaffer, Chief People and Operations Officer at Checkr . “They are particularly useful for projects that involve multiple teams or individuals, as they provide a clear way to track progress and identify potential risks and issues.

“For example,” Shaffer continues, “if you're planning a company-wide training event, you can use a Gantt chart to track the progress of each team as they complete their training. This way, you can see at a glance which teams are on track and which ones are behind schedule.”

Gantt Chart Example for Interview Process

Download a Sample Interview Process Gantt Chart Template for Excel | Google Sheets

Download a Blank Interview Process Gantt Chart Template for Excel | Google Sheets

Hiring a new employee takes time, resources, and careful consideration. Stay organized throughout the process, from pre-interviewing to hiring, with a comprehensive and visually dynamic Gantt chart. Complete each section of the pre- and candidate-interview phases, candidate selection, and hiring. This interview process Gantt chart example sets a timeline that ensures everyone who needs to talk to a potential new hire does before you send the offer.

Employee Onboarding Gantt Chart Example

Download a Sample Employee Onboarding Gantt Chart Template for Excel | Google Sheets

Download a Blank Employee Onboarding Gantt Chart Template for Excel | Google Sheets

Well-organized employee onboarding processes help improve an employee’s long-term experience at a company and decrease overall employee turnover. This Gantt chart illustrates the path to preparing for a perfect first day on the job. 

Download these onboarding templates and checklists for more HR tools and advice.

Gantt Chart Example for Human Resources Planning

Download the Sample Human Resources Planning Template for Excel Download the Blank Human Resources Planning Template for Excel

Use this Gantt chart to ensure that your organization has all the required team members available to complete your next project. Follow the sample template for an Agile software development projec t, or enter your own data to manage human resources for any upcoming project or initiative.

Easily Track and Manage Your Projects with Gantt Charts in Smartsheet

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The Smartsheet platform makes it easy to plan, capture, manage, and report on work from anywhere, helping your team be more effective and get more done. Report on key metrics and get real-time visibility into work as it happens with roll-up reports, dashboards, and automated workflows built to keep your team connected and informed. 

When teams have clarity into the work getting done, there’s no telling how much more they can accomplish in the same amount of time.  Try Smartsheet for free, today.

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• Gantt chart examples

5 Gantt chart examples for better project management

Browse topics.

Gantt charts are indispensable tools in project management that visually represent project timelines, tasks, and dependencies. Gantt charts simplify task management, foster team collaboration, and enhance project visibility.  We'll explore several Gantt chart examples and their diverse applications across various project types, from dependency mapping to date shifting and resource allocation. You'll discover how Gantt charts streamline every project phase, from project planning to execution, and adaptation, making them invaluable for both simple and complex projects. 

Whether you're a project manager, team lead, or collaborator, understanding how to leverage Gantt charts effectively can elevate your project management capabilities.

What is a Gantt chart?

A Gantt chart is a visual project management tool that illustrates tasks and their timelines within a project workflow . It has three parts: a list of tasks on the left and a timeline on the right, with schedule bars representing the duration of each task. 

A Gantt chart example can include additional details, such as task start and end dates, milestones, task dependencies, and the individuals or teams responsible for each task. It offers a comprehensive view of a project's tasks and their sequencing, making it a valuable resource for effective project management.

5 examples of Gantt charts for project management

Gantt charts aid in planning, scheduling, and tracking projects. While versatile, their core purpose is consistent: enhancing project visibility and aiding decision-making. 

Let's explore several Gantt chart examples and how they aid in managing simple and complex projects.

1. Dependency mapping

Dependency mapping is a cornerstone in project management, not only for identifying, analyzing, and documenting task interdependencies but also for prioritizing them effectively. 

Gantt charts are often the go-to visual tool for this purpose, with horizontal bars indicating the duration of each task and connecting lines specifying the dependencies among them. They offer dynamic benefits like enhancing sequencing and scheduling, particularly in projects with multifaceted dependencies.

Modern Gantt chart software further elevates the practice by providing real-time updates, allowing for Agile adaptability. These charts foster team collaboration by presenting a centralized, coherent view of the project, thereby minimizing misunderstandings and closing knowledge gaps.

Example : Imagine orchestrating a large-scale cybersecurity update across multiple teams. You need to complete some tasks, such as coding the software before rolling out the update. But other tasks, like employee training, can occur in parallel. Gantt charts illustrate these complex interdependencies, empowering project managers to allocate resources optimally and proceed with a well-timed execution.

2. Task management

Gantt charts offer a structured and visual approach to planning, scheduling, and resource allocation, making them invaluable in project management. 

Here are some reasons why Gantt charts excel in task management:

• Task planning provides a clear project task overview regardless of complexity.
• Task allocation allows effortless assignment to team members, promoting collaboration.
• Timelines offer precise scheduling with defined start and end dates, preventing overwork.
• Task dependencies highlight interdependencies for correct task sequencing.

Progress tracking helps every stakeholder keep a tab on a project’s lifecycle through a chart.

Gantt charts streamline complex task information, facilitating decision-making, promoting organization, clarifying roles, and ensuring smoother project execution.

Example : A software development sprint includes coding, testing, and debugging. Gantt charts allow developers to assign tasks precisely, setting clear timelines for each sprint. Maintaining alignment, reducing overwork risks, and tracking progress visually helps teams meet release deadlines.

3. Project planning

Gantt charts provide an all-encompassing perspective on project scope, going beyond task enumeration to deliver strategic insight. These charts act as strategic roadmaps, meticulously aligning with overarching objectives. 

They serve the dual purpose of guiding immediate action and facilitating long-term planning. Their high-level timelines are tailored for diverse project scales, from short-term bursts of activity to long-term strategic initiatives, offering stakeholders a robust framework for decision-making and resource allocation.

Beyond this, Gantt charts break down tasks into manageable steps, assigning ownership and establishing logical sequences. This task breakdown enhances resource optimization and accountability, while identifying dependencies ensures smooth project progress. 

Gantt charts empower project planners to plan, visualize, and execute projects, making them invaluable for comprehensive project views, roadmap creation, and efficient task management.

Example : Marketing campaigns require the project team to juggle multiple tasks, such as market research, content creation, and campaign execution. Gantt charts serve as a visual roadmap for breaking down these tasks, assigning them to team members, and setting clear deadlines.

4. Date shifting

Gantt charts are versatile tools for managing project timelines and adapting to dynamic situations. They excel in date shifting, allowing you to add specific due dates for task alignment and clarity. 

When adjustments are necessary, Gantt charts simplify the process with a user-friendly drag-and-drop feature, ensuring task flexibility. They also help manage scheduling delays by visualizing their impacts and enabling resource reallocation and schedule modifications. 

During resource conflicts or unexpected emergencies, Gantt charts facilitate swift responses, providing the tools for task reassignment or deadline extensions. These capabilities make Gantt charts a reliable compass for navigating unexpected changes while keeping your project on course.

Example : Supply chain issues may delay a product launch. Using a Gantt chart, project managers can easily adjust the dates for dependent tasks, such as marketing and distribution. Adaptability minimizes the impact of delays and keeps the project on schedule.

5. Resource allocation

Resource allocation is a cornerstone of effective project management, and Gantt charts are instrumental in this process. Here's how to use Gantt charts for resource allocation:

• Identifying resource needs : Gantt charts document resource requirements, associating them with tasks or milestones for clarity.
• Checking availability : Gantt charts align resource timelines with project schedules, identifying conflicts and enabling adjustments.
• Managing constraints : Gantt charts accommodate limitations, such as working hours, allowing parameter definition for adherence.
• Optimizing usage : The visual representation of Gantt charts helps identify underutilization or overallocation, enabling task adjustments.

Example : Academic research projects use various resources, such as research assistants, lab equipment, and computing power. Gantt charts can determine when a project needs each resource, identify their availability, and optimize resource usage by avoiding bottlenecks.

A good Gantt chart example serves as a professional framework for resource allocation, ensuring judicious resource deployment, reducing bottlenecks, enhancing productivity, and achieving project goals within set timelines and budgets. Try out our Gantt Chart Template and get started managing your next project today!

Jira for software teams

Trusted by millions of high-performing agile teams, Jira is the leading project management tool for software development. It serves as a central hub throughout the development cycle, enabling effective planning, tracking, and release management. 

Jira emphasizes the product backlog , prioritizing tasks from the project roadmap. This ensures high-priority items are at the forefront, enhancing development efficiency. 

As an alternative to Gantt charts, teams can select tasks based on capacity using continuous flow ( Kanban ) or structured iterations ( Scrum ), aligning work with capabilities and improving responsiveness. While Gantt charts provide a visual representation of a project timeline with dependencies, Jira’s backlogs and timelines offer dynamic adaptability, accommodating change swiftly.

Jira for business teams

Jira is a valuable solution for diverse business teams, promoting seamless collaboration and efficient project delivery. Tailored for business teams such as marketing, operations, sales, and HR, Jira offers a user-friendly interface. For project planning, Jira uses dynamic calendars instead of traditional Gantt charts. Gantt charts show tasks in a fixed line, making it difficult to change plans. Dynamic calendars make it easy to move tasks around, so teams can adapt more quickly.

With integrations such as Slack, HubSpot, and Google Workspace, Jira is highly customizable, giving business teams flexibility and control in managing their work efficiently.

Plans, available in the Premium edition of Jira , is a powerful tool for planning, tracking, and gaining insights into complex projects, especially for distributed teams. 

Unlike traditional Gantt charts, it handles intricate scenarios with multiple teams, projects, and dependencies, offering a high-level view of work across teams. 

Custom fields and labels categorize work, enhancing visibility and tracking. It simplifies dynamic planning, adapting to reorganizations or shifting priorities without manual adjustments. Integration with multiple Jira boards, projects, and filters allows customized planning. 

It's a versatile and more robust alternative to Gantt charts, providing teams with efficient project management tools and clear progress visibility.

Create Gantt charts with Jira

Jira has a robust selection of agile project management features that support the needs of any team, such as dealing with complex timelines. More dynamic and robust than a Gantt chart, Jira makes it easy for teams to organize work, stay aligned, and build better products.  Jira Plans , available in the Premium edition of Jira, enhances your planning with data-driven outcome forecasts. For teams seeking further diversification, Jira offers tailored solutions to meet specialized project management needs of business and product teams.

Gantt chart examples: Frequently asked questions

What types of projects are suitable for gantt charts.

Gantt charts are well-suited for various projects, including business plans, product management, and design projects. They offer a visual and organized way to outline tasks, allocate resources, and establish timelines, making them valuable tools for managing various project types effectively. 

Can you use Gantt charts for team collaboration?

Yes, Gantt charts are a valuable tool for team collaboration. They provide a clear visual representation of project timelines, tasks, and dependencies, making it easier for team members and stakeholders to coordinate efforts, track progress, and communicate effectively throughout the project's lifecycle.

What software can I use to create Gantt charts?

If you're aiming to create Gantt charts, consider using Jira as your go-to platform. Jira excels in offering features for dependency mapping, team collaboration, and real-time project tracking, making it ideal for handling complex projects.  Get started for free with Jira and explore Gantt chart functionalities as well as other planning tools.

Gantt Charts

A Gantt chart is a project management tool that illustrates a project plan. Learn how they can help and see an example of Gantt charts

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What Is a Gantt Chart? (Examples & Templates)

Presented by projectmanager, the gantt chart software used to plan over 2 million projects. make a gantt chart in minutes.

What Is a Gantt Chart? Definition & History

What is the purpose of a gantt chart, what is included in a gantt chart, what is a gantt chart used for, how are gantt charts used in project management, gantt chart examples.

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How to Use a Gantt Chart

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Who Uses a Gantt Chart?

Gantt chart video for beginners, gantt chart faqs.

A Gantt chart is a project management tool that allows project managers to create a project schedule by mapping project tasks over a visual timeline which shows the order in which they’ll be completed, when they’re due, their duration and other details about them such as their percentage of completion. Every Gantt chart has two main parts, a grid or task list on the left side and a project timeline on the right.

The Gantt chart was created by Henry Gantt in the early 20th century to improve project planning, scheduling and tracking by illustrating completed work compared to planned work. Today, project managers and team members use Gantt charts to plan projects, create a project schedule, allocate resources and track progress with just one project management tool.

However, there’s so much more to know about Gantt charts beyond a simple Gantt chart definition. In this guide, we’ll explore some of the main aspects that you need to know about Gantt charts including what they’re used for and the different methods and tools you can use to make one, such as Gantt chart software .

This guide also has examples and free Gantt chart templates you can use to get started quickly. We’ve even created industry-specific Gantt chart templates so you can create project schedules for your business in minutes.

At a basic level, a Gantt chart allows project, program and portfolio managers to easily map out project plans by organizing project tasks on a visual timeline. However, Gantt charts are used for many other purposes in project planning, project scheduling, project tracking and resource management.

With ProjectManager’s Gantt chart, you can assign tasks to your team members, set due dates, estimate costs and monitor progress in real time. The best part is that it can be used along with other project management tools such as kanban boards, real-time project dashboards, timesheets and team collaboration tools.

There are two halves to most Gantt chart tools you see online today. On the left is a grid that lists project tasks and important information about them and on the right, there’s the Gantt chart timeline, a visual representation of the project schedule.

Gantt Chart Grid

The grid of a Gantt chart is where you list project tasks and project scheduling details about them. The Gantt chart grid is the most important component of your Gantt chart because the data you enter here will be used to populate the Gantt chart timeline.

The more details about your project tasks you can add to a Gantt chart grid, the more aspects of your project plan you’ll be able to track.

Basic Gantt chart software only allows you to assign tasks to your team members and create project timelines based on the due dates and duration of your project tasks. However, more advanced Gantt chart software like ProjectManager enables you to track other areas of your project.

Here are some of the key aspects of your project you can track with ProjectManager’s Gantt chart grid.

• Task name: Briefly describe your task. You can also add more task details using other project views such as kanban boards and task lists.
• Task owner: Assign tasks to team members.
• Task priority: Set a priority level for all your project tasks so you can better allocate your resources.
• Project phases: In most projects, there’s a set of well-defined phases that are made up of related tasks.
• Work breakdown structure level: The work breakdown structure level is a number that allows you to understand the order in which project tasks must be completed and what project phase they’re in.
• Project milestones: Track project milestones, which are major events, accomplishments or deliverables in your project timeline.
• Resource requirements: Indicate what resources are needed to complete each project task, including labor and non-labor resources such as raw materials, equipment or machinery.
• Estimated & actual costs: Estimate costs for each project task, create a project budget and then log the actual costs as tasks are executed so you can determine whether your project is on, over or under budget.

Now, let’s go over the other half of any Gantt diagram, the Gantt chart timeline.

Gantt Chart Timeline

The Gantt chart timeline is a stacked bar chart where each project task is represented by a bar that runs on the horizontal axis. The task bars start on the date that the work is scheduled to start and end on the date when it’s expected to finish. The longer the bar, the longer the task will take.

But that’s not everything a Gantt chart timeline shows. Based on the data from the Gantt chart grid, ProjectManager’s robust Gantt chart timeline lets you zoom in on the following details of your project schedule .

• Due dates & task duration: Add planned start and planned finish dates and adjust them at any time by dragging and dropping tasks on the Gantt timeline. You can also compare planned vs. actual task duration.
• Task dependencies: You can also show the task dependencies in number form. Choose the “Linked From” column in the column settings. Task dependencies are represented as arrows that link tasks in the Gantt chart timeline.
• Percent complete: A figure, mostly always based on an educated guess by the project team, of how much work they have done and how much is still to do.
• Critical path activities: ProjectManager’s Gantt chart maker automatically identifies the critical path based on your project task list, dependencies and due dates.

Free Gantt Chart Template

Need help building a Gantt chart? Try ProjectManager’s free Gantt chart template and practice adding tasks, dependencies, phases, milestones and more on a dynamic Gantt chart.

On the left-hand side is the data grid, where the various phases of the project are outlined. Under each color-coded phase are the tasks associated with it, including WBS, assignees, due dates and other resources needed to execute the scheduled tasks.

The visual timeline on the right is where things get interesting. You can see the entire project in one place, dependent tasks can be linked and milestones added to indicate important dates. Put your Gantt chart knowledge to the test and build one today. Get started for free.

Because the Gantt chart is such a diverse project management tool for identifying timelines and task dependencies, it can be used in any industry or field. Here are some examples.

• Gantt charts in project management : Gantt charts compile the information project managers need to create a visual timeline that shows all the elements of a project plan in one place. With Gantt charts, project managers can schedule projects, allocate resources, set cost and scope baselines, and identify the critical path.
• Gantt charts in construction: Construction Gantt charts are used by project owners, general contractors and construction project managers to plan the different phases of a construction project, such as initiation, pre-construction and procurement. However, Gantt charts can also be used on a smaller scale to manage everyday tasks.
• Gantt charts in software engineering: Software engineering teams use Gantt charts to create project roadmaps , which are essential for task management when developing new products. This is done by simply mapping software development tasks on a timeline, just as if it was a project plan.
• Gantt charts in manufacturing: Gantt charts can be used to plan, schedule and track multiple aspects of the manufacturing process. For example, you can use Gantt charts to create product roadmaps, production schedules and map the product development cycle.
• Gantt charts in project portfolio management: Gantt charts can be also used to create a portfolio roadmap, which is a timeline that allows project portfolio managers and project management offices (PMOs) to track the progress of multiple projects.

These are only some of the most common use cases for Gantt charts, but they can be used for managing projects across industries. Now, let’s take a closer look at how Gantt charts are used in project management.

Gantt charts can be used to plan, schedule and track projects of all sizes and industries, mainly because they’re compatible with most project management methodologies , such as waterfall and agile.

Gantt Charts in Waterfall Planning

Waterfall project management consists in planning a project in sequential phases. These project phases are planned in advance and then executed in order from beginning to end without making many changes to the original project plan. Gantt charts are ideal to map out such projects as they allow project managers to visualize task dependencies and establish task sequences on a project timeline.

Gantt Charts in Agile Planning

Unlike waterfall, agile planning consists in planning short iterations of work of one to two weeks known as agile sprints , where teams plan and execute their work. They then have short meetings where they review their performance and plan the next sprint. While Gantt charts aren’t commonly used to plan sprints, they help agile teams to map out their project plan or product development roadmap at large, which lets them see the bigger picture of their projects.

These two project management approaches are used to manage most projects, even though there are other methodologies that can be used for specific industries or scenarios. However, the best way to understand how Gantt charts are used in project management is to look at some Gantt chart examples.

We’ve created two Gantt chart examples using ProjectManager to see how Gantt charts can be used for managing different types of projects. These Gantt chart examples show a schedule for a construction and a manufacturing project, which are two of the industries where Gantt charts are used the most.

In these Gantt chart examples, you can easily see:

• The Gantt chart timeline
• What the project tasks are
• Which team member is working on each task
• When project activities start and finish
• The percent complete for each activity and work package
• How tasks group together, overlap and link with each other
• Task dependencies such as finish-to-start, start-to-start, finish-to-finish and start-to-finish
• Milestones and project phases on the schedule

Construction Gantt Chart Example

This Gantt chart example shows a construction schedule that’s divided into six project phases: contracts, design, procurement, construction, post-construction and closing.

Defining project phases is the first step when using a Gantt chart for planning a project. It helps break down the project plan into smaller steps that are easier to manage. Once you’ve defined project phases, you can proceed to identify the individual tasks for each of them, as shown in the image.

Once you’ve identified your project tasks, you’ll need to add as much information as possible about them, such as their planned due dates, duration, dependencies, resource requirements, estimated costs and other relevant details.

Once you’ve added all these details to each project task column, the Gantt chart timeline will show your project tasks, their dependencies, assignee and percent complete.

The best part of using ProjectManager’s Gantt charts to create a project schedule is that you can simply drag and drop these bars in the Gantt chart timeline to adjust the project tasks’ due dates or their duration. You can easily add or remove dependencies and identify project milestones.

Our construction schedule Gantt chart template also allows you to use other advanced Gantt chart features such as creating project baselines, finding the critical path and tracking the resource utilization and costs for each of your tasks.

Manufacturing Gantt Chart Example

While managing the production process is completely different from managing a construction project , the steps for creating a schedule using a Gantt chart are the same. You’ll also need to define project phases, break down your project scope into tasks, identify dependencies and add project task details to the Gantt chart.

This Gantt chart example shows a manufacturing project that consists of creating a product from scratch and then creating a production schedule for manufacturing it. The phases for this manufacturing project are product ideation, design, prototyping, pre-production and production.

Our Gantt chart production schedule template allows you to track each step in the product development process, such as ideating your product, establishing its feasibility, creating a proof of concept, making a prototype, testing its quality and more.

Then, once you have a working prototype that’s ready to be launched into the market, you can use the Gantt chart to schedule the production process and estimate the time it’ll take to manufacture it, the needed resources and your production costs.

Using Gantt chart software for tracking the production process is ideal for manufacturing businesses that execute multiple projects simultaneously .

However, creating a Gantt chart from scratch can be an overwhelming process, especially for those who are just getting started with this project management tool. If you’re not ready to use Gantt chart software yet, you can try using a Gantt chart template for Excel, PowerPoint, Google Sheets or Word.

Free Gantt Chart Templates for Excel, PowerPoint & More

We’ve created several Gantt chart templates that can facilitate the process of creating and using a Gantt chart to manage your projects. Simply enter your project information and follow the instructions to create a Gantt chart for projects in minutes.

Free Gantt Chart Template for Excel

This free Gantt chart Excel template helps you build a Gantt chart and a project timeline in minutes. It gives you a visual overview of your entire project from start to finish.

Simply add all of the tasks needed to reach your final deliverable and manually update any changes during the execution of the project. It’s a great example of a Gantt chart in Microsoft Excel .

Free Gantt Chart Template for Google Sheets

This free Gantt chart template for Google Sheets is similar to an Excel Gantt chart, but it can be accessed by your team members online, instead of having to download a file and store it in their computers. This also means you can collaborate with your team online so any file changes can be seen by anyone with access to it.

Free Gantt Chart Template for PowerPoint

This free Gantt chart template for PowerPoint allows you to create a simple Gantt chart based on your project task names, duration and due dates. You can attach them to any PowerPoint presentation, which helps communicate the progress of your project in a visual format that can be easily understood by most people.

Free Gantt Chart Template for Word

While Microsoft Word might not be the first software you think of when looking for a tool to make a Gantt chart, it can be used to make Gantt charts. In fact, this free Gantt chart template for Word is as good as the Excel or PowerPoint Gantt chart. The key difference is that this Gantt chart template for Word is designed for adding a Gantt chart to project documents.

However, these free Gantt chart templates are best suited for creating simple Gantt charts , as they lack advanced project management features that are needed for larger projects such as resource management and cost tracking.

Now that we have more context about Gantt charts, let’s explore how to use a Gantt chart for planning, scheduling and tracking your projects . Below, we’ll explain some of the most common uses for Gantt charts in project management.

Create a Work Breakdown Structure

Before you can use a Gantt chart to create a project schedule , you’ll need to first identify all the individual tasks that make up the total amount of work that’s needed for your project. A work breakdown structure (WBS) is a tool that can help you with this process. It’s important that you do this during the project planning phase so you don’t miss any project tasks.

Create a Task List and a Gantt Chart Timeline

Now create a Gantt table by listing down your project tasks, their due dates, duration and any other details you’d like to track about them such has resource requirements or costs. Then Use this information to create Gantt chart timeline, which at a basic level should show the dates and duration of project tasks.

Identify Task Dependencies

One of the key aspects that differentiate Gantt charts from other project planning tools is that they allow project managers to identify and visualize task dependencies . A task dependency is simply the relationship project tasks have among each other that dictates the order in which they must be completed. While Gantt charts let you represent task dependencies, these can’t be automatically determined. It’s your responsibility as a project manager to define them, otherwise, the project schedule won’t be accurate.

Find the Critical Path of Your Project

The critical path of a project is the longest sequence of tasks that need to be executed. It’s important to determine what your critical path is because if those tasks are delayed the whole project completion will be delayed. Luckily some Gantt chart software alternatives will automatically do this for you.

Track Gantt Chart Milestones

Gantt charts allow you to track project milestones, which are important events that occur at some point in your project timeline. Project milestones can be used to create a milestone chart, which is a simplified version of your project timeline that summarizes major activities, project deliverables and accomplishments so that you can track how a project is progressing from a high-level view.

Allocate, Schedule and Track Resources

Gantt charts can be more than just a project scheduling tool, they can also be used to estimate what resources are needed to complete your project, allocate resources for the execution of work and track resource utilization throughout the project life cycle. ProjectManager’s Gantt chart, for example, syncs with real-time dashboards that allow you to monitor the utilization of project resources in real time and workload charts that let you balance your team’s workload.

Create Project Baselines and Compare Planned vs. Actual Results

Gantt charts should be used to map your project plan, but also record the actual results of your project. ProjectManager’s Gantt chart allows you to compare the estimated costs and due dates of your tasks against the actual values so you can determine whether your project is being executed within the boundaries of your project budget or schedule.

The Gantt chart is one, if not the most important project management tool to plan, schedule and track projects. Here are some of the main pros and cons of using Gantt charts to manage projects from any industry.

• Gantt charts allow project managers to turn complex project plans into a visual project timeline that’s easy to understand.
• Gantt charts are the perfect tool to compare the actual performance of your project team against the original project plan, schedule and cost baselines to determine whether a project is being completed on time and under budget .
• Gantt charts allow project managers to understand both the scope of a project and its schedule from start to end, including task dependencies.
• Gantt charts are also considered a resource management tool because they allow project managers to understand how they’re allocating their resources .

Even though Gantt charts are one of the most important project management tools, there are some cases in which they might not be the ideal solution.

• Gantt charts can be hard to understand for some team members and stakeholders who aren’t used to them.
• Not all Gantt chart software available in the market offers the same features, which is something to look out for as some lack important features.
• Other project tools such as task lists or kanban boards can be an easier method to keep track of tasks, such as when managing small teams, or short-term projects.
• Gantt charts operate in a linear fashion and aren’t very dynamic for agile projects.

Gantt charts are not the only project management chart you can use to create a project schedule or manage project tasks. There are other tools you can use such as PERT charts, kanban boards or network diagrams . Here’s how Gantt charts compare to these tools.

Gantt Chart vs. Network Diagram

Network diagrams are a project planning chart that can help you visualize the order in which tasks must be completed, so everyone on your team has a clear idea of how work will be executed. Additionally, project network diagrams can help identify task dependencies that might be in your project plan, which is an important factor to consider when creating a project schedule.

In project management, network diagrams are used as part of the program evaluation and review technique (PERT) and the critical path method (CPM), which are two important project scheduling methods.

However, network diagrams can only help you during the project scheduling process, but can’t be used for tracking the progress of your project, as they lack task, resource or cost-tracking features.

Gantt Chart vs. PERT Chart

PERT charts are a network diagram that allows you to map the task sequences that make up your project, estimate its total duration and identify critical path activities.

To do so, you’ll need to use the PERT chart formula, which factors in the start and finish dates of your project tasks, dependencies between them and estimated duration.

However, PERT charts aren’t as versatile as Gantt charts as they won’t allow you to assign tasks to your team members, create a project timeline or monitor the percentage of completion of tasks.

Gantt Chart vs. Kanban Board

Kanban boards are a popular task management tool that can be used for managing projects across industries. A kanban board consists of a set of columns and cards. The columns indicate the status of a project task, such as “to do” or “completed” while kanban cards represent project tasks.

Kanban boards are a great task management tool for managing the everyday tasks and workflows of your team but they won’t allow you to create a project timeline or get a high-level view of your project plan like a Gantt chart would. This makes Gantt charts a better tool than kanban boards for project planning and scheduling.

This doesn’t mean you can’t use Gantt charts and kanban boards for managing your projects. In fact, this is greatly advised, as each of these project management tools can help you manage your projects from different perspectives.

Once computers introduced new ways of working, project managers found they could save time in creating and updating their Gantt charts. Gantt chart software, also called project planning, project management, or even project scheduling software, was created to automate the process to support more advanced Gantt requirements like creating task dependencies, adding milestones or identifying the critical path of a project plan.

Watch the video below for a quick introduction to ProjectManager’s online Gantt chart maker and its benefits.

Many project managers traditionally used local desktop programs like Microsoft Project —and many still do. But today, most Gantt chart makers and project management software have moved online, enabling anyone to create shareable and collaborative Gantt charts and project plans.

Choosing the right project management tool for your team is an essential task, so we’ve reviewed the best free and paid Gantt chart software and ranked them based on their key features, pros and cons. It’ll help you better understand what to look for when comparing Gantt chart software.

Must-Have Gantt Chart Software Features

While no two Gantt chart tools are the same, there are key features that you'll need to get the most out of your Gantt chart tool:

Milestones are represented by a diamond symbol on the Gantt diagram and have no duration. A milestone marks the end of a piece of work, task sequence or project management phase. They’re often fixed dates or important dates on your project schedule that you need to be aware of. Read more: Learn how to use milestones in your scheduling.

Task Dependencies

These show which tasks are linked together. Links are shown with lines on the Gantt chart, and the arrow points to the task that comes next. Task dependencies can be set up as start-to-finish, start-to-start, finish-to-finish or finish-to-start. Read more: Learn how to manage task dependencies.

Summary Tasks

A summary task is a skinny ‘umbrella’ task above various individual tasks. It’s a good way of using a Gantt diagram to group activities together, especially as part of a project stage or phase. You can ‘roll up’ your tasks (in other words, hide them from view) so that only the summary task is shown. The summary task also displays the task progress with shading, so you can view the progress of all tasks underneath in that one bar.

Collaboration

A Gantt chart without collaboration is just a static plan. It’s nice to have, but it isn’t helping you advance the work your team is doing. Be sure that you can chat or comment around tasks to keep the workflow documented. Your team will then get alerts every time a task has been updated, so they know when new activity has occurred.

File Sharing

It’s important as you collaborate to also be able to attach files, images, videos or other notes to document the task progress and keep all the task information together. That way, you always know where to look to find the files related to the tasks you’re scheduling on your Gantt diagram.

Planned vs. Actual Progress

This is represented in a couple different ways on the Gantt diagram. Shading on the bar indicates how complete the planned work is. When the bar is shaded, the task is finished. You can also see just a view of the actual progress anytime in the settings. Don’t forget to set a baseline for the best tracking experience.

How to Make a Gantt Chart Online With Gantt Chart Software

Onboarding your team members with ProjectManager’s Gantt chart maker allows you to better plan, schedule and track all types of projects . Once you’ve invited your team members to the new Gantt chart tool, you can start improving the way you manage tasks, resources and timelines. But before we get to the benefits of using online Gantt chart software, let’s go through a step-by-step guide to making a Gantt chart in ProjectManager.

It’s easy for anyone to create a Gantt chart online in ProjectManager. You can import a task list from a CSV file, an Excel Gantt chart template, or a Microsoft Project file or create one from scratch. Unlike Gantt chart Excel templates, our Gantt chart maker does the heavy lifting so you can focus on what’s important.

Simply add project tasks to the tool, fill in the information and a fully-fledged Gantt chart will generate automatically. Our Gantt chart has advanced project management features that’ll let you set task dependencies, identify the critical path and use timesheets for resource tracking, just to name a few.

Also, since it’s an online Gantt chart maker, you and your team members can build the Gantt chart together in real time while you share files and documents with unlimited storage.

Now, without further ado, here’s a step-by-step guide to creating a Gantt chart with ProjectManager , one of the best Gantt chart software available in the market.

1. Create a New Project

When you first log in, you simply enter a project name and select “Create.” You’ll be directed to the Gantt chart view.

2. Add Project Tasks to Your Gantt Chart

As you add tasks, the default date will be today. Since you haven’t added a longer due date than today, the tasks appear in the Gantt chart tool to the right as circles, representing that they start and end today. The dotted line represents today’s date.

3. Assign Tasks to Team Members

You can easily assign or re-assign tasks to team members based on their availability in real time, which is ideal for workload management . When people are assigned tasks, their name appears above the taskbar on the Gantt chart. The Gantt chart maker lets you know whether your team members are available, or if they’re already scheduled for other tasks.

4. Add Due Dates to Your Gantt Chart

As you extend the start and end dates, the task bars on the Gantt chart view extend too, showing you how long each task will take. Add those dates under the planned start and planned finish columns.

5. Prioritize Your Project Tasks

The Gantt chart maker has a task prioritization feature that allows you to establish a priority level for each task so you and your team can focus your efforts on the most important activities. Best of all, this priority tag can also be used in other project views, like task lists and kanban boards for better task tracking.

6. Estimate Task Costs

Add the estimated costs for each task. Our Gantt chart maker helps you estimate labor costs for each project task based on how many team members are working on it and their hourly rate. On top of that, these labor costs are also updated on timesheets you can easily share with your team members.

7. Link Task Dependencies Using the Gantt Chart Timeline

Linking task dependencies is an advanced project planning feature that lets you create a realistic project schedule. There are four types of task dependencies that allow you to understand how your projects’ task sequences are interrelated. In the picture below, you can see how Gantt chart bars are connected by arrows, which indicates there’s a dependency between tasks.

8. Identify Critical Path Activities & Project Milestones

The Gantt chart maker automatically identifies the critical path of your project, which helps you focus on the critical tasks or the tasks that must be completed on time so that your project is completed on time. In addition, you can mark any project task as a milestone, which lets you pinpoint an important achievement, deliverable or the end of a project stage for detailed project tracking .

9. Customize Your Gantt Chart

You can customize your Gantt charts in whatever way suits your team. Here, you can see that different people are represented by different colors on the Gantt taskbars so it’s easy to see at a glance who is responsible for which tasks. Others might use colors on the stacked bar chart to represent different phases of a project or different teams responsible for a group of tasks.

10. Attach Files, Comments or Notes

When your team works collaboratively on an online Gantt chart maker, you can do so much more than just plan tasks. You can add images, videos, links, notes or comments right at the task level, so all the relevant task work is captured and easily accessible in one place.

11. Track Your Team’s Progress

All the updates on the Gantt diagram can be seen in one view. You can see what the team is working on and when tasks have been updated. Team collaboration is easy with online Gantt charts.

It used to be that Gantt charts were the exclusive tool of formally trained project managers. These were people planning complex projects of all different types: construction , engineering, military, manufacturing, infrastructure, IT and more. Creating long task lists and complex project schedules with lots of moving parts, required training in the art and science of task management, critical path analysis, baselining and so on.

Today, nearly everyone can use a Gantt chart to help them visualize their tasks. Because all the difficult work is now done by project management software, anyone can just create a simple task list , add start and end dates, and the software does the work instantly by displaying your tasks over a project timeline.

Gantt charts can be used by all kinds of teams, such as:

• IT & software development teams
• Project management teams
• Marketing teams
• Professional services teams
• Engineering & architectural teams
• Construction teams
• Manufacturing teams
• Product development teams

Here are some examples of potential users of Gantt charts:

• Project managers
• General managers
• Team leaders
• Operations managers
• Scheduling managers
• Marketing managers
• Executives such as CEOs & CTOs
• Anyone who wants an instant view of a project timeline

If you still need help setting up and understanding your Gantt chart, watch this video by Jennifer Bridges, PMP.

If you still have questions about Gantt charts, they should be answered in the following frequently asked questions.

Can You Make a Gantt Chart Online?

Yes, there are online Gantt chart tools such as ProjectManager that allow you to create a Gantt chart online without having to install any software on your Mac or PC.

Can You Make a Gantt Chart in Excel?

Microsoft Excel doesn’t have a Gantt chart feature but you can create one by customizing the stacked bar chart or using one of the free Gantt chart templates available online.

We’ve created a how-to guide with detailed instructions on how to make a Gantt chart in Excel from scratch. Learning to do so allows you to better understand how an Excel Gantt chart works as well as its key features and limitations.

Can You Make a Gantt Chart In Word?

Making a Gantt chart in Word can be very useful as most project teams use Word for creating their project documents. You can create a Gantt chart in Word by inserting a stacked bar chart into a document, adding your project schedule information (such as start, end dates and duration) and customizing the Gantt diagram for greater readability.

Then, once you’ve created your Gantt diagram in Word , you can copy and paste it into any project document you’d like such as a project plan or project proposal.

Can You Make a Gantt Chart in PowerPoint?

Like Word or Excel, PowerPoint allows you to insert stacked bar charts which can be transformed into a Gantt chart. We’ve created a how-to guide with detailed instructions you can follow along if you’d like to make a Gantt chart in PowerPoint.

The best part is that once you create a PowerPoint Gantt chart , you can use it for all your project presentations. Simply copy and paste the PowerPoint Gantt chart into a new presentation and edit its data.

Can You Make a Gantt Chart in Microsoft Project?

Yes, Microsoft Project is project management software equipped with a Gantt chart tool. Some of the key features of Microsoft Project’s Gantt chart are its cost and resource monitoring, critical path analysis, task dependency mapping and milestone tracking.

If you’d like to try Microsoft Project’s Gantt diagram, but need help to get started with this tool, check out our blog on how to make a Gantt chart in Microsoft Project . This blog also goes over the key features, pros and cons of a Microsoft Project Gantt chart.

Can You Make a Gantt Chart in Google Sheets?

To make a Gantt chart in Google Sheets, open a new blank spreadsheet, add the tasks data for your project (including duration, start and end dates), insert a stacked bar graph and then transform the bar graph into a Gantt chart. There are Gantt chart templates for Google Sheets too.

We also have a blog that explains how to make a Gantt chart in Google Sheets , with easy-to-understand steps and images, which makes it ideal for sharing with your team members.

What Does Gantt Stand For?

The Gantt chart was named after Henry Gantt , and many think he was the one who first had the idea of project planning on bar charts. This isn’t entirely true.

Left: Henry Gantt | Right: Karol Adamiecki

Karol Adamiecki devised the first Gantt diagram back in 1896. He was a Polish engineer turned management professor who came up with the idea of displaying processes visually so that he could make it easier to see production schedules. (He did most of his work in the steel industry.) He called it the harmonogram (a much better word) but Adamiecki published his articles on it in Polish and Russian, so the English-speaking world didn’t know much about it.

Henry Gantt had the same idea as Karol Adamiecki, but about 15 years later. In 1910, Gantt started planning visually with bar charts to allow supervisors in the steelworks to see if production was on track or behind schedule. It was Gantt’s name that got attached to this way of project planning, but today it’s generally recognized that Adamiecki had the idea first.

Gantt Chart Resources

• Gantt Chart Software
• Project Scheduling Software
• Project Planning Software
• Project Management Templates
• Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Template
• Gantt Chart Template for Excel
• Gantt Chart Template for PowerPoint
• Project Plan Template
• Best Gantt Chart Software: Paid & Free Options Ranked
• Gantt Chart Task Dependencies
• Easy Ways to Make a Gantt Chart with Google Sheets
• How to Make a Gantt Chart on Mac
• How to Make a Gantt Chart In PowerPoint
• How to Make a Project Schedule
• How to Make a Project Plan
• The Ultimate Guide to the Critical Path Method
• The Ultimate Guide to Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

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How to use a Gantt chart for a research project

Blog: monday project management blog.

Using a Gantt chart for a research project can give all stakeholders a better understanding of timelines and the resources needed for each task. When you detail all crucial tasks, project scheduling is easier and overwhelming tasks become more manageable. With all project activities neatly laid out within a timeline and every minor detail accounted for, a Gantt chart provides your team with the framework for successful project operations.

In this article, we’ll discuss a Gantt chart and how you can use it in a research project to maximize efficiency and promote greater transparency. We’ll also share how you can use monday.com’s project management Work OS to simplify any research project further.

Get started

What is a Gantt chart?

A Gantt chart  is a bar chart popularized in the early 1900s by (and named after) Henry Gantt. It lets you establish a detailed project plan according to when you need each task completed. If done correctly, a Gantt chart creates a realistic time frame for a project by establishing a start date for the whole project and each task. Then, you can pair these start dates with an estimation of how long the task will take, broken down by days, weeks, or months.

What makes a Gantt chart unique is that it establishes dependency relationships between all relevant tasks, which can help you better understand necessary workflows. For example, let’s say you’re creating a research proposal. One of your tasks is to promote awareness and garner support for the proposal on social media. However, before you can do that, you need to create informational materials you can distribute and have the proposal outline ready for viewing. Since these necessities are clearly outlined in the Gantt chart, you can plan your project timeline accordingly.

By clearly highlighting dependency relationships between project tasks, a Gantt chart promotes greater transparency to all project stakeholders.

How can you use a Gantt for research projects?

Research projects are vast undertakings that require a lot of your time, effort, and brain power. Sometimes it’s easy to get sidetracked or confused about what comes next in your research or how you should put it together. A clear understanding of objectives and deadlines can help you organize even the most complex research project undertakings. Even better, a Gantt chart provides clear step-by-step instructions with dependency relationships marked to ensure every team member understands their responsibilities.

A Gantt chart ensures all research project team members clearly understand objectives, deadlines, and task dependency relationships.

Best practices for planning and scheduling a research project

Understanding the best practices for planning and scheduling a research project can help you get the most out of your Gantt chart . A few best practices include:

• Have a clear goal : Before sitting down to plan your research project, ask yourself some crucial questions. What are you trying to achieve? Why are you trying to achieve it? When do you need to complete it?
• Use scheduling tools : Use task and resource scheduling tools when possible to reduce the risk of human error.
• Get the team involved :  Gather your team together for a brainstorming session, if possible, when developing a list of tasks required to meet your final objective.
• Consider dependency relationships :  Consider the dependency relationships between objectives carefully and be realistic about time frames. Ensuring your team has enough time to successfully and thoroughly complete each task from the beginning sets your research project up for success.
• Identify potential issues : Identify risks and potential roadblocks in your schedule and have a backup plan for each to ensure a steady workflow with minimal pushbacks.
• Consider resource requirements : Consider the resources necessary to complete each task. Remember to include work hours as resources and schedule each team member appropriately to achieve objectives in the desired time frame.
• Plan for reporting : Assign specific times, or interval periods, for progress reports and compare these with your initial estimations. If these reports show alterations are necessary, don’t be afraid to make changes.
• Identify KPIs :  Before the research project begins, identify key performance metrics and track them as you go to define your success clearly. You may find using a relevant tool or platform the easiest way to track performance metrics.

Proper knowledge and skills are half the battle in a research project. Having the right tools can increase efficiency, decrease downtime, and ensure objective deadlines are not only met but exceeded.

Managing research projects on monday.com

monday.com’s robust  project management Work OS  makes managing research projects easier by:

• Centralizing projects from start to finish : Our Work OS lets you centralize all projects from conception to completion, with customizable dashboards  that show you the information you deem most important. Quickly assess risks, bottlenecks, and roadblocks to keep your research project moving forward.
• Streamlining project workflows : Streamline workflows by automating routine tasks  and assigning teammates to the work they’re most qualified for. Then, track individual and project-wide progress in real-time with regular task updates. Use color coding to make task management even more straightforward.
• Enabling communication across teams :  Our Work OS promotes communication between project members and across different teams, so all stakeholders know where things stand at all times. You can share documents , leave notes, and work together in real-time for more effective communication that allows you to exceed every deadline and meet every objective.

A Gantt chart template pairs perfectly with monday.com’s project management. However, other templates can make other critical aspects of managing research projects easier.

Related templates

A basic Gantt chart can help you plan your research project in detail. You can use other templates to fine-tune other essential aspects of your project.

Keyword power tools template

Our  Keyword Power Tools Template  uses a Gantt chart format to help you visualize project timelines and monitor each phase of your research projects from one platform. This template can help you make the most of man hours and materials by enabling a high level of project resource organization. Proper resource allocation is crucial to your project’s success and can significantly increase productivity, efficiency, and employee satisfaction. Getting team members the tools and resources they need equips them for success.

Publication and journals template

Our  Publications and Journals Template  is an excellent tool for content publishing companies. You can use our template to:

• Manage your publication process:  Our template enables whole-process management from submission to approval. Easily track article status and monitor writer workload to ensure you meet publishing deadlines.
• Visualize your publishing pipeline:  Customizable dashboards allow you to receive a high-level overview of all current and upcoming articles and where they stand.
• Track individual contributions:  Ensure each writer meets minimum contributions and isn’t given too large a workload by tracking individual contributions. When authors receive enough work, they feel valued. When you ensure their workload isn’t too much, you can prevent staff burnout so they can continue performing at their best.

By now, you should have a working idea of Gantt charts and how they increase transparency and efficiency in project management. However, if you still have questions, we’ve answered a few FAQs below.

How do you create a dissertation in a Gantt chart?

To create a Gantt chart dissertation, you should first understand your timeline and deliverables. Once you’ve written these down, create detailed task lists of how you’ll accomplish each deliverable and consider dependency relationships between each. Finally, use the Gantt chart to outline your dissertation from start to finish.

What should be in a dissertation timeline?

In a dissertation timeline, you should include the following:

• Role assigning (if applicable)
• Research tasks
• Experiments, social or scientific (if applicable)
• Data collection and analysis
• First draft completion
• Submission to the advisor (first) and dean (at completion)

How do you create a Gantt chart in Word?

You can create a Gantt chart in Microsoft Word by:

• Opening a new Word document
• Change the document orientation from vertical to horizontal
• Insert a bar graph into your document
• Make format alterations as necessary to make the graph look like a Gantt chart
• Insert information and customize as necessary

Any team can increase transparency in their research projects with monday.com

Using a Gantt chart to create a detailed project timeline can help increase transparency and promote greater efficiency in your organization’s research projects. When you pair a Gantt chart with monday.com’s robust project management system, you have the tools you need to meet deadlines, complete objectives, and exceed expectations.

The post How to use a Gantt chart for a research project appeared first on monday.com Blog .

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Creating a Gantt Chart for Your Research Project Proposal

Crafting a successful research proposal demands careful planning. However, managing intricate projects with numerous tasks and deadlines can be challenging.

This is where the Gantt charts come into play. These powerful project management techniques offer a visual roadmap for your research proposal, transforming your intricate plan into a clear and concise document. By incorporating a Gantt chart, you not only streamline the planning process for yourself but also strengthen your proposal by demonstrating a meticulously structured and achievable project.

Let's explore the power of the Gantt chart for crafting robust research proposals and a step-by-step guide on how to create one. 

Understanding Gantt Charts and their Application in Research Proposals

Gantt charts , developed by Henry Gantt, an American engineer and project management consultant, are powerful visual tools for project management. They represent project tasks as horizontal bars on a timeline, showing their duration and dependencies. This simple format provides a comprehensive overview of your research proposal development process.

In research proposals, Gantt charts are invaluable because they:

Visualize the Project Lifecycle: Understand the sequential steps involved, from literature review to data analysis and final edits.

Manage Task Dependencies: Identify tasks reliant on others' completion (e.g., data collection after finalizing research methodology).

Optimize Resource Allocation: Allocate essential resources, like software or equipment, to specific tasks within the timeline.

Crafting a Gantt Chart with Rework

Now that you understand the core functionality of Gantt charts, let's explore how to create one specifically for your research proposal. Here, we'll leverage the features of Rework.com , a comprehensive project management platform that streamlines the process.

Rework transcends the limitations of basic Gantt charts, offering functionalities that empower a more streamlined research proposal creation process. Here's how it empowers you:

Seamless Integration:  Rework seamlessly integrates task management, workflow design, and progress tracking – all crucial aspects of building a strong research proposal.

Intuitive Interface:  No technical expertise is required! Rework's user-friendly interface allows you to create and customize Gantt charts effortlessly.

Real-Time Collaboration:  Facilitate effective teamwork and communication among your research team directly within the platform.

Streamlined Workflows:  Design clear and concise workflows for each research stage, outlining tasks, deadlines, and responsible team members.

To showcase the power of Rework, let's take a brief look at what a research proposal Gantt chart might look like on the platform.

Each stage would then be broken down into specific tasks, with clear deadlines and assigned team members.

This level of organization and transparency not only strengthens your proposal but also paves the way for a smooth and efficient research journey.

Step-by-Step Guide: Constructing Your Research Proposal Gantt Chart

Having grasped the power of Gantt charts and the functionalities offered by Rework.com, let's embark on the exciting journey of building your research proposal Gantt chart! Here's a step-by-step guide to navigate the process:

1. Define Your Research Goals

This initial step lays the foundation for your entire project. Clearly outline your research topic, objectives, and desired outcomes. Having a well-defined objective will guide you in structuring the subsequent stages.

2. Break Down the Project into Stages

Identify the key stages involved in completing your research, such as literature review, data collection, data analysis, and proposal writing.

3. List Tasks Within Each Stage

Now, delve deeper into each research stage and meticulously list all the specific tasks that need to be completed. For instance, the "literature review" stage might involve tasks like identifying relevant academic databases, searching for articles, and summarizing key findings.

4. Estimate Task Durations

Allocate estimated timeframes for completing each individual task within your research stages. Consider factors like the complexity of the task and the resources available.

5. Identify Task Dependencies

Analyze the sequence of your tasks and pinpoint any dependencies. Remember the data analysis example? It can't begin until the data collection stage is complete. Mapping these dependencies in your Gantt chart ensures a smooth and logical workflow.

6. Utilize Rework's Features

Leverage the user-friendly interface of Rework to effortlessly create your Gantt chart. Input your research stages, tasks, and estimated durations. Rework will translate this information into a clear visual representation of your project timeline.

7. Assign Team Members

If you're working with a team, utilize Rework's functionalities to assign specific tasks to individual team members. This promotes accountability and ensures everyone is on the same page.

8. Track Progress & Make Adjustments

Monitor progress within Rework, identify any potential roadblocks that might arise, and be prepared to adjust your plan as needed. The flexibility of Rework allows you to adapt your Gantt chart to maintain optimal project flow.

By following these steps and utilizing Rework’s capabilities, you'll craft a robust research proposal Gantt chart. This visual roadmap not only streamlines your research journey but also presents a structured plan to potential funders or reviewers, increasing your proposal's success rate.

Advanced Techniques for Optimizing Your Research Proposal Gantt Chart

To elevate your Gantt chart's effectiveness, consider these advanced strategies:

Conditional Formatting:  Implement conditional formatting within your Rework Gantt chart. This functionality allows you to utilize color coding to visually distinguish completed tasks from those nearing deadlines or overdue.

Task Annotations:  Move beyond simple task listings – enrich them with context for increased clarity and professionalism. Utilize Rework's functionalities to add detailed annotations directly within your Gantt chart for each task. These annotations can incorporate specific instructions, relevant resources, or crucial reminders for team members.

Rework Reporting:  Rework extends beyond Gantt chart creation; it empowers you to analyze project progress with robust reporting tools. Generate comprehensive reports that offer valuable insights into task completion rates, resource allocation, and overall project health. By identifying areas needing improvement or potential roadblocks early on, you can proactively adjust your plan and optimize research execution.

Crafting a compelling research proposal is crucial, but it doesn't have to be overwhelming. With Rework's intuitive interface and powerful features, creating a professional Gantt chart tailored to your proposal is straightforward. By leveraging Gantt charts, you'll showcase a well-structured and achievable project, increasing your proposal's impact and securing funding. Ready to streamline your research journey? Start building your Gantt chart with Rework today!

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A Guide for Using Gantt Chart for Research Project

Are you embarking on a research project and feeling overwhelmed by the complexity of managing your tasks and timelines? Fear not! In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the power of Gantt charts for research projects. From crafting a research proposal to executing your project, Gantt charts can be your best friend. Let's dive into the world of Gantt charts and discover how they can streamline your research journey.

Understanding Gantt Charts for Research Projects

Before we delve into the practical aspects of using Gantt charts for research projects, let's start with the basics. What exactly is a Gantt chart, and how can it benefit your research endeavors?

What is a Gantt Chart?

A Gantt chart is a visual representation of a project schedule that displays tasks, their durations, and the relationships between them. This tool was originally developed by Henry L. Gantt in the 1910s, and it has since become a staple in project management across various fields, including research.

Benefits of Using Gantt Charts for Research Projects

• Clarity and Visualization: Gantt charts provide a clear and visual overview of your research project, making it easier to understand the sequence of tasks and their dependencies.
• Task Organization: You can break down your research into manageable tasks and allocate time for each one, ensuring that you stay on track.
• Timeline Management: Gantt charts help you set realistic deadlines and track your progress, preventing delays and ensuring you complete your project on time.
• Resource Allocation: You can allocate resources such as personnel, equipment, and funding to specific tasks, optimizing your research efficiency.
• Communication: Gantt charts are excellent communication tools. They allow you to share your project timeline with team members, advisors, or stakeholders, fostering transparency and collaboration.

Now that you understand the benefits of using Gantt charts for research projects , let's explore how to implement them effectively.

Creating a Gantt Chart for Your Research Proposal

Before you can dive into your research project, you'll likely need to prepare a research proposal to outline your objectives, methodology, and timeline. This is where a Gantt chart can be incredibly useful.

Step 1: Define Your Research Objectives

Begin by establishing a clear and concise delineation of your research goals and purposes.

What do you aim to achieve, and what are the key milestones? Break down your research into specific tasks or phases, such as literature review, data collection, analysis, and report writing.

Step 2: Identify Task Dependencies

Next, identify the dependencies between tasks. Certain tasks might require completion before others can commence. For instance, you might need to finish data collection before you can start data analysis. These dependencies will help you create a logical sequence for your Gantt chart.

Step 3: Estimate Task Durations

Estimate the duration of each task or phase. Be realistic in your estimates, considering factors like the complexity of the task and the resources available. It's better to overestimate than underestimate, as this will help you avoid unexpected delays.

Step 4: Create Your Gantt Chart

Now, it's time to create your Gantt chart . You can use specialized project management software like Microsoft Project, Excel, or online tools like Slikk.ai, Asana, or even dedicated Gantt chart software. In your Gantt chart, each task is represented as a horizontal bar, and the length of the bar corresponds to the task's duration. Task dependencies are indicated by the order of the bars.

Step 5: Review and Refine

Once you've created your initial Gantt chart, review it carefully. Ensure that it aligns with your research proposal and that the timeline is feasible. Make adjustments as needed.

Step 6: Share Your Proposal and Gantt Chart

Share your research proposal and Gantt chart with your advisor, committee members, or anyone involved in your project. Their feedback can be invaluable in refining your plan and ensuring its feasibility.

With your research proposal and Gantt chart in hand, you're ready to embark on your research project. But the journey doesn't end here; Gantt charts are equally essential for project execution and management.

Managing Your Research Project with Gantt Charts

As you transition from the proposal stage to the actual execution of your research project, your Gantt chart becomes a dynamic tool to keep you on track. Here's how to effectively manage your research project using Gantt charts:

Task Allocation

Assign specific tasks to yourself and your team members if applicable. Each person's responsibilities should be clearly defined in the Gantt chart. This ensures accountability and prevents confusion.

Timeline Monitoring

Regularly update your Gantt chart to reflect the progress of your project. As tasks are completed, mark them as such and adjust the timeline if necessary. If any delays occur, identify the reasons and take corrective action.

Resource Management

Keep an eye on resource allocation. Are you running low on a particular resource? Do you need to reallocate resources to meet project demands? Your Gantt chart can help you make informed decisions.

Communication and Collaboration

Share your Gantt chart with your team and stakeholders. It serves as a common reference point for everyone involved, fostering effective communication and collaboration. It's much easier to discuss project status and adjustments when you have a visual representation.

Risk Management

Identify potential risks to your project's timeline and address them proactively. If you anticipate delays or obstacles, have contingency plans in place. Your Gantt chart can include these contingencies, providing a safety net for your project.

Celebrate Milestones

As you reach important milestones in your research, take the time to celebrate your achievements. This not only boosts morale but also serves as a motivator for the next phase of your project.

Tips for Using Gantt Charts Effectively

To make the most of Gantt charts for your research project, here are some additional tips:

• Keep It Simple: While Gantt charts can become complex for large projects, strive to keep yours as simple as possible. Too much detail can make it difficult to read and maintain.
• Regular Updates: Don't let your Gantt chart become stagnant. Regularly update it to reflect the current status of your project.
• Use Colours: Use colors to differentiate tasks or highlight critical paths in your Gantt chart. This makes it easier to spot important information at a glance.
• Be Realistic: Set realistic deadlines and durations. Overloading your schedule can lead to burnout and project failure.
• Collaborative Tools: Consider using collaborative project management tools that allow multiple team members to update the Gantt chart in real time.
• Training: If you're working with a team, ensure that everyone understands how to read and update the Gantt chart. Offer training if necessary.

In the world of research projects, where meticulous planning and execution are paramount, Gantt charts are indispensable tools. They offer clarity, organization, and control over your project's timeline, making them essential for both research proposals and project management.

By following the steps outlined in this guide and implementing Gantt charts effectively, you'll be better equipped to tackle your research project with confidence. From defining your objectives to celebrating your achievements, Gantt charts are your trusty companions on the journey to research success.

So, the next time you embark on a research project, remember the power of the Gantt chart. It's not just a tool; it's your roadmap to research excellence. Happy researching!

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Blog Graphic Design 11 Gantt Chart Examples For Project Management

11 Gantt Chart Examples For Project Management

Written by: Bronwyn Kienapple May 10, 2023

Slack pings, client emails, subcontractor texts… it’s enough to drive anyone crazy. Stop the communication madness and make a Gantt chart .

A Gantt chart lets you communicate your project timeline visually in an easy-to-understand way. Everyone’s in the loop, so you can get work done faster and easier.

Want to see Gantt chart examples, plus get tips on how to create professional Gantt charts that are professional, attractive and simple to understand?

Stick around or check out our Gantt chart templates to start customizing right away.

Click to jump ahead :

• What is a Gantt Chart?

10 Gantt chart examples 

Why is a gantt chart important, benefits of using a gantt chart, what are the parts of a gantt chart, how to make a gantt chart, what is a gantt chart.

A Gantt chart is a timeline of a project. The top of the chart shows the time frame and the left side of the chart lists the project activities.

Here’s a Gantt chart example:

Each activity listed on the left-hand side of a Gantt chart has a colored bar next to it.

The position and length of that bar depends on the activity’s timeline and duration: when it starts and when it ends.

• For example, in the daily project status Gantt chart above, Activity 1 (Task 1) will take place from March 3 to 7 and then from March 10 to 13. The due date is Thursday of that week. Each week is color coded.

Here’s another example:

In short, a Gantt chart shows:

• What tasks need to be done to complete the project
• When these tasks need to be done

Now that you know what a Gantt chart is, let’s look at a few examples to better understand its usability and versatility.

1. Gantt charts for project management

Gantt charts can be a helpful visual to include in project management plans .

Like the previous example, this retro daily project Gantt chart example breaks down project activities day by day.

It also breaks down who’s responsible for what project activity.

• Sonya J. is responsible for it from September 3 to 14 (two weeks).
• Amir K. is responsible for it from September 17 to 21 (one week). Julia F. is in charge of Task 1/Activity 1 from September 17 to October 2. Her red bar shows that the due date is Wednesday.

The magic of a Gantt chart is that it lets you set the order in which tasks should be completed.

And since Gantt charts are in an easy-to-understand timeline format, the task order is crystal clear.

Your team and/or clients won’t need to ask you again and again when Mark is supposed to be working on link building. Phew .

Project management: simplified.

This template would work especially well for consultants , as the client can get a visual representation of the team working on their project.

Putting faces to the names creates confidence in the client and helps build your reputation.

Pro Tip : Use Venngage’s collaboration features to add team members (like your client) to your account and share your Gantt chart seamlessly. Or better yet, edit and customize your gantt charts with your team in real time with our new real-time collaboration feature!

Get feedback and approvals faster within one channel, without having to juggle Slack messages, emails, or G Suite comments.

This corporate weekly project Gantt chart example is more traditional than the previous example. The focus is on the activities and their types, not the individual people.

The types of activities, such as engineering or marketing, are color coded.

• For example, Task 3/Activity 1 is a marketing activity that will take place from the middle of week 3 to the middle of week 5. Julia K. is responsible for this activity.

This futuristic-looking Gantt chart example is perfect for teams who operate on the sprint system .

The template is divided into two-week sprints, but you can change this to a one week sprint (or longer) as needed.

The left hand side is divided by team and further divided by activity.

• For example, the engineering team will do planning from the beginning of week 3 to the end of week 5.

Pro Tip : When you’ve finished editing your Gantt chart in Venngage, click “Share” in the top right corner of the editor to email or get a link to your design.

Or click “Download” to download a PDF or PNG file to your hard drive (Premium and Business plans only).

Add your Gantt chart to your weekly team meeting presentation . Consultants can add them to their proposals or work plan templates  or integrate them into their project management tool .

2. Gantt Charts for Construction

Construction projects can suffer from “too many cooks in the kitchen” syndrome, making it really hard to meet deadlines.

Gantt charts are a great way to keep construction projects on schedule and make sure clients, crew members and subcontractors are in the loop.

This construction project Gantt chart example will make sure everyone’s on the same page. The chart’s simple format makes it easy to see what activity is due when .

You can edit the Gantt chart as the project progresses.

• For example, if an activity is taking longer than it should, extend the bar’s length and make that section red. That way, everyone is instantly aware of overtime and potential project delays.

This construction project Gantt chart example is almost the same format as the previous one, but the dots represent two day intervals.

• For example, demolition will run from Friday of week 1 to Friday of week 2 (six days).

Pro Tip : Venngage’s My Brand Kit tool lets you apply your brand colors to your Gantt chart template with one click. My Brand Kit also lets you include your logo and apply brand fonts.

For example, in the above template, using My Brand Kit would change the blue, yellow and green background color scheme to your brand’s color scheme. You can then click “shuffle” to cycle through the color combination options.

3. Gantt Chart Example for Project Proposals

New product in the works? Use this dark new product project Gantt chart example.

The far left hand column maps out the activities, while the far right column lists what department is responsible for each activity.

Product development typically involves multiple departments or teams of people. There may be no one project leader, or only multiple managers, on multiple teams.

A Gantt chart is the perfect way to manage tasks between multiple teams as all the information is in one place, in a crystal-clear format.

It eliminates confusion about dependencies i.e. who needs to finish what before another team can begin their task.

Pro Tip : You can also include the chart in your business report or presentation .  Download your finished Gantt chart as a PNG file (Premium and Business plans only). Choose a presentation template from our library. Once you’re in the editor, click the “Image Upload” tab to upload the Gantt chart and add it to your slides.

4. Gantt Chart Example for Business Plans

A business plan tends to contain a lot of information and can quickly become overwhelming to potential investors.

Visualizing schedules, research or data will help break up all the text and quickly communicate key deliverables.

Investors need to see that you have a concrete plan in place that will let you achieve your revenue goals. 

One strategy is to use a Gantt chart to visualize your business plan’s growth strategy or marketing plan .

Use the Gantt chart example above to plot your business strategy and major milestones. Edit the time frame on the bottom to plot out stages by quarter–over several years, if you like.

You can also include this Gantt chart in your project plan .

5. Gantt Chart Example for Consultants

Your client’s hired you to help them achieve their goals. But, let’s say they’re a new client and they need a little more reassurance that you, the consultant, is on top of things.

Show your client that you have a workable roadmap to success with a Gantt chart.

Edit the above Gantt chart example and divide tasks–between your team, any subcontractors and your client’s team.

Refer back to the chart during your weekly calls with the client to make sure you’re both on the same page.

If you’re overwhelmed by admin work, check out our job proposal templates , business proposal templates and consulting report templates and get important documents out the door a lot faster.

Find a hard time creating business proposals fast? Read our in-depth business proposal guide to whip up proposals quickly. 

They’ll also look plenty better than those Word documents you usually churn out!

Pro Tip : Love your Gantt chart’s layout and want to use it again for other consulting projects? Save it as a template in Venngage. That way, you can reuse it whenever you need to make a Gantt chart for another client.

Gantt charts are important because they make scheduling, planning and executing on projects easier. They also help a lot with general time management .

Projects often involve multiple stakeholders, activities and deadlines. Gantt charts visualize all these factors so that project managers and their teams can quickly understand who needs to do what and when .

This will help make sure each deliverable is completed on time.

Which in turn will prevent a snowball effect of missed deadlines, causing the  project price to go up and the completion date to be pushed back.

And no one wants that.

The benefits of a Gantt chart include:

• Scheduling and planning projects and tasks
• Plan work in sprints
• Visualizing how projects and tasks evolve over time
• Collaborate with your team
• Comparing planned versus actual timelines

Gantt charts are incredibly versatile — they’re useful for multiple roles, such as:

• Project managers
• Marketing managers
• Team leaders
• Operations managers
• Consultants

Gantt charts aren’t industry-specific, either. They’re a critical tool for anyone managing a long-term project that has lots of tasks and a complex schedule and that requires collaboration.

• For example, the Gantt chart example below can be adapted for any project simply by changing the tasks and milestones:

Industries that can benefit from Gantt charts include:

• Construction
• Manufacturing
• Product development
• Engineering
• Infrastructure
• Oil and gas
• Telecommunications
• Professional services and consultants

Telecommuting has risen 140 percent since 2005, according to Globa l Workplace Analytics .

As this number continues to skyrocket, a Gantt chart becomes even more critical for team management and to effectively plan and track work as a team.

When you first look at a Gantt chart, it might seem overwhelming.

What do the bars or lines mean? How do they relate to the x and y axes?

But, on second glance you’ll see that the beauty of a Gantt chart is actually in its simplicity.

A Gantt chart only has three main parts:

• Activities and/or tasks (left axis)
• Milestones (top or bottom axis)
• Activity and/or task bars

Take a look at this simple Gantt chart example:

Not intimidating at all.

• Tasks on the left axis
• Milestones on the bottom axis
• And bars that show when each task should begin and end

Of course, more complex projects, such as the construction of large urban infrastructures or complex software engineering services, require more complex Gantt charts.

The Gantt chart example below takes things a step further by dividing activities into smaller tasks.

• For example, “Planning” is divided into: needs assessment, project agreement and site map.

This Gantt chart also lists (on the right) who’s responsible for each task.

The good news is that you can now create a Gantt chart with Venngage in five steps:

1. Choose a Template

Choices, choices. Open our Gantt chart templates gallery .

Then, select the template for you by:

• Ex. Dark Home Construction Project Gantt Chart Template
• Ex. Dark New Product Project Gantt Chart Template
• Corporate Weekly Project Gantt Chart
• Ex. Detailed Project Gantt Chart

Hover over the template you like and click “Create.”

2. Lay Out Your Timeline From Left to Right

Start by laying out the timeline of your from left to right, creating divisions by day, week, month, or quarter.

In this Gantt chart template, click the text box you want to edit and start typing.

Or delete the days of the week and add months or quarters, instead.

Made a mistake? You can click “undo” in the top toolbar at any time.

To add a new column to the right, click “Resize” and increase the width of the custom page size. Try adding 200 more pixels and readjust as needed.

Then, drag and select all the orange icons to move them to the right at the same time.

Drag to select the entire dates section and click “copy” and move into place. Edit the dates.

Now, drag to extend the beige bars. Use the “snap to guide” feature to help you align everything perfectly.

3. Add Tasks From Top to Bottom

Click the tasks and activities to edit the text. Use the top navigation bar to change the font style, size, color etc.

If you need to add a new row, follow the same steps for adding a new column as above. Just adjust the height of the page size instead of the width. Then, copy the last row by dragging to select and pressing “copy.”

4. Adjust Each Bar Accordingly

Adjust each bar so it begins at the task’s start date and extend it to the end of the expected task deadline.

Click each bar to move it or drag it. The snap-to-guide feature will help you align the bar with the specific day of the week above.

Copy other bars with the right color and move them into place to extend the timeline of a task.

You can also click the orange circles to assign each task to a different person–in the above Gantt chart template they’re indicated by initials.

5. Brand Your Gantt Chart

Brand your Gantt chart with one click by opening the My Brand Kit tab. Drag your logo into place.

Then, click a “My Brand Colors” palette to apply these colors to the entire template. Click “Shuffle” to scroll through different color combinations. Very cool.

Want a different type of design? Discover even more Gantt chart templates .

Pro Tip : Struggling to customize your Gantt chart just the way you want it? Venngage offers priority support via email, chat and phone and 1-on-1 consultations to Business plan members. Ask our designers for tips on how to present your idea visually — whether in a Gantt chart or a presentation, report, white paper etc.

What’s your number one struggle with managing projects right now? Let us know in the comments below!

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Scientific Project Management with Gantt Charts

What are Gantt charts?

The importance of planning for scientific project management

Preclinical research bears significant costs. Constructing a good research plan helps you clearly define your vision and refine your scientific and business goals. Lack of planning preclinical research projects may result in considerable time and budget deviation. Therefore, scientific project management is highly important for emerging biotech companies especially when budget is limited.

When you start planning a research project you need to carefully think of all the details required for succeeding. You need to decide on the project’s time frame and create a proper timeline for each part within the project. It is important to be realistic about your time frames and try to leave buffers as sometimes things do not work as planned. Today, most laboratories, in pharmaceutical companies or academia, use Electronic Lab Notebooks to document their projects. In addition, it is recommended to use Gantt charts to monitor your project progress vs. the plan and to keep your project timeline organized.

Tracking Your Projects with Gantt charts

Gantt charts make scientific project management easier, as they enable you to visually track how a project is progressing in comparison to the plan, and see the full project picture. In addition, you can manage the entire project process and ensure that your research team is in sync and working within the project’s time frame. You can choose to have two separate applications to manage your research projects- an ELN and an additional project management tool. However, this might result in mundane work of searching for changes and redundant documentation by manually updating an Excel sheet or external visualization applications.

Implementing an ELN platform that includes Gantt Charts allows you to seamlessly manage cross-functional efforts within your lab, all in one application:

• Start date and duration of tasks (experiments) in the Gantt chart are added automatically when the experiments are created in the ELN
• Update experiments start date and duration fields on both the Gantt chart and the experiment page in a single action. Updating in one page automatically updates the other
• Save time and update the work plan by simply dragging or extending the experiments bar on the Gantt chart and vice versa
• Create dependencies by connecting between experiments and folders
• Visually see completed experiments and folders to easily track progress

Labguru’s Gantt chart feature

Once your Gantt chart is in sync with your ELN it’s fairly easy to keep track of your research progress. Labguru offers a Gantt chart module that will help you organize and plan your research, all in one place.

Contact us to learn more about scientific project management.

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What Is a Gantt Chart? How to Use Gantt Charts in Project Management (with Examples)

Whether you’re a project management rookie or veteran, you’ve probably heard of a gantt chart. While gantt charts might seem intimidating, they’re not as mystifying as you might think.

In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about the gantt chart—from its definition and parts to how to create one quickly and easily. Find out how gantt charts work and why so many project teams use them in project management.

Watch this video for a quick breakdown of the basics.

What is a gantt chart?: Definition & overview

A gantt chart is a horizontal bar chart used in project management to visually represent a project plan over time. Gantt charts typically show you the timeline and status—as well as who’s responsible—for each task in the project.

Here’s a quick look at the details a gantt chart enables you to capture at a glance:

• How a project breaks down into tasks
• When each task will begin and end
• How long each task will take
• Who’s assigned to each task
• How tasks relate to and depend on each other
• When important meetings, approvals, or deadlines need to happen
• How work is progressing in a project
• The full project schedule from start to finish

In other words, a gantt chart is a super-simple way to communicate what it will take to deliver a project on time and budget. That means it’s a whole lot easier to keep your project team and stakeholders on the same page from the get-go.

Who invented the gantt chart?

The first project management chart was invented by Karol Adamiecki in 1896. So why isn’t it called an Adamiecki chart? Good question!

Although Adamiecki created his precursor to the gantt chart—called the harmonogram—in the late 19th century, he didn’t publish it until 1931. It got limited exposure at the time because it was only published in Polish.

Meanwhile, Henry Gantt published his own project management system in the 1910s to a much wider audience.

Here’s a quick history of gantt charts:

• 1896 : Karol Adamiecki creates the first project management chart: the Harmonogram, a precursor to the modern gantt chart.
• 1931 : Adamiecki publishes the harmonogram (but in Polish with limited exposure).
• 1910-1915 : Henry Gantt publishes his own project management system, the gantt chart.
• Today : Gantt charts are the preferred tool for managing projects of all sizes and types.

Basic components of a gantt chart

Gantt charts may seem complicated at first. But once you learn how to read them, you’ll be able to tell exactly where your projects are and what needs to happen to guide them to success.

Reading a gantt chart really comes down to understanding how the different elements come together to make a gantt chart work. Here’s a simple gantt chart example with explanations of the core components:

Let’s break down the basic parts of a gantt chart so you understand how they function in a project plan.

• Task list : Runs vertically down the left of the gantt chart to describe project work and may be organized into groups and subgroups
• Timeline : Runs horizontally across the top of the gantt chart and shows months, weeks, days, and years
• Dateline : A vertical line that highlights the current date on the gantt chart
• Bars : Horizontal markers on the right side of the gantt chart that represent tasks and show progress, duration, and start and end dates
• Milestones : Yellow diamonds that call out major events, dates, decisions, and deliverables
• Dependencies : Light gray lines that connect tasks that need to happen in a certain order
• Progress : Shows how far along work is and may be indicated by percent complete and/or bar shading
• Resource assigned : Indicates the person or team responsible for completing a task

What is a gantt chart used for in project management?

In project management, gantt charts are used for planning and scheduling projects. A gantt chart is incredibly useful because it allows you to simplify complex projects into an easy-to-follow plan and track the status of tasks as work progresses.

Gantt charts also help you keep track of project deadlines, milestones, and hours worked so you can spot and address delays or overages before they wreak havoc on your project.

Who uses gantt charts?

Gantt charts are used by project managers, business owners, team leaders, and executives in many different industries across various departments. Here are just a few types of companies and teams that use gantt charts to plan, schedule, and execute their projects:

• Construction
• Consulting agencies
• Engineering firms
• Event planning
• Human resources
• Marketing teams
• Manufacturing
• Software development

When should you use a gantt chart?

A gantt chart comes in handy when your project requires more planning than a basic to-do list. Here are a few sure signs you’re going to need a gantt chart to get the job done:

• Your project has a hard deadline.
• Multiple people or teams are involved in the project and need to be coordinated.
• A boss, client, or team member wants to see a visual timeline of the project from beginning to end.
• Your project involves even just a little complexity, such as tasks that need to be done in a specific order.
• Team members work on multiple projects at a time, and you need to manage their workloads.
• You have a good idea of roughly how long each task should or can take.

If ANY of the conditions above apply to your project, use a gantt chart!

Gantt chart examples

Now let’s look at 7 examples of gantt charts you could use for different project types. Use these ideas as an easy starting point for making a gantt chart for your projects.

Software project gantt chart

Taking a hybrid approach to an upcoming software project? This software development plan shows you how to use a gantt chart for an Agile project . Tasks have been organized into groups based on sprints, with milestones for sprint planning and deployment.

Try this template for free!

Design project gantt chart

This sample gantt chart is perfect for planning a website build or redesign. It breaks activities down into basic phases from discovery, content, and design to development, launch, and maintenance. Feel free to keep your website development plan simple or build it out to cover all your project bases.

Media production gantt chart

Want to get one step closer to lights, camera, action? We designed this video production schedule to help you hit your release dates right on time. In this gantt chart example, tasks are organized and color-coded by the 3 phases of a media project: pre-production, production, and post-production.

Marketing gantt charts

Writing your first marketing plan can feel daunting. This digital marketing plan makes it easy to outline key strategies for meeting your objectives. Use this gantt chart to track goal progress and keep your team and stakeholders informed. In this example, we grouped quarterly initiatives by project type.

Need to plan an integrated digital marketing campaign ? The gantt chart sample below shows you how to build a tactical plan across all your digital media. It’s got tasks for foundational planning, content, and design work, plus subgroups for different marketing channels so you can outline a strategy for each one.

Event planning gantt chart

This event plan checklist breaks your event plan down into all the granular details. You can group tasks by planning phase and even vendor. In this example, we’ve used milestones to track important meetings, decisions, and deadlines and added dependencies between tasks that must get done before the next one can start.

Construction gantt chart

Construction project managers rely on gantt charts to manage moving parts across large projects. In this sample construction schedule , each phase of the construction process has been broken down into its own group of tasks. Important contract sign-off and inspections are represented by milestones.

How to make a gantt chart

Now that you’ve got the gantt chart basics down, you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and create a gantt chart of your own! Let’s walk through the process of how to build a gantt chart for your next project.

In this section, we’ll go over:

What you need to create a gantt chart

How to build a basic gantt chart in minutes, best practices for creating an effective gantt chart.

You can’t build a gantt chart without knowing some basic project information. That’s why it’s important to answer a few simple questions first.

These questions can help you gather all the right details so you can sketch out a project plan before you sit down to create your gantt chart. Get a more detailed look at how to write a good project plan.

What to consider when making a gantt chart

• What are the major deliverables?
• How will we get to those deliverables and the deadline ?
• What are the milestones we need to hit?
• Are there dependencies that could impact the timeline ?
• Who is on the project team, and what role will they play in those deliverables?

There are lots of different ways to make a gantt chart. Some people use traditional desktop apps to create a gantt chart, while others use collaborative project management software .

In this tutorial, we’ll show you how it’s done in TeamGantt. If you’d rather use a spreadsheet to build your gantt chart, we’ve got guides for that too.

• How to make a gantt chart in Excel
• How to make a gantt chart in Google Sheets

Just be sure to choose a gantt chart builder that gives you the features you need.

Follow the steps and examples below to learn how to build a gantt chart in TeamGantt in minutes. Sign up for a free account to follow along and create a gantt chart of your own.

Step 1: Set up your project details

Before you start mapping out tasks on a timeline, you need to gather a few basic project details.

To create a new gantt chart in TeamGantt, click the New Project button in the upper right corner of the My Projects screen.

Give your project a name and start date, and select the days of the week you want to include in your project.

Tip : You have 2 options for fast-tracking your build if you don’t want to create a gantt chart from scratch: create a project from a template or import a project via CSV. ‍

Once you’ve completed these basics, click Create New Project to move on to adding tasks.

Step 2: Add tasks to your project

Adding tasks to your gantt chart is the first step in creating your project timeline. To create tasks, click on the Add Task link ( +Task ), and type the name of your first task.

Hit enter to add another task. Repeat this process until you have all (or most) of your tasks added to the task list.

Step 3: Schedule your tasks

Now that you’ve got a full list of work to be done, it’s time to schedule all those tasks. TeamGantt makes scheduling tasks super-simple because you can drag and drop each task on your timeline.

To place the taskbar on your gantt chart, simply click on the timeline below the date you'd like to schedule your task. Then drag either side of the taskbar to shorten or extend the task's duration.

Step 4: Add important project milestones

Adding milestones to your gantt chart makes it easy to track project deadlines, approvals, meetings, and other key deliverables or events. In TeamGantt, a milestone appears as a yellow diamond on your gantt chart.

To add a milestone to your gantt chart, simply click on the Milestone link, give your new milestone a name, and drag the milestone icon across the gantt chart to schedule it on the timeline.

Repeat this process until you have all your milestones added to the list.

Step 5: Add dependencies to the tasks that need them

Now that your tasks and milestones are entered and scheduled, hover over a task, and click the gray dot that appears.

Click and drag the dependency line to the task you want to link it to.

Step 6: Invite people to your project and assign tasks to those responsible

Click the Invite People button at the upper right corner of your project to go to your project’s People page. From there, click the blue Invite People link, located just below the list of people who are already part of your project.

If the user already exists in your account:

Simply select the checkbox next to the person you want to add to your project, then click the blue Add to Project button that appears. This person will automatically receive an invitation to log into TeamGantt and access the project.

If the user does not exist in your account yet:

Click the Add New Person link. Then enter the person’s name and email address, select their company-level permission , and click the Add User to Company button. (Note: Guest users and Basic users are automatically added with View Only project permission, while Advanced users are added with Edit Chart project permission.)

Feel free to add your own custom notification message, then click Add to Project to finalize the invite. This person will automatically receive an invitation to get set up in TeamGantt and access the project.

Learn more about inviting people to your project in TeamGantt.

Step 7: Apply task colors to enhance visualization on your gantt chart

Color is a great way to make your gantt chart easy to understand at a quick glance.

Hover over a taskbar, and click on the colored square. Choose a new color, and you’re all done!

Tip : You can set a default color for each person on your team in TeamGantt. Simply select the People tab at the top of your project, then click none next to each user to assign a default task color. Now, each task you assign to that person will automatically be the color you selected.

If you want to build a gantt chart everyone can use and navigate, there are a few simple rules you should keep in mind. Follow these simple tips and best practices to make a good gantt chart that’s easy to update and manage.

Do get granular with tasks.

The more detail you can spell out when it comes to tasks, the better you’ll be able to track progress and steps leading up to a deliverable. Refer back to your work breakdown structure , and list the steps you used to create that.

Do organize tasks into groups or phases.

Creating groups of tasks will make your plan easier to scan and understand. It’ll also allow your team and stakeholders to see what tasks are part of a deliverable or a phase.

Here’s a quick look at how subgroups work in TeamGantt.

Do add important details and documents to tasks.

Sometimes your team and clients may forget what they committed to. Or maybe they don’t fully understand the intent of a task or group.

Use the notes section of your plan (most gantt chart software should provide this) to spell things out. While you’re at it, be sure to upload key files directly to the task so everything’s ready and waiting for work to begin.

In the project sample below, we added notes about the scope of the task and uploaded a copy of the creative brief for more detail.

Do label tasks by responsible party.

This tip comes in handy for any project, but it’s especially useful for client projects. Identifying which team or company is responsible for each task makes your gantt chart super-easy to scan.

When creating a task, you can assign labels you've set up on the People tab or simply put the company name (or an acronym) in front of the task. Here’s how we tagged tasks in the following gantt chart example:

• PT = Product Team
• GM = Gantt Museum

Of course, you’ll also want to take that a step further and assign each task to the person responsible. This will help you with resource allocation and accountability.

Do display start and end dates for each task

Seems like a silly tip, but it’s easy to hide this info in some apps! If you’re using TeamGantt, you’ll see the dates in the gantt view.

Regardless of what tool you’re using, you want to make it clear not only when a task ends, but when it starts. Again, this will help to keep your team and clients accountable.

Don’t skip dependencies.

If you’re not going to move forward on the project without an approval—or one task must be done before another—now’s your chance to note it.

Not every planning tool offers dependency functionality, and it can be a huge help. As your plan shifts, the flow of the work will stay intact.

Don't assign work without checking team availability.

If you’re lucky enough to use a product that shows you overall team availability, use it! Knowing how booked your team is and what projects they’re part of will play a huge role in delivering work on time and maintaining team morale.

Having an overall view of your team’s availability and conflicting work will help you adjust your plan to either meet the needs of existing project work or shift the milestones you’ve put in your plan.

Here's how to view team availability directly from your gantt chart in TeamGantt.

Don’t overlook holidays and time off.

Now is your chance to block time off in your plan. This is important now because as soon as your timeline shifts (you know it will, don’t fight it), you’ll open yourself up to making an error and dropping a deadline on a date that should be blocked. If you note them in your plan, that won’t happen.

Don’t forget to ask for feedback.

If you deliver a plan that has a mistake, misinterprets a task, or even misses a date, it can create confusion and delays. So grab a teammate and ask them to review your gantt chart before you post it for review.

Of course, you’ll also want to be ready to get some feedback on your plan. Formalizing a plan means you’re taking a set of ideas and expanding on them. That also means you might interpret something differently than a teammate. That’s okay!

Don’t set it and forget it.

A gantt chart is a living, breathing document that should keep up with project changes—not a fixed plan that’s set in stone. Invite your team to collaborate on work and track progress in real time so your gantt chart’s always up-to-date.

How to use gantt charts to manage projects

Now you know how to make a gantt chart to plan and schedule project tasks. But that’s not all they’re designed to do! 

Let’s explore some easy ways you can use a gantt chart to manage and track your projects in TeamGantt.

Collaborate with your team and stakeholders

Successful projects run on communication and collaboration. When project files and updates are scattered across different email threads and other platforms, it’s hard to get a good sense of what needs to get done and how close you are to the finish line.

With an online gantt chart , you can streamline communication through a single channel that centers around your project plan.

Here’s how to use a gantt chart to boost collaboration with your team and stakeholders.

Use comments to discuss tasks and share project files

Got a mockup that’s ready for design review? Or need more info to get started on your task? Add a comment to the task, and be sure to tag the person you’re updating so they’ll get automatically notified.

You can also upload documents directly to a task, group, or project. TeamGantt supports version control, so it's easy to find the latest version of any document.

And if you need to share important details up front, that’s what sticky notes are for. For instance, you might want to document how many hours have been scoped for a task or outline specs for a design project.

Watch this video to see team collaboration in action in TeamGantt.

Share your gantt chart with external stakeholders

Need to share project updates with contractors, clients, or other stakeholders? In TeamGantt, you have several options for sharing your gantt chart with external users :

• Invite someone as a guest to your project : Inviting someone as a guest enables them to see and comment on tasks in a single project without making edits to the gantt chart itself.
• Send a view-only link to your gantt chart : This option is great if you want to enable a client or stakeholder to monitor project progress without inviting them to become a user on your account.
• ‍ Export your gantt chart as a PDF : This option enables you to filter a gantt chart down to only the information you want to share so clients and stakeholders can get a quick snapshot of the project.

Integrate your gantt chart with other collaboration apps

If your team uses multiple apps to collaborate on projects, why not integrate them with your gantt chart so everything connects back to the plan? Here are a few popular integrations you can use to keep your people and projects in sync:

• Trello : See your cards in a project timeline, create dependencies between cards, and view workloads—all without ever leaving Trello.
• Slack : Create tasks from chats, check your daily task list, and get notified about new comments and assignments right from Slack.
• Dropbox : Share important documents more easily by uploading Dropbox files directly to your tasks and projects.
• Zapier : Automate work and streamline collaboration by connecting TeamGantt to your other favorite apps.
• ‍ TeamGantt API : Got a developer on hand? Build custom integrations with your TeamGantt data using our public API!

Manage resources and team workloads

It’s hard to finish any project on time and budget when your team is overloaded and overwhelmed. A gantt chart plots everyone’s work on a visual timeline so you can see how tasks stack up across your projects.

In TeamGantt, you can check and adjust workloads right from your gantt chart to avoid overbooking your team as you schedule new tasks.

Take a closer look at how to use gantt charts for project resource management.

Estimate project time and effort

Assigning hourly estimates to tasks in your gantt chart makes it easier to assess project scope , balance team workloads, and monitor project budget once work gets underway.

TeamGantt’s Advanced plan comes with hourly estimation and time tracking. You can use these features to track and compare estimated vs. actual hours directly from your gantt chart. With that kind of visibility, you can keep a close eye on potential overages and get ahead of issues before they throw your whole project off course.

Estimating hours at the task level also gives you a more granular view of availability when assigning and scheduling work for your team. That way you can feel more confident your team can get the work done without missing deadlines.

Learn more about hourly estimation in TeamGantt.

Track progress against deadlines and estimates

One of the best things about using a gantt chart is the ability to see where a project stands at any given moment. After all, clients, bosses and other project stakeholders expect you to stick to your promises (aka: budgets and deadlines).

That’s why it’s important to monitor tasks to ensure you’re on track to deliver work on time and budget. If things start to go sideways, you can adjust the gantt chart to get things back on track and reset expectations along the way.

Here’s how to track progress and spot issues early in TeamGantt.

Update and monitor progress

Checking things off a list is a pretty satisfying thing to do. What’s even more satisfying is updating the % Complete of a big task and watching the taskbar fill in until it’s 100% done.

Seeing the status of your teammates’ and coworkers’ tasks can be a healthy motivating force too. When you know the up-to-the-minute status of other tasks—especially those tasks that may rely on your tasks—it keeps everyone moving in the right direction.

How to request a progress update in TeamGantt

Need to know where someone stands on a particular task? TeamGantt makes it easy to do a quick status check and remind team members to update their progress.

Here's how it works:

• Click the chat bubble to the left of the task to open the comment window.
• Click Request a progress update at the top of the comment window.
• TeamGantt will send anyone who's assigned to that task an email asking them to update their progress.

Hourly estimate vs. actual progress

TeamGantt’s Advanced plan enables you to compare hourly estimates with actual progress so you can easily spot tasks that are taking longer than expected. Simply look for the thin striped line in the middle of each taskbar on your gantt chart, and pay attention to its color and length.

These indicators signal task trouble:

• The striped line is red : This task (or group) is over-budget. More hours have been tracked than were originally estimated for the task.
• ‍ The striped line is longer than the progress indicated for a task : The hours tracked are outpacing actual progress. That means this task (or group) is at risk for going over budget or missing a deadline.

Remember how I said no matter how much planning you do, it’s likely something will come up that requires you to move your timeline? It’s handy to know how much you’ve had to move things over the course of a project. Enter: baselines.

What is a baseline in a gantt chart?

A baseline is a “snapshot” of your project in time. When you create a baseline set, you’re grabbing a picture of your whole project so you have something to compare to when things inevitably shift for one reason or another.

Baselines are extremely important because they give you the “real” picture of shifts that have occurred. It’s easy to think things are looking pretty good, when in reality you’re 3 weeks behind and $10,000 over budget. Things can creep slowly, and without a set of baselines to compare to, it can be easy to get behind and not even fully realize it.

Learn how baselines work in TeamGantt.

Using multiple baseline sets in your gantt chart

A single baseline is great, but a single point doesn’t show trends. Stringing multiple baseline sets together will give you a much clearer picture of when and why your project slipped. Was it due to consistently dragging manufacturing estimates? Or was it that the client was consistently slow in approving designs and signing contracts? Baselines can tell you exactly what you need to know so you can improve your estimating practices.

Baselines aren’t just for showing you the negatives of your project. They’re equally useful for seeing where things have gone better than expected. Just like you have to shift things around when tasks are delayed, you may have to make adjustments when things run ahead of schedule.

As you get better at tracking your project’s slippage, you’ll get better at making realistic estimates on timelines. Once you’ve mastered that skill, you’ll have customers lining up because they know that when you plan a project, they have a timeline they can count on.

How does a gantt chart compare to other alternatives?

Project managers use a variety of tools—from gantt charts and kanban boards to spreadsheets and task lists—to keep up with project details, deadlines, and to-dos.

So what separates gantt charts from the rest of the pack when it comes to time-sensitive or complex projects? Spreadsheets, kanban boards, and task lists fall short when it comes to important project management tasks, like building a timeline, outlining dependencies, and managing workloads.

Without these 3 gantt chart features , you’ll have a tough time communicating the plan to your team, clients, and stakeholders. Here are just a few examples of questions a gantt chart can help you answer:

• Can we take on more work?
• How will we get from point A to point B?
• What needs to happen first?
• Can we meet a requested deadline?
• Who has the bandwidth to tackle these tasks?
• Are we on track to finish on time?
• How are we performing?

The good news is, you can use a gantt chart without foregoing other alternatives. Your team may prefer kanban boards for managing daily tasks or using a spreadsheet to create a RACI chart , and that’s okay.

With TeamGantt, you’ve got choices. View and manage projects as a gantt chart, task list, calendar, or kanban board, and upload important spreadsheets to the project documents. No matter how you look at things, everything ties back to your plan.

Let’s take a closer look at how a gantt chart can help you manage projects better.

Gantt chart pros and cons

What’s to love about gantt charts? And what should you be aware of before diving in? Here’s a quick snapshot of the pros and cons so you can decide if a gantt chart is right for your projects.

What are the pros of using a gantt chart?

A gantt chart is like a front-row seat to the project action. All the tiny details you never noticed from the nosebleed section suddenly come to life in full color right before your very eyes. It’s nearly impossible to miss a game-changing move!

Let’s explore some of the biggest gantt chart pros in project management .

Visualize your entire project

A project plan is one thing. How it plays out is another. A gantt chart gives you a start-to-finish view of your entire project timeline so you can see how tasks are progressing in real time. That means you can provide up-to-the-minute status reports to managers and stakeholders in a flash.

See how tasks are connected

Let’s face it: Things change. Lucky for you, modern gantt charts make it easy to shift tasks around without breaking your stride. With dependencies —a star feature of any gantt chart—you can keep tasks connected even when your timeline gives you the ol’ switcheroo.

Keep everyone on the same page and on time

Clear communication is a must-have in any project. Without it, you risk project delays and cost overruns. Web-based gantt charts, like TeamGantt, ensure no one’s left in the dark. That’s because all your project info and discussion threads live in one central hub that everyone can access, making team collaboration a breeze.

Know who’s busy and who isn’t

If you want to make smart business decisions, you’ve got to have a good grasp on your resources. With gantt charts, resource management is no longer a guessing game. You can see who’s got bandwidth to take on new tasks at a glance.

See a full list of gantt chart benefits.

Do gantt charts have limitations?

Some folks think gantt charts are too complicated to build, read, and update. While traditional desktop apps have their limitations, most of the cons people associate with gantt charts don’t apply to the online gantt chart software you’ll find today.

That’s because modern gantt charts ushered in a whole new era of project management. Now gantt charts offer clean and simple design with drag and drop scheduling so you can build and adjust project plans in an instant. And because everything happens online, it’s easy to share plans, collaborate on work, update tasks, and track progress in real time.

Let's look at how modern gantt charts compare to traditional desktop apps.

Modern gantt charts vs. desktop apps

Gantt charts come in many forms—from good old-fashioned paper to desktop apps and even web-based software.

Bringing gantt charts online transforms them from a static document that quickly becomes obsolete to a living, collaborative representation of a project’s current state. Team members can update their progress in real time, and stakeholders can check in on project status without having to go through you. Plus, it's easy to stay in sync and push projects across the finish line more quickly.

See how TeamGantt’s modern gantt chart tool compares to 2 popular desktop apps:

• TeamGantt vs. Microsoft Excel
• TeamGantt vs. Microsoft Project

Advanced features to look for in a modern gantt chart

A good modern gantt chart should be a part of a complete project management solution. Look for these advanced gantt chart software features to ensure your team and projects stay on track:

• Team collaboration
• Multiple project views, including kanban boards, task lists, and calendar views
• Time tracking and hourly estimation
• Workload management
• Mobile access
• Integrations

TeamGantt has all of this! Try it for free.

Continue learning about gantt charts

Now that you know how to make a gantt chart, you’re ready to move on to the next step! Keep reading to learn how to use your gantt chart to manage your team's time and availability more easily.

NEXT CHAPTER: Managing Resources with Your Gantt Chart

Plan your next project in minutes

When you’re a project manager, every minute counts. So why waste time building out a bunch of complicated spreadsheets just to keep tabs on a project?

At TeamGantt, you don’t have to. Our free online gantt chart software enables you to stay focused on the tasks that move the needle. Whip up a project plan in minutes, and watch your team cross the finish line faster. It really is that simple.

The Research Whisperer

Just like the thesis whisperer – but with more money, how to make a simple gantt chart.

In every grant application, I want to see a simple visual guide (a Gantt chart ) that shows what you are planning to do. It is the perfect time to plan your project clearly. It shows the assessors that you have thought about your research in detail and, if it is done well, it can serve as a great, convincing overview of the project.

Clearly, these charts are hard to do. If they were easy, more people would do them, right?

Here are five steps to create a simple guide to your research project.

1. List your activities

Make a list of everything that you plan to do in the project. Take your methodology and turn it into a step-by-step plan. Have you said that you will interview 50 people? Write it on your list.  Are you performing statistical analysis on your sample?  Write it down.

Check it against your budget. Everything listed in the budget should also be listed on your uber-list? Have you asked for a Thingatron? Note down that you will need to buy it, install it, commission it… What about travel? Write down each trip separately.

2. Estimate the time required

For each item on your list, estimate how long it will take you to do that thing. How long are you going to be in the field? How long will it take to employ a research assistant? Realistically, how many interviews can you do in a day? When will people be available?

Initial meeting: about 3 weeks to find a time. Desk audit: 4 months. Draft key elements: about 1 week each. Testing: about 1 week each, but can start organising as soon as first element is drafted. Write up: 2 months. Final report: no time, really – just need to find a time to meet.

Generally, I use weeks to estimate time. Anything that takes less than a week I round off to a week. Small tasks like that will generally disappear from the list when we consolidate (see Step 4). Then I group things together into months for the actual plan.

3. Put activities in order

What is the first thing that you are going to do?  What will you do next? What will you do after that?

In the comments, Adrian Masters provided some great questions to help with this stage: What do I need to do by when? What do I need from others & when? How do I check that I am still on track?

One by one, put everything in order. Make a note of any dependencies; that is, situations where you can’t do one thing until another is started or finished. If the research assistant is going to do all the interviews, then the interviews can’t start until the research assistant is hired.

Where possible, you should eliminate as many as possible dependencies. For example, if you can’t find a decent research assistant, you will do the fieldwork yourself (but that might mean that work will be delayed until you finish teaching). It isn’t a necessary step to getting your time-line in order, but it is good project management practice.

In the comments, Amy Lamborg pointed out that you might want to work backwards . If you have a fixed end date, you might want to “…build back towards the project start date, then jiggle everything until it fits !” If you want an example of this, have a look at the post “ Work backwards “. It is about writing an application, but the principle of starting with the fixed end date and working backwards still applies.

4. Chunk it up

Now that you have an ordered list, and you know how long everything will take, you need to reduce the list without losing any specificity. At the same time, if you are combining tasks, you might want to add a bit of time as a contingency measure.

Meet with partners: 3 weeks. Review data protection regimes: 4 months. Draft three key elements: 3 months. Test three key elements: 3 months, with some overlap. Analyse test results and report: 3 months.

How you divide up your time depends on your project. If it is only one year long, you might list items by month. If your project is three years long, then you might list items by quarter. If you are planning over five years, you might break it down to six-month periods.

5. Draw me a picture

If you use project management software to manage your project, and you are comfortable with it, then use it to produce a summary of your project, too.

Most project management software (e.g. like Microsoft Project) will allow you to group activities into summary items. Chunk your tasks into major headings, then change the time interval to your months, quarters, half-years, or whatever you have chosen to use.

Or you can just draw it up with word-processing software (which is what I always do), spreadsheet software, or even hand-draw it.

Frankly, I don’t care – as long as it ends up in your application!

Also in the ‘simple grant’ series:

• How to write a simple research methods section .
• How to make a simple research budget .

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62 comments.

This is useful. I’m writing my first SERIOUS research proposal for my PhD. Obviously not something I’ve ever done before so all advice is greedily welcome.

My best advice – write something quickly and then get someone else to look at it. I’m a big fan of quick iterations to get started.

Your readers might be interested in Tom’s Planner ( http://www.tomsplanner.com ). It’s a very easy tool to help you create a schedule or project plan (and there is a free version). On our blog we have a bunch of guest blogs about planning your thesis or dissertation with a template and example to help you get started.

The free version is a farce you cannot print, export or do anything but view it online. So don’t waste time with this product it is not a real proof of concept.

Sometimes, when the chunks are too big, you end up failing to understand what’s in those chunks, then your estimate ends up WAY off when you realize the extra work you didn’t consider might go into a give task.

That looks like a useful technique for getting the right information together for a Gantt. I’d be interested in any techniques for step 5. It’s something I’ve done recently as part of my first year PhD report and I wrote about how I produced my Gantt chart here: http://phdtools.blogspot.com/2011/08/creating-gantt-charts.html

I can’t imagine many people use MS project to manage their entire PhD (I could be wrong?) therefore it seems a bit excessive to use it just for a Gantt chart. Equally I find Excel plots look a bit naff and it’s difficult to show linkages between items.

“I’m not looking for a tool to perform PERT or CPM or do resource levelling for me.”

Absolutely! I just want to plug in my info and get a simple image out. How hard is that?

I’m not a big fan of big-iron project management tools either. More time seems to go into managing the information than getting actual work done.

I do think that most group projects that are going to last twelve months or more could do with a simple project management tool, though. I’m a bit of a fan of Basecamp , even if it doesn’t draw Gantt charts.

Of course, everybody has to understand the tool and want to use it, which is a different matter.

Thanks for the post.

I’m currently trying my hand at project management software, but I seem to find it easier to simply write down stuff in a piece of paper before committing it to electronic format. Anybody else has the same issue?

Absolutely, Carlos. As someone who has managed a big project that included spending a lot of time wrangling MS Project, I’m a big fan of just scribbling it down on paper and then mocking it up in MS Word.

[…] How do you create a Gantt chart?  The best advice we have seen is at the useful Research Whisperer blog, where they list 5 steps to creating your very own Gantt Chart in the post ‘How to make a simple Gantt chart’.  […]

Excellent introduction to project planning. I’ve seen recent examples of project managers jumping into MS Project without this level of thinking, with predictable results.

Questions that should help (and which you would need to answer anyway when asked by seeking funding or approval) include: What do I need to do by when? What do I need from others & when? How do I check that I am still on track?

Build those answers into the simple paper approach above, and you’ll have covered the critical project basics (activities, resources, dependencies, scheduling, milestones and checkpoints)

Like Liked by 1 person

Thanks, Adrian.

I liked your questions so much, I added them into the original post. 🙂

An Excel bar chart is pretty much all you need to create a Gantt chart. Unless of course you intend to explore resourcing and costs.

Your info really helped me by doing my D.T ( Design Technology) homework. Thank You 🙂 Eirene Masri From Jordan, Amman

Thanks for your comment. It made me smile. 🙂

I haven’t been to Jordan for a very long time, but I had a great time when I was there.

[…] that you are going to do?  What will you do next? What will you do after that? In the comments, Adrian Masters provided some great questions to help with this […]

Thanks for this particular piece of ‘whisper’… I was in a dire need of a ‘quickie’ method to make a simple Gantt Chart. 😀

Cheers, Yan London

No worries, Yan. Happy to help.

[…] Jonathan. “How to make a simple Gantt Chart” The Research Whisperer. 13 September […]

I have just gone through.Iam also planning to undertake a phd programme and would want to recieve guild as i make progress using gantt Chart

Reblogged this on Queer Fear: Alternative Gothic Literary and Visual Cultures and commented: Stumbled across this useful piece on the use of Gantt charts in research projects. I realise this may seem rather common knowledge to scientists but as a Arts and Humanities-based person I found it gave useful insights for new researchers.

Thanks, Hanoconnor.

I suspect that there are plenty of science people who don’t get any formal training in this, either.

good job. very helpful

[…] Read More At: https://theresearchwhisperer.wordpress.com/2011/09/13/gantt-chart/ […]

This is my first time using a Gantt chart in research paper.. hmm. thanks for the info. 🙂

Gantt charts are really useful. Thanks for posting this information about gantt charts. This is a very informative post and very helpful, too.

Thanks Jonathan. I have just completed my first Gantt chart for my Doctorate in Health. I was beginning to get a bit jumpy about some of the very involved instructions I had found previously so your ‘idiots guide’ was really helpful.

No worries, Ade.

Happy to help. Good luck with your doctorate.

I have been using a Gantt chart to plan and track my doctorate since I began last year. It’s just an Excel spreadsheet but suits my purposes, very simple. One thing I’ve found useful us to mark all the highlighted cells bright blue initially, for ‘future action’. Each week, I update that week’s column to green (completed) or red (overdue). This gives me good feedback not only about where I need to change the priorities on my current ‘to do’ list, but is a very satisfying display of how much I’ve already done.

I love Excel, postgradpanda. I reckon that seeing the blue change to green would be very satisfying.

Thanks for this.

[…] https://theresearchwhisperer.wordpress.com/2011/09/13/gantt-chart/ […]

Thanks for this. It helped me alot for doing our work schedule in research for short allotted time.

Ohh Thank God Jonathan for that!! you have no idea how much you saved my life.. I was having a real hard time planning my first ever research proposal Loved it alot.. Looking forward for much guidance along the path!!!

Sruti… (From a far far away land.. INDIA)!! 🙂

Thanks, Sruti

Happy to help.

Sruti was right. It’s very helpful to me as well. Saves me a lot of trouble. Keep it up Jonathan.

No worries, Paul

Are you a commercial representative for Ganttic, or did you link to them because you like them? Just wondering.

[…] published a short article about doing research in academia. Some of their articles are mundane (How to make a simple Gantt chart), whereas others are more esoteric (Hashing it over) and heartfelt (Academic […]

[…] out your timeline and your budget. Working up a Gantt chart for your project will force you to think about how long different phases of the project will take. This is important […]

list any six elements that go into the format of a research report?

Hi abukamara

I don’t have a set list. It depends who your audience is, and what sort of report you are writing.

I’m usually helping people to write grant applications, where the format is set by the funding agency. They make it pretty simple, really – they generally tell you exactly what they want.

[…] logframe analysis is well worth reading, while the Research Whisperer explains how to make a simple Gantt chart. And Mind Tools overviews a range of project scheduling tools as does this from MIT. Over at […]

[…] take you three or maybe three-and-a-half years. However, PhDs in my area rarely follow the sort of gantt chart anybody approving funding, ethics clearance or candidature milestones might approve. A tangent I […]

[…] How to make a simple Gantt chart – Jonathan O’Donnell. […]

Jonathan, i suppose that you should try more intuitive service) My experience in project management tells me there are a lot of comlicated tools such as MS Project. After years of searching and trying (Wrike, Liquid Planner, Smartsheet) i start using GanttPRO, especially because of its simplicity and high visibility. So try GanttPRO to facilitate workflow.

[…] O’Donnell, J 2011, How to make a simple Gantt chart, The Research Whisperer, weblog, 13 September, viewed 23 April 2017, < https://theresearchwhisperer.wordpress.com/2011/09/13/gantt-chart/&gt ;. […]

[…] research design is important. Following the steps outlined in O’Donnell’s (2011) blog How to make a simple Gantt Chart, I constructed this graph and a risk matrix to ensure that my time was used efficiently. […]

[…] Other tips on Gantt charts, including how to make one manually: https://theresearchwhisperer.wordpress.com/2011/09/13/gantt-chart […]

Thanks Jonathan! I am a grant writer, and your post is a great reminder that I should probably make a timeline visually appealing, like your hand-made Gantt. I’m going to do it!

I wanted to point out that for a grant funded project (which often has a specified end date by which the money must be spent), I often find myself making a timeline backwards. That is, I start creating the timeline from the specified end date, and then ask myself the questions that Adrian Masters posed: What do I need to do by when? What do I need from others & when? I build back towards the project start date, then jiggle everything until it fits!

BTW, did you know that in your text descriptions of the example timeline, the time is in weeks, but in your Gantt chart the time is in months? I have a feeling that you really meant for these to match….

Like Liked by 2 people

Thanks, Amy

This article has been viewed over 150,000 times, and you are the first person to point out the weeks / months issue. I’ve fixed it now (although it is a bit of a bodge).

I agree with the backwards process, so much so that I wrote a post about it: Work backwards . It is about the grant writing process, but the principle is the same.

This particular instance was one of those rare times when I truly didn’t have an end date, and could work out the actual time the project would take (surprise – it took longer).

I’ve added a bit into the post about working backwards. Thanks for that.

Proofreading touchdown? You just made my day! Thanks for this, and for Research Whisperer in general. I am probably not really your intended audience, but I get a lot of value from all the posts. You-all do good work!

[…] Research Whisperer. (2016). How to Make a Simple Gannt Chart.[online] Available at: https://theresearchwhisperer.wordpress.com/2011/09/13/gantt-chart/ [Accessed 14 Mar. […]

[…] O’Donnell, J 2011, ‘How to make a simple Gantt chart’, The Research Whisperer, 13 September, viewed 13 April 2018, < https://theresearchwhisperer.wordpress.com/2011/09/13/gantt-chart/&gt ;. […]

[…] you know how to make a simple Gantt […]

[…] How to make a simple Gantt chart: This article provides steps on making a Gantt chart (generally, not specific for PhD). […]

[…] “How to Make a Simple Gantt Chart,” by Jonathan O’Donnell on The Research Whisperer […]

[…] analysis of all their blog search terms. His analysis  showed lots of people were looking for how to make a simple Gantt Chart. Jonathan’s excellent analysis left me wondering: what do readers think is ‘high value […]

If your university has the Microsoft suite of programs Viso (I think it is called) is easy to learn the basic functions to make a Gantt and the nice thing is that when you change a date the program moves the bars for you so fewer errors 🙂 winning.

Thanks, Wendy. Good advice.

[…] complex, messy, and not as linear as suggested by the timeline of activities we outline in project Gantt charts. During my doctorate, there were twists and turns as I made decisions around which literature to […]

[…] webinars should I register for? What about grants? Reading groups? Mentoring? How exactly does a research GANTT chart work (or does it)? How can I get research and writing done without sacrificing my entire summer on […]

[…] my various projects. This method was originally inspired by two academic Gantt chart enthusiasts (one, two). However, I found that the traditional way of setting up a gantt chart (with the projects on […]

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Project Management for Research

The tools you need to make your research project a success.

This toolkit includes a variety of tools for managing your research projects including recommendations for general project management software and tools to help you and your team manage activities from grant writing to implementation and project closeout.

Explore the toolkit below:

Grant Writing + Project Development

A Gantt Chart is a popular project management tool; it is a type of bar chart that illustrates a project’s schedule. The chart allows for organizing and viewing project activities and tasks against pre-established timeframes.

Gantt Chart Template Gantt Chart Instructions Gantt Chart Example

Graphic display of the flow or sequence of events that a product or service follows; it shows all activities, decision points, rework loops and handoffs.

Process maps allow the team to visualize the process and come to agreement on the steps of a process as well as examine which activities are duplicated. Process maps are used to:

• Capture current and new process information
• Identify the flow of a process
• Identify responsibility of different business functions
• Clearly show hand-off between functions
• Identify value added and non-value added activities
• Train team members in new process

Process Map Template Process Mapping Guide Process Map Example 1 Process Map Example 2

The Data Management Plan (DMP) defines the responsibilities related to the entry, ownership, sharing, validation, editing and storage of primary research data.

A data management plan must not only reflect the requirements of the protocol/project but also comply with applicable institutional, state and federal guidelines and regulations. The DMP Tool details your agencies expectations, has suggested language for REDCap and exports a properly formatted plan.

DMP Tool NIH Data Management & Sharing (DMS) Policy

The Project Charter's purpose is to define at a high level what the Project Team will deliver, what resources are needed and why it is justified.

The Project Charter also represents a commitment to dedicate the necessary time and resources to the project. It can be especially useful when organizing a multi-disciplinary, internally funded team. The document should be brief (up to three pages maximum).   

Project Charter Template Project Charter Instructions Project Charter Example

Milestones are an effective way to track major progress in your research project.

A Gantt Chart is an effective tool for setting and tracking milestones and deliverables. It is a type of bar chart that illustrates a project’s schedule.  

The proposal budget should be derived directly from the project description.

The proposal budget should follow the format specified by the sponsor. The Office of Sponsored Programs Budget Preparation webpages provide descriptions of the standard budget categories, lists of typical components of those categories, Ohio State rates where appropriate and other details to help ensure your budget is complete. Budget Preparation Resources from Office of Research The 398 grant form from the NIH is a template that includes standard categories required for an NIH grant (and many others) that you can use to develop a preliminary budget.

PHS 398 Forms PHS 398 Budget form for Initial Project Period Template PHS 398 Budget Form for Entire Proposal Project Template

The Risk Assessment and Mitigation Plan first assists the research team in anticipating risk that may occur during the research project before it happens.

The plan then specifies when to act to mitigate risk by defining thresholds and establishing action plans to follow. As a fundamental ethical requirement research risks are to be minimized to the greatest extent possible for all research endeavors. This includes not only prompt identification measures but also response, reporting and resolution. Risk Assessment and Mitigation Plan Template Risk Assessment and Mitigation Plan Example

The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) organizes the research project work into manageable components.

It is represented in a hierarchical decomposition of the work to be executed by the research project team. It visually defines the scope into manageable chunks that the team can understand.  WBS Instructions and Template WBS Structure Example

Implementation

A Gantt Chart is a popular project management tool; it is a type of bar chart that illustrates a project’s schedule.

The chart allows for organizing and viewing project activities and tasks against pre-established timeframes. A Gantt Chart can also be used for tracking milestones and major progresses within your research project.

The purpose is to define at a high level what the Project Team will deliver, what resources are needed and why it is justified.   

It is represented in a hierarchical decomposition of the work to be executed by the research project team. It visually defines the scope into manageable chunks that the team can understand.  WBS Instructions + Template WBS Structure Example

A communications plan facilitates effective and efficient dissemination of information to the research team members and major stakeholders in the research project.

It describes how the communications will occur; the content, security, and privacy of those communications; along with the method of dissemination and frequency.

Communications Plan Template Communications Plan Example

The Data Management Plan (DMP) defines the responsibilities related to the entry, ownership, sharing, validation, editing, and storage of primary research data.

A data management plan must not only reflect the requirements of the protocol/project but also comply with applicable institutional, state, and federal guidelines and regulations. The DMP Tool details your agencies expectations, has suggested language for REDCap, and exports a properly formatted plan.

DMP Tool DMP Tool Instructions Ohio State Research Guide: Data

The chart allows for organizing and viewing project activities and tasks against pre-established timeframes. Gantt Chart Template Gantt Chart Instructions Gantt Chart Example

This tool helps you capture details of issues that arise so that the project team can quickly see the status and who is responsible for resolving it.

Further, the Issue Management Tool guides you through a management process that gives you a robust way to evaluate issues, assess their impact, and decide on a plan for resolution.

Issue Management Tool Template Issue Management Tool Instructions Issue Management Example

A Pareto Chart is a graphical tool that helps break down a problem into its parts so that managers can identify the most frequent, and thus most important, problems.

It depicts in descending order (from left to right) the frequency of events being studied. It is based on the Pareto Principle or “80/20 Rule”, which says that roughly 80% of problems are caused by 20% of contributors. With the Pareto Principle Project Managers solve problems by identifying and focusing on the “vital few” problems. Managers should avoid focusing on “people” problems. Problems are usually the result of processes, not people.

Pareto Chart Template Pareto Chart Instructions Pareto Chart Example

Closeout, Transfer + Application

Completing a project means more than finishing the research. 

There remain financial, personnel, reporting, and other responsibilities. These tasks typically need to be completed within a timeline that begins 60 to 90 days before the project end date and 90 days after. Specifics will vary depending on the project and the funding source. The Office of Sponsored Programs “Project Closeout” webpage provides a description closeout issues, a list of PI Responsibilities and other details to help ensure your project is in fact complete.  Project Closeout Checklist Project Closeout Resources from Office of Research

A communications plan facilitates effective and efficient dissemination of information to the research team members and major stakeholders in the research project. 

It describes how the communications will occur; the content, security and privacy of those communications; along with the method of dissemination and frequency.

Project Management Software

An open-source project management software similar to Microsoft Project.

OpenProject  has tools to create dashboards, Gantt Charts, budgets, and status reports. Activities can be assigned to team members and progress monitored. OpenProject also has a tool for Agile Project Management. While the software is free, OpenProject must be installed and maintained on a local server and there will probably be costs associated with this. Talk to your departmental or college IT staff.

A secure, web-based project management system.

Basecamp  offers an intuitive suite of tools at a minimal cost: ~$20/month or free for teachers. Basecamp facilitates collaboration between research team members with features such as to-do lists, messaging, file sharing, assignment of tasks, milestones, due dates and time tracking.  

A project management tool that organizes tasks, activities, responsibilities and people on projects.

Trello can help manage research projects by keeping everyone on time and on task. It uses a distinctive interface based on cards and lists and may be especially useful for smaller projects.

If you have a disability and experience difficulty accessing this content, please submit an email to [email protected] for assistance.

Research Paper Gantt Chart Template

• Great for beginners
• Ready-to-use, fully customizable Subcategory
• Get started in seconds

Researching and writing a research paper can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to managing your time and staying organized. That's where ClickUp's Research Paper Gantt Chart Template comes in handy!

With ClickUp's Gantt chart template for research papers, you can easily:

• Plan and schedule your research tasks, milestones, and deadlines
• Track your progress and stay on top of your workload
• Collaborate with your team and advisors for seamless coordination

No more juggling multiple spreadsheets or struggling to keep track of your research project. ClickUp's Research Paper Gantt Chart Template has everything you need to stay organized and complete your research paper with confidence. Start using it today and experience the difference!

Benefits of Research Paper Gantt Chart Template

Research Paper Gantt Chart Template helps graduate students and researchers in planning and managing their research projects by:

• Providing a visual representation of the entire research process, allowing for better time management and task allocation
• Ensuring that all necessary tasks are identified and assigned to the appropriate team members or researchers
• Facilitating effective communication and collaboration among team members, resulting in improved efficiency and productivity
• Helping to identify potential bottlenecks or delays in the research process, allowing for timely adjustments and mitigations
• Ensuring that important deadlines are met and the research paper is completed within the specified timeframe.

Main Elements of Research Paper Gantt Chart Template

ClickUp's Research Paper Gantt Chart template is the perfect tool to help you plan and manage your research project effectively. Here are the main elements of this template:

• Custom Statuses: Keep track of the progress of your research tasks with three different statuses - Complete, In Progress, and To Do. Easily visualize the status of each task in the Gantt chart view.
• Custom Fields: Utilize the three custom fields - Project Phase, Project Progress, and Attachment - to add more specific details to your research tasks. Keep track of the project phase, track the progress of each task, and attach relevant files for easy access.
• Different Views: Access three different views to manage your research project. The Project Gantt view allows you to visualize your project timeline and dependencies. The Project Plan view provides a comprehensive overview of all the tasks in a list format. Lastly, the Template Guide view offers guidance on how to use the template effectively.
• Collaboration and Planning: Make use of ClickUp's collaboration features like task assignments, comments, and due dates to ensure smooth teamwork throughout your research project. Stay organized and focused with the ability to set dependencies, track progress, and manage resources effectively.

How to Use Gantt Chart for Research Paper

Putting together a project plan can be overwhelming, but with the help of the Project Plan Template in ClickUp, you can break it down into manageable steps. Follow these {{Steps_Random #}} steps to effectively use the Project Plan Template:

1. Define your project scope

Before diving into the details, clearly define the scope of your project. Determine the objectives, deliverables, and overall goals you want to achieve. This will help you stay focused and ensure that your project stays on track.

Use the Goals feature in ClickUp to set clear objectives and align your team's efforts.

2. Break down tasks

Once you have a clear project scope, break down the project into smaller tasks. Identify all the individual activities and milestones that need to be completed to achieve your project goals.

Use the Tasks feature in ClickUp to create and organize your project tasks. Assign due dates and dependencies to ensure a smooth workflow.

3. Assign responsibilities

Assign responsibilities to team members for each task. Clearly define who is responsible for completing each task and who will be accountable for its success.

Use the Assignees feature in ClickUp to assign tasks to specific team members. This ensures everyone knows their role and responsibilities.

4. Set deadlines

Establish realistic deadlines for each task and milestone. Consider dependencies and the overall project timeline when setting deadlines to ensure that everything stays on schedule.

Use the Calendar view in ClickUp to visualize your project timeline and set due dates for each task.

5. Monitor progress

Regularly monitor the progress of your project to ensure that tasks are being completed on time and within budget. Use the Gantt chart in ClickUp to track the progress of each task and identify any potential bottlenecks or delays.

Regularly review and update your project plan in ClickUp to keep everyone informed and on track.

6. Communicate and collaborate

Effective communication and collaboration are key to successful project execution. Use the Comments and @mentions features in ClickUp to communicate with your team, provide updates, and address any issues or concerns that may arise.

Encourage your team to collaborate within ClickUp by using the Docs and Conversations features. This ensures that all project-related discussions and documents are centralized and easily accessible.

Get Started with ClickUp’s Research Paper Gantt Chart Template

Graduate students and researchers can use this Research Paper Gantt Chart Template to effectively plan and manage their time, tasks, and deadlines throughout the entire process of writing a research paper.

First, hit "Add Template" to sign up for ClickUp and add the template to your Workspace. Make sure you designate which Space or location in your Workspace you’d like this template applied.

Next, invite relevant members or guests to your Workspace to start collaborating.

Now you can take advantage of the full potential of this template to complete your research paper:

• Use the Project Gantt View to visualize the timeline of your research paper project, including start and end dates for each task
• The Project Plan View will help you outline the specific tasks, subtasks, and dependencies required to complete the research paper
• Use the Template Guide View to access a pre-designed guide that outlines the recommended steps and best practices for writing a research paper
• Organize tasks into three different statuses: Complete, In Progress, To Do, to keep track of progress
• Update statuses as you complete tasks to ensure a clear overview of the project's progress
• Monitor and analyze tasks to ensure timely completion of the research paper.

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Gantt Chart Research Proposal

The #YouOnlyLiveOnce mindset thrives in the spirit of spontaneity and adventure. Although it can be fun, #YOLO will spell disaster outside the party scene. It is a terrible career and life advice that is equivalent to flushing your time and resources down the toilet. Smart and strategic project planning is the spine of every successful academic or business undertaking. Whether you are a student or a professional, you will benefit from mapping out your projects with Gantt charts and other progress-tracking illustrations. We have prepared the following pointers that will help you on your next big move.

21+ Gantt Chart Research Proposal Templates

Gantt charts are a useful productivity apparatus for project management. They are a bar chart derivative for task scheduling and progress tracking. The user plots the activity progress along the y-axis, with respect to the indicated time on the x-axis. The leftmost column contains the list of tasks while the top row displays project dates in uniform intervals. This chart is useful in visualizing the schedule of activities for your research proposals . When you use Gantt charts, you can monitor if your project goals are in sync with the actual work timeline.

1. Restaurant Gantt Chart Template

• Google Docs
• Google Sheets

Size: A4 & US Letter Sizes

You see the potential of a trend in increasing the revenue for your restaurant. How do you convince the management that your plan will work? Other than persuasive and well-researched content, your market research plan should contain a feasible work timetable. A realistic schedule of activities ensures that your proposed project is not just theoretical and that investing in it would not be a waste of resources. A Gantt chart works best for project timelines because it makes the project’s progress easy to monitor and relay. Add this template to your market research proposal!

2. Free Excel Gantt Chart Template

Size: A4 & US Sizes

The early Gantt charts were successful even before computers became mainstream in offices. Back then, you had to draw the charts manually. This means that when there would be revisions to the project proposals , you are required to recreate the entire diagram. The success of Gantt charts would not have survived the rigors of modern workspaces if there was no computer program for them. Fortunately, we have programs like Microsoft Excel and Apple Numbers where we can amend details without scrapping the entire chart. Get this free Gantt chart template now!

3. Free Progress Gantt chart with Events Template

There would be times that our project advisers would need a quick update on the progress of our research study. Give them a fast rundown of the development with this Gantt chart template! It gives a quick overview of the pace of the activities through percentage. It has a simple interface simple and is easy to navigate. You can also use this template when you’re presenting the progress of a specific task and its subtasks. Are you worried that adding a new activity might overlap with your previous assignments? Avoid that with this downloadable template!

4. Free Yearly Project Management Gantt Chart Template

Research, especially when it is an individual project, will challenge a person’s organization and project management competence. You will need to complete one task before you can proceed to another in your methodology . If you lag on one of your tasks, there will be a domino effect, and you will fall behind schedule. Even though some research studies can take a whole year or more, people usually find themselves short of time. Do not fall prey to this by being committing to a realistic schedule. Get started with this yearly Gantt chart template!

5. Free Sales Activity Gantt Chart Template

Instead of just plotting your research activity progress with respect to project dates, you can also monitor how much of the work is done! Although this is a sales activity template, you can use the same format for your research proposal . Each task is listed in the first column, while the percentage measures the amount of work done. With this monitoring format, you can picture the development of your research and the momentum of the activities. Boost your productivity with this free Gantt chart template now!

6. Free Marketing Plan Chart Template

With this Gantt chart template, make sure that you don’t fall behind your target deadlines again! The layout is specific down to the weeks of the month. You will be able to indicate at which week your research team started and completed the task. Did you hit the time allotted for each activity? The expected duration is placed next to the activity column for reference. You can use this template to present the schedule of events in your research proposal. The best part is that unlike other charts, you can keep updating this timeline during the entire project!

7. Free Basic Gantt Chart Template

The construction of the  Hoover Dam  started in 1931 and finished ahead of schedule. During the planning and construction, engineers referred to Gantt charts to keep track of the progress. Today, the charts are useful in different fields that need progress-tracking and project forecasts. It is helpful in your research proposals because you can define the timeline of your research as well as continually update the document for revisions. It is a reliable organization tool that you shouldn’t be sleeping on. Make use of such convenience in your research proposal with this template!

8. Free Monthly Gantt Chart Template

Gantt charts are an indispensable tool for project management. It gives you a birds-eye view of the entire research progress. Are you running out of time? Which of the following tasks can you adjust the schedule for? You can refer to it when you need to add or modify the activities. Monitor your progress better from start to end with this editable template! The design looks professional, and it won’t clash with the formality of your document. The landscape orientation lets you include more details into your timetable.

9. Research Proposal Gantt Chart Template

Size: 35 KB

10. Qualitative Research Proposal Gantt Chart Template

Size: 42 KB

11. Research Proposal Timeline Gantt Chart Template

Size: 38 KB

12. Nursing Research Gantt Chart Template

Size: 34 KB

13. Marketing Research Gantt Chart Template

14. Thesis Proposal Gantt Chart Template

Size: 30 KB

15. Sample Proposal Gantt Chart Template

Size: 37 KB

16. Medical Research Gantt Chart Template

17. Dissertation Research Gantt Chart Template

Size: 43 KB

18. Dissertation Proposal Gantt Chart Template

19. Business Research Gantt Chart Template

Size: 33 KB

20. Ph.D. Plan Gantt Chart

Size: 630 KB

Gantt charts are being used in doctoral dissertations as well. The attached PDF file is an example of a research timeline of a Ph.D. candidate. Most Gantt charts are in a landscape format to accommodate more content. The proponent structured his semestral schedule of activities in a monthly-basis. The designation of each main goal with different colors is smart. The chart shows that the proponent performed various activities under different goals per semester. Without a physical map, it is hard to picture the progress of his tasks. Like this Ph.D. candidate, organize your research endeavors with a Gantt chart!

21. Survey Planning Gantt Chart Sample

Size: 262 KB

Surveys are one of the effective methods of obtaining relevant information to answer queries. Despite its practicality and capacity to provide reliable data, the method isn’t a one-step process. You wouldn’t want to spend your resources on information that isn’t worth its price. You have to make sure that you get the right answers. You have to test the survey design first to a few people. Then there is still data analysis and report of findings. Is this method suitable for your research given the time available? Gain a reliable foresight by including a Gantt chart for your research proposal! Refer to this sample chart for guidance!

22. Task Gantt Chart Template

Size: 286 KB

A crammed research paper is not a good research paper . In the academe, students are given due dates to fulfill parts or sections of their thesis. Manage your deadlines well by tabulate your tasks and progress. By doing so, you can budget your time and adjust your working pace. Supplement your school hustle with a Gantt chart! It can be as straightforward as this sample, but its rewards on your scholastic performance are priceless!

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15 Gantt Chart Examples for Project Management (an in-Depth Guide)

Durgesh Sharma

Director of Technology

Review Board Member

Durgesh Sharma, an accomplished technology expert with 15+ years of industry experience, is a valued member of the ProProfs Project Advisory Board. Proficient in workflow management and adept at leading ... Read more

Durgesh Sharma, an accomplished technology expert with 15+ years of industry experience, is a valued member of the ProProfs Project Advisory Board. Proficient in workflow management and adept at leading diverse IT teams, Durgesh guarantees the precision and dependability of content at ProProfs. His extensive expertise and meticulous attention to detail are pivotal in upholding the quality standards of technological content, enhancing the overall user experience. Read less

Project Management Expert

David Miller, a seasoned Senior Project Manager at ProProfs with over two decades of diverse expertise, shares impactful insights on project management, leadership, and personal development through his writing.

Let’s accept this one simple truth – you can have mixed opinions about Gantt charts, but you can’t deny they make tracking project progress easier. But did you know that the use cases of these charts expand to multiple departments and not just project management?

You’d be surprised to know that we’ve got more than a dozen Gantt chart examples that can be applied in real life. Already curious? 

Let’s then hop right into the blog without lingering on this intro and making it boring for you.

What Is a Gantt Chart?

A Gantt chart is a type of bar chart showing a project’s schedule. It displays the tasks, milestones, and dependencies of the project along a horizontal timeline. Each task is represented by a horizontal bar that shows its start and end dates, duration, and completion percentage. 

You can use different colors to show the priority, status, or category of each task. A Gantt chart can be created using various software tools, such as Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, or dedicated project management software like ProProfs Project . 

Need a visual understanding? No worries; we have a quick video for you.

Watch: What Is Gantt Chart & Why Is It Important?

15 Diverse Gantt Chart Examples

As we discussed earlier, Gantt charts are more used today than just a real-time progress tracker. After consulting with several project managers, HR heads, and team leads, we could gather an exhaustive list of the most-used fifteen real-life applications or examples of Gantt charts. 

Ready to find out? Let’s get started.

1. Project Management

This is by far the most common application of Gantt charts . 

In project management, a Gantt chart is essential, especially when you have a lot of tasks and dependencies. It is an excellent way to break down the work into manageable subtasks, assign responsibilities, and track progress.

In the above image, the timeline depicts the primary and crucial project information:

• The project’s name 
• Start and end date of the project
• Tasks/subtasks and their duration
• Task dependency

The timeline view provides a visual representation of the project, making it easier to plan and allocate resources. The dependencies and milestones help you identify critical path tasks and potential bottlenecks and adjust your schedule accordingly.

Watch: What is Project Management? Learn How to Start Managing Projects Online

2. Human Resource

As a human resource (HR) professional, you understand how there are so many things on your plate, like –

• Assessing current staff requirements
• Employee onboarding
• Recruitment process
• Employee offboarding
• Payroll management
• Managing/updating company policies
• Maintaining employees’ records
• Taking care of employee training and development

Gantt chart templates for HR track candidate interviews, onboarding, training, and more. It can provide an overview of the recruitment process, including the timelines for candidate sourcing, interviewing, and hiring. 

For instance, a Gantt chart can display the sequential steps in the hiring process, from posting job ads to conducting interviews and, finally, making offers – making managing multiple candidates more seamless.

3. Business Plan

For budding entrepreneurs, creating a business plan involves numerous moving parts, from market research to financial forecasting. 

A Gantt chart can break down the monumental task of launching a business into manageable pieces. It could outline the journey from conceptualization, securing funding, and product development to market entry, helping you track progress against milestones and adjust plans as the business environment changes.

For instance, in the below example of the Gantt Chart, you can see that before researching the market and competitors, you need to define the business vision and perform a SWOT analysis.

4. Sales Process

Working as a sales representative involves various challenges – cold calling , contacting potential customers, making follow-up calls, delivering sales presentations, sending emails, and conducting video conferences. It’s a demanding job.

Losing track of any of these can derail the entire team. But luckily, with Gantt charts, that won’t happen.

Sales teams can use Gantt charts to map out the sales cycle for key accounts, from initial contact through negotiation, closing, and post-sale follow-up. It helps identify potential bottlenecks, adjust resources, and optimize the sales funnel by monitoring lead conversion rates, sales targets, and other critical KPIs.

5. Marketing

In marketing, Gantt chart examples are not that common. But in reality, it’s invaluable for planning campaigns across different channels. 

It can help you coordinate the launch of a new advertising campaign, ensuring that creative development, media buying, and campaign analysis are completed in a timely and synchronized manner. 

Gantt charts also let you visualize the overlap between tasks such as content creation, ad buying, and public relations efforts – ensuring that all elements of a campaign are coordinated and executed on time.

6. Product Management

For product managers, Gantt charts provide a visual roadmap for product development, from ideation through design, testing, and launch. It details phases such as market research, prototype development, user testing, and production. Such a visual overview of the product development lifecycle helps you easily allocate resources, set milestones, and track progress.

You may also be interested to read this article:

14 Best Product Roadmap Software to Streamline Project Management

Media and publishing projects, such as the production of a film, magazine, or digital content series, can be intricately planned with Gantt charts. These charts help schedule and track various stages of content creation, editing, and distribution – ensuring that deadlines are met and content is released as planned.

It’s particularly useful in managing cross-functional teams that include writers, designers, and marketers – providing a common timeline that syncs everyone’s efforts toward the timely completion of media content.

No, we’re definitely not talking about this kind of team effort.

8. Construction

Construction projects are complex, involving numerous subcontractors, regulatory approvals, and material deliveries. Can a Gantt chart help here? You bet it does.

With Gantt charts, you can break down the project into phases such as design, permitting, construction, and inspection – offering a clear timeline for each. You can also highlight dependencies, such as the need to complete the foundation before framing begins. 

This level of organization is critical for keeping construction projects on schedule and within budget.

Looking for construction project management software solutions?

9. Social Media

Being part of a social media team is not for the faint-hearted (brutally honest review) . 

You have to manage posts, create content calendars, track campaign launches, check why engagement rates are falling, and more. But all this chaos can be silenced (to some extent) when you maintain a consistent posting schedule across platforms. How?

Well, social media managers say Gantt charts greatly help them in this.

Using Gantt charts, you can plan posts and campaigns across different platforms, ensuring a strategic approach to content delivery. It also aids in allocating resources for content production and monitoring, optimizing the impact of social media efforts.

10. Event Planning

Event planning is an intricate tale of logistics, from venue booking to vendor coordination and guest management. 

A Gantt chart provides event planners with a visual checklist of every task and deadline, ensuring nothing is overlooked. Whether a corporate conference or a charity gala, the chart helps manage the myriad details, guaranteeing a successful event.

For example, in the image given below, you can see that with the help of a Gantt chart, the event is divided into numerous tasks like budgeting, setting dates, and organizing decorations.

11. Consultants

If you are a consultant working on client projects , Gantt charts can help you outline project phases, deliverables, and deadlines – providing a clear roadmap for the client. 

This helps communicate the project plan clearly to clients, setting realistic expectations for project completion. It also enables you to juggle multiple client projects efficiently, ensuring each project receives the attention it needs without compromising quality or timelines.

12. Design Project

A Gantt Chart helps track creative processes, review cycles, and implementation stages in creative projects such as website design or branding campaigns. Most tasks in these projects are interdependent. 

For instance, if you’re designing a new website, you’ll most likely follow a well-established procedure:

• Create a wireframe for the user interface
• Make a mockup in Photoshop
• Create a webpage
• Test Website

With the help of a Gantt chart, your design team can track all these steps in one place. Here’s an example –

13. Mobile App Development

Statista says – “In 2025, the number of mobile users worldwide is projected to reach 7.49 billion .”

This shows how essential it is to create a mobile app for almost all businesses. Using a Gantt chart, you can plan out all the steps needed to develop your app. It provides a visual representation of the agile development process, including development sprints, feature implementation, testing, and launch.

It also boosts your likelihood of finishing each task accurately and efficiently. After all, the goal is to ensure a successful app launch, and this method helps you achieve that goal.

14. Email Marketing

Much like social media, email marketing requires robust efforts to plan and execute campaigns efficiently. There’s a lot to track – which content is performing well, which is not, dates, times, contacts, subjects, and more.

The idea to use a Gantt chart here is to remain on top of everything. Otherwise, failing to monitor all email-related tasks and contacts could result in missed sales opportunities and lost valuable connections and leads…something like this –

15. Software Development

Let’s be honest about this: Gantt charts are a dream come true for software development teams. Why? 

Well, these charts facilitate the tracking of version releases, feature developments, testing cycles, and bug-fixing efforts – aligning the development team and stakeholders around a common timeline.

Using Gantt Chart in software development projects, you can oversee –

• Project management tasks
• Planning of activities
• Development
• Implementation
• Deployment and maintenance

Related read: Agile Software Development Life Cycle (Ultimate Guide 2024)

Practical Benefits of Using Gantt Charts

Now that you have learned about the best Gantt chart examples, you probably want some more clarity on their benefits. Here are some of the best instances of how these charts can benefit your company –

• Improved Visibility & Transparency: Gantt charts break down complex projects into manageable, visual timelines, allowing you to see the progression of tasks and milestones at a glance.
• Communication Booster: By providing a visual representation of the project schedule, Gantt charts serve as a central point of reference for team members, stakeholders, and clients.
• Accountability & Transparency: Gantt charts clearly assign tasks to team members, making it easier to track individual responsibilities and progress.
• Enhanced Planning: These charts allow project managers to plan out the entire project – including setting realistic timelines for each task and milestone.
• Resource Management: By visualizing the timeline and workload, Gantt charts help you identify over-allocations or underutilizations of resources.
• Risk Mitigation: The detailed overview of Gantt charts aids in foreseeing potential risks and dependencies between tasks
• Historical Records for Future Projects: Analyzing past projects can provide valuable insights and learnings, helping teams improve planning and execution for future projects.

Suggested post: 15 Hard-to-Ignore Project Management Benefits

What Are the Parts of a Gantt Chart?

Understanding the key components that make up a Gantt chart can help you utilize them more effectively. Let’s check them out.

• Task List: This is a list of all the tasks or activities that need to be completed for the project.
• Milestones: Key milestones or major project checkpoints are marked on the chart as significant events.
• Dependencies: Arrows or lines are used to show task dependencies , indicating which tasks need to be completed before others can start.
• Timeline : A horizontal timeline represents the project duration, with each task displayed as a bar along the timeline.

Apart from the four main parts of a Gantt chart, there are also some other parts that you should know about –

• Bars: Each task is represented by a bar on the chart, with the length of the bar indicating the duration of the task.
• Duration: The length of each task bar represents the duration of that task, helping to visualize the time required for completion.
• Percent Complete: This indicates the progress or completion percentage of each task, providing an overview of the project’s progress.
• Resources: The Gantt chart can also show the allocation of resources to each task, whether it’s team members, equipment, or materials.
• Critical Path: The critical path is the sequence of tasks that determine the overall project duration. It is often highlighted or identified on the Gantt chart to help with project scheduling.
• Baseline : It refers to the initial plan or schedule against which the progress and deviations are measured. It helps track any changes and their impact on the project timeline.
• Notes or Comments: Gantt charts may include notes or comments section to provide additional information or details about specific tasks or milestones.
• Legend: A legend or key is usually included to explain the symbols or colors used in the chart, making it easier to understand and interpret.

How to Make a Gantt Chart?

Finally, we come down to this question: How do you create a Gantt chart? Well, it’s not that hard to answer it, nor is it to create one. Simply put, there are many ways to create one, but here are the basic steps –

Define Project Goals & Objectives

Before you dive into the Gantt chart itself, clearly outline what your project aims to achieve. Understanding the project’s goals and objectives sets a clear direction and helps identify the key tasks and milestones that will be represented in the Gantt chart.

Choose Your Tool

Next, you need a Gantt chart maker . Most professional project management software like ProProfs Project will likely have one. Keep in mind that different tools offer different features, so choose one that best fits your project’s needs and your team’s familiarity.

Break Down Your Project Into Tasks & Subtasks

This will help you divide your project into manageable and measurable units of work. You can use tools such as a work breakdown structure (WBS), a mind map, or a task list to create these elements.

Estimate the Time & Resources Required for Each Task

Estimate how long each task will take to complete. You can use tools such as historical data, expert judgment, or the three-point estimation technique to estimate these elements.

Identify the Dependencies & Constraints Among the Tasks

Identify which tasks depend on the completion of others before they can begin. Establishing these dependencies early on helps in sequencing tasks logically, ensuring a smooth flow of activities throughout the project lifecycle.

Allocate Resources

Assign resources to each task, indicating who is responsible for what. This could include team members, equipment, or materials needed for task completion. Resource allocation helps manage workloads and avoid bottlenecks.

Monitor & Update

A Gantt Chart is a living document that should evolve with your project. Regularly update the chart to reflect progress, changes in task durations, or shifts in the project schedule. This ensures that the chart remains a reliable tool for project management throughout the project lifecycle.

Want a more elaborate guide ?

Create Effective Gantt Charts That Reduce Your Workload

Gantt charts are no doubt an indispensable tool if you are managing projects with multiple tasks, assignees, dependencies, etc. It can really ease your workload if you have the right software with you.

Well, one such popular name is ProProfs Project. It’s an easy-to-use project management software that lets you create Gantt charts pretty easily. It’s a great tool, especially for businesses that are just starting out. 

If you choose to give it a test drive, there’s a 15-day free trial . Well, this remains a constant regardless of which software you think of trying.

Do you want a free Project Management Software?

About the author

David miller.

David is a Project Management expert. He has been published in elearningindustry.com , simpleprogrammer.com . As a project planning and execution expert at ProProfs, he has offered a unique outlook on improving workflows and team efficiency. Connect with David for more engaging conversations on Twitter , LinkedIn , and Facebook .

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8 Gantt Chart Examples to Improve Your Project Management

Table of Contents

A Gantt chart is a very useful tool for project management. But project management software statistics show that as many as a third of users who have access to Gantt charts don’t use them! 

So, we created various Gantt chart examples to show how they can make your life easier.

Read on and learn how to apply Gantt charts in practice. 

What is a Gantt chart?

A Gantt chart is a project management tool that visually represents the project timeline in the form of a bar chart. 

Each task corresponds to one bar on the chart which can be moved across the timeline, depending on its start and end dates. 

Gantt chart is usually used by project managers or business owners, but it can be useful to anyone who needs a clear overview of their workload’s timeline. 

8 Gantt chart examples

In the following text, we offer 8 Gantt chart examples for various types of projects, ranging from architecture to social media. 

Project management Gantt chart example 

A Gantt chart is an essential tool when managing projects. This project management Gantt chart example created in Plaky consists of tasks divided into 3 stages:

• Planning stage, 
• Execution stage, and 
• Retrospective stage. 

There is also a vertical date line on the chart, marking today’s date on the timeline to give you a better perspective of tasks’ timelines.   

This example is quite general, so any company or any team can use it for their projects. 

Free Project Management Software

Why waste time with creating complex Gantt charts in Excel? Speed up and streamline your schedule management process with an easy-to-use project management tool—Try Plaky!

Gantt chart example for architecture

When designing any type of building, precision is a must. That’s why architectural design projects demand a high level of organization.

A Gantt chart helps you visualize all the steps needed to complete your architectural project, ensuring nothing is looked over or forgotten.

In this Gantt chart example, we created an architectural design project for a building. It includes 3 milestones: 

• Exterior design completed, 
• Interior design completed, and 
• Building ready for construction. 

There is also a list of tasks for each milestone, accompanied by task owner, progress, and start and end dates. 

💡 Plaky Pro Tip

If you are looking for an example of Gantt chart templates in Excel, you will find several of them in our article:

• How to make a Gantt chart in Excel (Free Template Included)

Social media Gantt chart example

This social media Gantt chart in Google Sheets contains a list of tasks and 3 milestones: 

• Raise brand awareness,
• Increase new product visibility, and
• Collaborate with an influencer. 

Same as in the previous example, this chart shows you the duration of each task, as well as the start and end dates. 

However, it’s more complex and also includes the completed days and the remaining days for each task to help you track the progress of all your tasks. 

For this example, we used a Google Sheets template which you can find in this article:

• Gantt Chart in Google Sheets: How to Create it + Free Templates

Why make it hard when you can make it simple? With Plaky, an interactive Gantt chart is only 3 clicks away.

Gantt chart example for a construction project

Construction projects are always marked with strict deadlines and strict project schedules. So, if you want to prevent missing deadlines , you need a well-organized project timeline. 

This construction project Gantt chart example created in Plaky includes: 

• Tasks divided into 4 groups: Documentation, Design, Procurement, and Construction,
• Task timelines,
• Budget, and more. 

You can use Plaky’s construction schedule template to create a Gantt chart just like this one in a matter of minutes. The template is in the default Table view, but with just a few clicks, you can turn it into a Gantt chart.

Event planning Gantt chart example

An event planning Gantt chart helps you plan all the details of an event. It consists of tasks divided into 4 groups: preparation, promotion, event tasks, and post-event tasks. 

All these tasks contain information such as:

• Assignee, 
• Team, 
• Timeline, 
• Cost, 
• Status, etc. 

The tasks in the chart are colored by group to make it easier to see where they belong. 

With Plaky’s event planning template , you can create a Gantt chart just like this one and save precious time. 

If you’re looking for more event planning templates, check out our article:

• 11 Event Planning Templates: Free, Customizable, and Easy to Use  

Business plan Gantt chart example

Having a business plan is essential to creating a successful business. Before you even start with the development of your product or service, you must have a detailed and realistic plan. 

This business plan Gantt chart example includes all the essential items needed to create a high-quality business plan, such as:

• Business strategy, 
• Product ideas, 
• Resource allocation , 
• Budget plans, 
• Product development,
• Market research, and more. 

The tasks are colored depending on their status – done tasks are green, tasks in progress are yellow, and those yet to be done are red. However, colors for statuses in Plaky are customizable, so you can choose whichever looks best to you.

Software engineering Gantt chart example

At the start of every software engineering project, you should create a software development plan . This software engineering Gantt chart visually represents this plan and enables you to track all engineering tasks.

The tasks in this example are divided into 3 stages:

• Implementation + testing, and 
• Deployment + maintenance. 

The task bars are colored according to task status – done, to do, in progress, and stuck – so you can see right away if the tasks are on track. 

This example was created from scratch, but Plaky offers various software development templates such as product roadmap, bug tracking, product launch, etc. 

Create an easy project timeline in no time at all! Automate your software engineering schedule management with Plaky.

Employee onboarding Gantt chart example

The employee onboarding Gantt chart example presents the timeline of a new employee’s first month at the company.

In this Google Slides Gantt chart example, the timeline is divided into sections representing days of the month. 

The tasks are represented on the timeline using arrows. You can click on the arrows and move the tasks across the timeline, as well as shorten or extend the length of a task. 

You can find the template I used to create this example in the following article:

• 11 Free Project Timeline Templates in 2024

What are the 5 parts of a Gantt chart?

A Gantt chart usually consists of 5 basic parts: 

• Timeline (on the horizontal axis), 
• Task list (on the vertical axis), 
• Task start and end date, 
• Project milestones , and
• Task dependencies . 

However, not all Gantt charts have to be the same. 

For simpler projects, you might not need to include milestones and dependencies. For more complex projects, on the other hand, you might want to include task progress or subtasks. 

How can I create a Gantt chart?

You can create a Gantt chart by following these 6 steps:

• Choose where you want to create a Gantt chart – Excel, Google Sheets, PowerPoint, or project management software,
• Enter the tasks into the chart,
• Enter task timeline information (start date, end date, duration),
• Add any additional information about tasks (e.g. assignee, status, team, etc.)
• Add milestones, and
• Add dependencies.

Keep in mind that creating Gantt charts in Excel, Google Slides, or PowerPoint can be time-consuming and complicated. 

On the other hand, if you’re using a project management tool, all you have to do is enter the tasks and their timelines, and after a few clicks, you have a complete Gantt chart. 

Using a project management tool can make your job much easier. If you are not sure which one to choose, you can find the list of best Gantt chart software in our article:

• 12 Best Gantt Chart Software in 2024 Tested & Reviewed  

Why is a Gantt chart important?

A Gantt chart is one of the most popular tools for project managers. 

We had the opportunity to talk to Cristiano Bellucci , Technology and Innovation Strategy Lead at Fujitsu, and he listed some of the main reasons why using Gantt charts for project management is important:

• “[A Gantt chart] gives the opportunity to every stakeholder to understand the plan for the future,
• It shows the dependencies among tasks,
• It highlights the responsible people or team, and
• It defines major and minor milestones that help keep track of the advancement of the project and its overall health.”

Another person to share their view on the importance of Gantt charts is the founder and CEO of HackerNoon, David Smooke . He explained how Gantt charts help him in his work: 

“ A Gantt chart is like a rhetorical roadmap. While a roadmap claims to be where you’re going, a Gantt chart actually shows us where we’ve been — and how much input it took for us to get there. A Gantt chart helped me realize I was consistently underestimating how long projects take to complete.

A Gantt chart provides a bar graph friendly granular view of the project’s life cycle. It shows the dependencies between tasks, which is critical when updating or scaling a system like the HackerNoon CMS that serves millions of people per month. ”

Create scalable Gantt charts in Plaky

Although a Gantt chart can be created in Excel and PowerPoint, it is much more functional and time-efficient to create it using project management software like Plaky. 

The main advantage of using Plaky’s Gantt chart instead of a spreadsheet is that it’s scalable, meaning it can grow with your project. You can add or remove tasks during your project any time you want without messing up the chart or having to readjust it manually.

Plaky is also highly customizable. At any point during the project, you can:

• Add new task fields (e.g. tags, status, assignee, etc.),
• Filter tasks (e.g. to see only tasks that are in progress or stuck)
• Change the criteria for grouping tasks (e.g. assignee, status, priority, etc.)
• Change the timeline to show days, weeks, months, quarters, or years. 

But Plaky’s Gantt chart is more than just a visual representation tool. You can also click on any task in the chart and it will open a task card with all the information connected to it, including comments and files. This way, you get a comprehensive overview of your entire project. 

Plaky has a free forever plan, as well 2 paid plans:

• Pro Plan – $3.99 per user seat per month (billed annually), and 
• Enterprise Plan –  $8.99 per user seat per month (billed annually).

Moreover, for $12.99 you can get the CAKE.com Productivity Bundle , which includes the enterprise plans of the 3 CAKE products:

• Plaky — a project management tool, 
• Clockify — time-tracking software, and 
• Pumble — a business communication app.

If you want to create scalable and customizable Gantt charts quickly and without any unnecessary steps, get started with Plaky for free today .

Galina is a project management author and researcher at Plaky. She combines her interest in team collaboration and her natural knack for organization into writing informative and engaging texts to help people better understand project management. When she is not working, she can be found relaxing with a cup of coffee and a TV series or trying out new recipes from Asian cuisine.

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