A Gantt chart displays activities as horizontal bars against a calendar. It shows start and finish dates, duration, overlap, milestones, progress and sometimes dependencies.
How to use this tool
Break down the work
Break the work into activities and milestones.
Estimate durations and dates
Estimate durations, dependencies, owners and dates.
Plot against the calendar
Plot activities against the calendar.
Update and replan
Update actual progress and replan when circumstances change.
References & further reading
Gantt, H. L. (1919). Organizing for Work. Harcourt, Brace and Howe.