Gantt charts are highly effective planning instruments in venture administration, however they’re additionally notoriously troublesome to make. There’s, nevertheless, a easy Gantt chart that may be made in a wide range of methods that may be important when scheduling a venture.
Let’s take a look at what a easy Gantt chart is and why one would need to use it over the extra dynamic Gantt charts. Then, we’ll discover the completely different instruments that you should utilize to construct a easy Gantt chart and provide some free easy Gantt chart templates to get you began.
What Is a Easy Gantt Chart?
A easy Gantt chart is a Gantt chart that doesn’t have as many capabilities as extra superior Gantt charts. You’ll be able to consider it as a Gantt chart that you just create on a spreadsheet. It should look very very similar to a Gantt chart, however received’t be interactive and, due to this fact, much less highly effective than Gantt chart software program.
Nevertheless, a easy Gantt chart may be simply what it is advisable plan a venture. It’s definitely higher than making an attempt to schedule work with out one. A easy Gantt chart is comparatively the identical as a extra dynamic one. It’s a horizontal bar chart that visually represents a venture plan over time, itemizing all of the venture duties and their begin and finish dates.
In case you want greater than a easy Gantt chart, strive ProjectManager, an award-winning venture and portfolio administration software program with highly effective Gantt charts that do extra with out the issue of different digital Gantt charts. You’ll be able to set up duties, create milestones and assign duties to crew members, however that’s solely the tip of the iceberg. We allow you to hyperlink all 4 sorts of activity dependencies to keep away from pricey delays, filter for the crucial path to establish important duties and you’ll set a baseline to trace deliberate effort towards your precise effort in actual time. Get began with ProjectManager right this moment without spending a dime.
Advantages of a Easy Gantt Chart
No matter sort of Gantt chart is best for you, utilizing one is at all times useful when planning your project. There are numerous benefits to utilizing even a easy Gantt chart to schedule your duties. Listed here are only some the reason why.
- Some Challenge Administration Software program Can Be Exhausting to Use: Gantt charts have a nasty popularity. They are often exhausting to make use of, even Gantt chart software, particularly in relation to enhancing. Tasks change quick and easy Gantt charts could be simpler to edit than even digital ones. Nevertheless, not all venture administration software program is created equally. You’ll in all probability need to strive it and see how they perform in the actual world.
- A Easy Gantt Chart Can Be Carried out Simply: In case you solely desire a visible timeline to view your complete venture from begin to end, then a easy Gantt chart is the proper software. All it’s important to do is checklist your duties and the length of every. It’s quite a bit simpler than having so as to add assets, prices, dependencies, milestones and extra. All of these issues are useful however add complexity you may not need.
- Easy Gantt Chart Templates Assist Challenge Managers Save Time: The hassle of establishing a extra dynamic Gantt chart may be pointless in case your venture is comparatively easy. A easy Gantt chart could be created shortly and simply, saving you time to give attention to the extra necessary execution and monitoring of your project.
What Instruments Can Be Used to Create a Easy Gantt Chart?
In case you’re prepared to make use of a easy Gantt chart, there are a number of methods you may make one. Every of those strategies has thas benefits and downsides, however general supplies you with the easy Gantt chart it is advisable schedule your work and get began on executing your venture.
ProjectManager
ProjectManager is a venture administration software program that makes it straightforward for customers to construct the Gantt charts they want for his or her initiatives. There are industry-specific templates within the software program that may assist you to get began. It’s also possible to import CSV, Excel and even Microsoft Challenge recordsdata. Within the case of MS Challenge, you possibly can even export them again into MS Challenge, when you’re caught utilizing this costly and complex venture administration software program. ProjectManager additionally enables you to construct a Gantt chart from scratch. There’s numerous performance to those Gantt charts, however you may make a easy Gantt chart to satisfy your wants. Get began with a free Gantt chart template.
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel might be the preferred spreadsheet software program. You’ll be able to make a simple Gantt chart in Excel by following the steps outlined on this weblog. With a easy Gantt chart for Microsoft Excel, you possibly can set up all of your venture duties, together with after they begin and after they’re due. The length of every activity is then proven within the visible timeline as a bar operating horizontally throughout the chart. You’ll be able to pinpoint milestones on the timeline and even point out dependent duties to a level. Nevertheless, it’s important to manually replace it and Microsoft Excel paperwork aren’t nice for collaborating.
Microsoft Planner
Microsoft Planning is a software provided within the Workplace 365 suite and is designed for work administration. Whereas Microsoft Planner doesn’t have a Gantt chart, there’s a option to make a Microsoft Planner Gantt chart with ProjectManager. This entails the import and export perform we talked about earlier. You’ll be able to obtain your Microsoft Planner venture as an Excel, CSV or MMP file and import it into ProjectManager. Then you possibly can customise it as a easy Gantt chart and even export it again to Microsoft Planner after you’ve made no matter modifications you wanted to make.
Google Sheets
One other software that may make a easy Gantt chart is Google Sheets, which is a web-based spreadsheet. The benefit of this software over Microsoft Excel is that it’s collaborative. The straightforward Gantt chart lives on-line and there is just one doc that’s up to date that everybody can view. Due to this fact, it is a extra collaborative software than a easy Gantt chart in a static spreadsheet. Learn make a simple Gantt chart in Google Sheets.
PowerPoint
Powerpoint is a really acquainted software program software, no less than in a enterprise setting. Making a easy Gantt chart in PowerPoint is useful as a result of most individuals will know use the software program. Additionally, you’ll discover that PowerPoint is nearly universally used all through firms and industries. Meaning it’ll be straightforward to share this straightforward Gantt chart as most individuals are going to have PowerPoint on their computer systems. Comply with the steps on this article to make a Gantt chart in PowerPoint. Whereas it’s not venture administration software program, it may be a useful workaround for individuals who aren’t able to improve to extra dynamic Gantt charts.
Free Easy Gantt Chart Templates
In case you don’t need to undergo the hassle of creating a easy Gantt chart, you should utilize a Gantt chart template. We’ve created dozens of project management templates for Excel, Phrase and Google Sheets together with Gantt chart templates that facilitate the method of establishing a Gantt chart. All it is advisable do is fill within the blanks. Templates aren’t excellent, but when all you want is an easy Gantt chart and also you don’t need to construct one from scratch, then these are a superb choice.
Gantt Chart Template for Excel
ProjectManager has over 100 free venture administration templates for Excel and Phrase which you can obtain. Some templates tackle each side of managing a venture throughout many industries. It is a easy Gantt chart that lists all of your duties, begin and finish dates after which they’ll mechanically populate a visible timeline.
Gantt Chart Template for Google Sheets
We’ve additionally created a free easy Gantt chart for Google Sheets that will help you plan and schedule initiatives. Comply with the hyperlink above and also you’ll get a view-only easy Gantt chart template for Google Sheets. To make use of the easy Gantt chart, you’ll must make a replica by clicking File on the prime left-hand nook after which Make a Copy. It’s also possible to copy and paste the easy Gantt chart into a brand new Google Sheet.
Gantt Chart Template for PowerPoint
We’ve talked about the recognition of PowerPoint. If you wish to make your individual, then comply with the hyperlink earlier within the weblog. However if you wish to simply get a easy Gantt chart, use the hyperlink above and after you’ve submitted your e-mail you’ll get entry to the Gantt chart template for PowerPoint.
ProjectManager Is the Greatest Gantt Chart Software program
In fact, even a easy Gantt chart template, no matter whether or not it’s in Excel, Google Sheet or PowerPoint, will solely take you to this point. They’re labor-intensive and require customers to manually replace them. That’s not one of the best answer for managing your initiatives. Even when you simply desire a easy Gantt chart, ProjectManager is a greater choice. Our Gantt charts could be as easy or dynamic as you want they usually’re absolutely customizable, collaborative and monitor your progress in actual time. Not like templates, they’ll filter for the crucial path and replace in actual time to offer you an summary of your venture’s progress.
Use A number of Challenge Administration Instruments
Challenge managers love Gantt charts. They’ll monitor prices, have built-in work breakdown structures (WBS), sync with timesheets, workload charts and extra. However groups don’t want even a easy Gantt chart when executing their duties.
That’s why now we have a number of venture views, together with kanban boards, activity lists, sheet and calendar views, so crew members can use the software that most closely fits their wants. All our venture views are up to date concurrently, which implies everyone seems to be up to date and dealing on essentially the most present venture information. That sort of collaboration can’t be achieved with templates.
Handle Assets and Monitor Labor Prices
One other factor you possibly can’t do with a easy Gantt chart is handle assets. Assets are something it is advisable execute your duties, similar to your crew. We will let you set their availability, similar to trip, PTO and even world holidays for distant groups, which makes it simpler to assign them duties on our Gantt chart.
Then you possibly can view the crew’s allocation by visiting our color-coded workload chart. With team management software, it’s straightforward to see who’s overallocated and you’ll steadiness the crew’s workload proper from the chart to maintain them working at capability and staying productive. We even have safe timesheets that streamline the payroll course of and provides managers a window into labor prices to assist them keep on price range.
Associated Gantt Chart Content material
There’s much more to find out about Gantt charts than create a easy Gantt chart. Our website publishes weekly blogs, tutorial movies and free templates. Listed here are a number of the items we’ve posted which are associated to Gantt charts.
ProjectManager is on-line venture and portfolio administration software program that connects groups whether or not they’re within the workplace, out within the discipline or wherever on this planet. Groups can share recordsdata, remark on the activity stage and keep up to date with e-mail and in-app notifications. Be a part of groups at Avis, Nestle and Siemens who use our software program to ship profitable initiatives. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.
