Project Management in Under 5: What is a Gantt Chart?

The Gantt Chart is pretty much the poster-child for Project Management. When most people think of project management, it's a Gantt Chart they see in their mind's eye.
So, what is a Gantt Chart?
...and who invented it?
Here, Dr Mike Clayton, founder of OnlinePMCourses.com, answers this question, in under 5 minutes.
We now also have a follow-up video on how to create a Gantt Chart: • How to Create a Gantt ...
My basic introductory book to Project Management is How to Manage a Great Project (published by Pearson): geni.us/4Iz6M (affiliated link).
You might also like…
- What is Milestone Planning? • What is Milestone Plan...
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- What is the Critical Path Method (CPM)? • What is the Critical P...
- What is a Work Breakdown Structure? • What is a Work Breakdo...
- What is a Critical Chain? • What is a Critical Cha...
- What is Resource Levelling? • What is Resource Level...
- What is a Work Package? • What is a Work Package...
- What is Crashing the Timelines? • What is Crashing the T...
Please:
Give us a like
Visit OnlinePMCourses.com
...or subscribe to our KZbin Channel by clicking here: / @onlinepmcourses

[@ainaazaharee9870]

the way he paused before revealing the person who first created gantt chart had me laughing for a good 5 minutes ahdhkhfks

[@Onlinepmcourses]

😁

[@domdomak2974]

I read your comment before the video even but I still laughed

[@sehajpreetsingh4177]

I thought this would be a boring video, but this guy has a good sense of humor.

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thanks, Sehajpreet.

[@Keystoyourstaffingneeds]

100% agree!

[@Rogue_Art]

Good sense of humor and great delivery!

[@Grind_or_Die]

@@Onlinepmcourses so boring holy

[@vidyalaishram6571]

Totally agree

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Two important additional points: 1. We now also have a follow-up video on how to create a Gantt Chart: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fImaYaWNeqprm7s 2. To all who think you have spotted the error. Yes, Adamiecki was Polish. But he did write in Russian as well as Polish. This shows the dangers of doing a video from memory. It's one of my earlier videos and now I fact-check as much as I can before recording. I checked - I do not say he was Russian nor do I say he was Polish. But you may reasonably argue that I did imply him to have been Russian. He was Polish, and first wrote about the Harmonograph in Polish. Anyway... My apologies to Adamiecki, Poland, the Polish people, and anyone else who is upset by my (honest) error in implying him to have been Russian.

[@Onlinepmcourses]

😢

[@avitalalef9947]

Your delivery makes me so calm ^^ thanks

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@JasDua]

I think I've found the holy grail of an educator here! Loving the approach.

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Awww, thank you.

[@catherins4233]

" If you can't understand the symbols in a Gantt Chart then its not your fault anymore. It is the fault of the one who created the Gannt Chart" 😂😂😂 Love that one HAHAHAHA

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Absolutely. Gantt Charts are simple!

[@shahidsayed7328]

that pun at the beginning really got me and I was all warmed up for the entire videos. you earned a subscriber.

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thank you very much. A sub is the best I can ask for!

[@tasneemabdulrahman748]

When I've played the video, after your first sentence i hit subscribe immediately. YOU ARE MAGNIFICENT

[@Onlinepmcourses]

That's brilliant - thank you!

[@travisfeldman4004]

This is amazing work. Every word wedges it’s way into the listener’s ears. Very clear and straight to the point with some bonus humor and fun facts. Thank you for an awesome video! You’ve definitely gained a subscriber.

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Travis, thank you. It's so great to ear when people really like my style. I'm glad to have you as a subscriber. Feel free to binge!

[@lameckluwanda3506]

How you use the voice to convey the message (Perfect public presentation speaker), 2)Simplification of what you talk about and 3) the visuals. Well done Mike! I would like to start growing by following your footsteps!

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Lameck, thank you very much. I look forward to having you along for the ride! Loads more content already available and two new vids every week. Enjoy!

[@yangjiao7583]

Thanks for the succinct intro. My takeaway: A bar chart to think through, monitor, and report a project's progress in terms of activities/tasks(Y axis) and their durations( X axis).

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Spot on with your interpretation! You're welcome.

[@AlAbbasi_2007]

Hi ! I graduated in Information Technology back in 2018 & lost interest in my major. I did have an ardent passion in Project Management for IT. I achieved a B for my project & understood the theory etc. however, after watching this video ... I love it more & it’s redeveloped my interest. Cheers ! 🥃

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thank you for sharing, and good luck, Al.

[@simsym.ts4]

Great video! I especially appreciated the longer silence breaks because it allowed me to fully process the concepts you were describing

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thank you. That's good to hear.

[@carolynang3358]

That little history lesson you shared on Gantt chart is such a cool trivia, and a shame. This is almost like the invention of the telephone incident (it wasn't Alexander Graham Bell but Antonio Meucci).

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thank you Carolyn - Once you learn these things, it's hard not to share them! Here's to the Adamieckis and Meuccis everywhere.

[@mamoudturay4960]

Great!

[@damagedpain5138]

Just a slight correction if I may, Harmonogram by mr Karol Adamecki was published in his native tongue-Polish. Russian which is also very beautiful language may sound similar to some untrained ear… Take my word for it, it isn’t the same. Love your content though, TA

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thank you. I stand corrected. My only defense: It's an early video that I did without notes or fact-checking from what turns out to have been an inaccurate memory. I now fact--check all my videos. Which is not to say, of course, that I don't still get things wrong from time to time. But I have learned my lesson!

[@Longbow06]

@Online PM Courses - Mike Clayton; Thank you for this video and explanation. I have used bar charts before and am currently in a project scheduling course. I had read the dry as Mojave Desert dirt chapter 3 or 4 times and was still "stuck". Within four minutes, the code was cracked and the process became clear. Much Appreciated!!

[@Onlinepmcourses]

That's what I am here for. We now also have a follow-up video on how to create a Gantt Chart: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fImaYaWNeqprm7s

[@DottyGale8]

THIS is that chart in the emails I keep getting at work. I never knew what the heck they were sending out.

[@Onlinepmcourses]

DottyGale8 glad to have helped!

[@laurenpatrick7725]

Wow! This was super easy to understand. Thank you for the succinct and extremely helpful video! I have just subscribed.

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thank you, Lauren. Subscribing is great. Do also have a look at our channel - there are over 200 vids like this one. One you may particularly like is: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3jCfap9bdStptE

[@sao_rav]

So true for the point normally go unnoticed about toxic early 20th centuries. And such agreat explanation of Gantt Chart I have never saw or have heard. May this live forever for our future generations to avail.

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thank you, Saurav.

[@dudeofnewyorkfc]

This is a great video! Thanks so much, I need to learn more about project management to explain what Ive been going through and my plans now and in the future. I am also glad the internet exists.

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thank you - my channel has over 300 videos about all aspects of Project management - and my website also has a similar number of in-depth articles: onlinepmcourses.com

[@subhamchowdhury6229]

It's almost like harmony the way you explain. Very clear. thank you

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thank you, Subham. What a lovely thing to say!

[@justrandomthings709]

It's amazing how you responded and reacted to each comment, as far as I see.

[@Onlinepmcourses]

The people who watch and value my videos are my community. My job is to serve them. Plus, I enjoy it!

[@ITProjectManagers]

Still using Gantt Chart to schedule Sprints for a release. Great visualization for stakeholders.

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Absolutely! Gantt charts are a tool - and when they help you get the job done - whatever job - you should use them! A set of rules for what tools to use for agile and what for traditional PM is foolish nonsense. Good PMs mix and match to serve their projects, their stakeholders, and their clients.

[@JenniferWynters-kv8km]

Really like the simple and easy explanation - engaging as well. I tried my hand with Gantt charts, and found it a bit easier to map out things using this Gannt chart maker from Creately, or with similar software.

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thank you.

[@madhavsatija5977]

Thank you for this explanation! It was very thorough and clear! Have a wonderful day!

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thanks, Madhav!

[@jamesperry1602]

Like the clarity about gantt charts in the video. Thanks!

[@Onlinepmcourses]

You're very welcome.

[@berserkfan6088]

Very informative thanks for making this information public and free for everyone to watch this is going to help me a lot for my college work

[@Onlinepmcourses]

My pleasure, thank you for your comment. In case you are unaware, I now have a follow-up video on how to create a Gantt Chart: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fImaYaWNeqprm7s

[@educationcommunityengageme6285]

Thank you for the first minute. Good mental note to make!

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Great! You're welcome.

[@mroudemus410]

How wonderfully explained. Great tone and rhythm.

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thank you.

[@danielsosinski9383]

This video provides a simple explanation of the discussed topic, much apprieciated

[@Onlinepmcourses]

You're welcome, Daniel.

[@lincthesinc2703]

Fantastic video - concise without omitting key information.

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Glad it was helpful!

[@stevenkamala7238]

thanks mike , very simple and direct

[@Onlinepmcourses]

You're welcome, Steven.

[@KristinMcKenna-yk6kt]

That was simple and explained clearly, thank you.

[@Onlinepmcourses]

You're welcome!

[@davemcdonald3193]

I just love this video 😍 Thanks for making my life easier 👍🤗😊

[@Onlinepmcourses]

I hope it does.

[@primrosemwanza1911]

Brilliant video, thank you!

[@Onlinepmcourses]

You're welcome.

[@amonsibanda7643]

Love these lectures!! You deserve a bells!!

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thank you, Amon.

[@EmdeeTiamiyu]

I can technically watch you all day.

[@Onlinepmcourses]

That's great!

[@KirbzXXX]

Thank you for this great video!

[@Onlinepmcourses]

You're welcome.

[@AmberSoleil1]

Well that was an easy explanation. Thank you!

[@Onlinepmcourses]

You're welcome.

[@travelsdzoon223]

Thank you so much for the information !!!

[@Onlinepmcourses]

You are so welcome!

[@davidbuggest9037]

Thank you so much for the help!

[@Onlinepmcourses]

You're welcome, David.

[@mattynator911]

I have a business project due tomorrow and i was asked to draw on using the information given but i didn't know what it was so thanks this helped

[@Onlinepmcourses]

That's great to hear!

[@jannyanderson3321]

wow this guy actually has a great humor, lovedd this video

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thank you, Janny!

[@eng2grow]

Thank you for the video.

[@Onlinepmcourses]

You're welcome

[@alexanderhawkins963]

Very helpful video, thank you.

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Great to hear, Alexander. Thanks.

[@chaweepaenghom4261]

Very useful information. Thank you very much.

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thanks, Chawee. You're very welcome.

[@simonareznik7313]

Great explanation, a huge Thank You

[@Onlinepmcourses]

And a huge 'You're Welcome'!!

[@sagardhingra1157]

Thank you for explaining Gantt Chart so well

[@Onlinepmcourses]

My pleasure!

[@ExcelwithEkta]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqKapJ2HZZWle8U

[@domdomak2974]

Subscribed you make boring fun and you explain things very clearly

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thank you.

[@sheffin007]

Thank you, Well explained.

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Glad it was helpful!

[@alssunfiles3319]

Kudosss for superb presentation I really thought its going to be another boring and dull presentation from a person white american accent but it was very veryyyyyyy easy to understand and man what a command over speech ...marvellous - I subscribed for you Karol

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thank you!

[@visualpmpacademy2230]

Great job. Thank you so much

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thanks for watching!

[@ian9011]

Hi, your videos are very helpful and presentation and cadence make them easy to follow, thank you. I have always cited Henry Gantt ... thanks for the correction. Is it a harmonogram rather than a harmonograph?

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Ian, thank you. As I undersand, Harmonogram or Harmonograph are both 'correct' variants. I guess you'd need to speak Russian to know what Adamiecki really called his tool!

[@salvationprayerfellowship8899]

Thanks alot for the tutorial very useful and professionally explained

[@MikeClayton]

Caspar Crawford, you’re welcome

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Y

[@colek7641]

Thank you for this.

[@Onlinepmcourses]

You;'re welcome.

[@sarthakgoel9596]

Great Explanation in 5 minutes!! Tomorrow is my test🤣😐😌

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Good luck!

[@saudpm40]

A gantt chart is a visual representation of the activities.

[@Onlinepmcourses]

True.

[@juliapeplinska5732]

Karol Adamiecki is a Polish Man... And in Poland people speak and write in Polish, not in Russian.

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Yes, Adamiecki was Polish. But, I believe he did his early research in Russia and first published his ideas about the Harmonograph in a Russian journal. I imagine he was bi- or multi-lingual.

[@bartoszjanprzybyszewski1891]

@@Onlinepmcourses Poles are extremely fragile with their national identity

[@Onlinepmcourses]

@@bartoszjanprzybyszewski1891 Are you a Pole? If you are, I'll take your word for it. But in general, I prefer not to make sweeping assumptions about a whole nationality. There are 38 million Poles (more if you include diaspora). I am sure some are fragile and others not.

[@Bigboibremmer]

Great video, very informative.

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thank you.

[@jindagi_ka_safar]

nice explanation......thanks

[@Onlinepmcourses]

You're welcome.

[@Potencyfunction]

Is good beacuse shows clear that as a manager , you dont have lose time whitout sense. After all time is money and when you dont make them, than you need to move somewhere else in your businiess fields. It is important to not waste peoples time as, long as you as a manager cant realize that they are not iinterested. Or they are, who knows...

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thank you, Emma. I completely agree: effective communication saves time, money, and misunderstandings.

[@baleallout4172]

I didn’t expect to learn much. but I did thanks

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Great to hear. You're welcome.

[@moizakram1150]

Awesome vid dude!!

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thanks, Moiz.

[@husamwahib2643]

thank u sir , you solved my problem

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Glad to hear that

[@Self4422]

Great explanation

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Glad you think so!

[@lauraverreet3947]

Thank you for this great video. I was wondering, what is the difference between a Gantt chart and a schedule baseline? Thank you

[@Onlinepmcourses]

The Gantt Chart is a tool for displaying schedule information. A schedule baseline is an agreed schedule at the start of your project, to which you work, and against which you can assess progress. You can illustrate it on a Gantt Chart (or in other ways).

[@lauraverreet3947]

@@Onlinepmcourses Thank you so much for your help, it is incredibly helpful !

[@Onlinepmcourses]

@@lauraverreet3947 Perfect - happy to help.

[@bdulrhman5412]

thank you!

[@Onlinepmcourses]

You're welcome!

[@JohnWickXD]

Sir...You are life saviour❤

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Well, from John Wick, that's awesome. How's your dog?

[@JohnWickXD]

@@Onlinepmcourses 😖 Why Sire Mike...Why?😢

[@ziphomncwabe3955]

😻😻😻 You the man

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thank you

[@dr.amitsinghkhokhar3147]

Very good work

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thank you so much 😀

[@jidewoaini]

Mike is damn good!!!

[@Onlinepmcourses]

I certainly am! Thank you.

[@switskim1492]

Loved it 🤣🤣..Well explained👏

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thank you 😁

[@fitrianhidayat]

Nice video man 👌

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Appreciate it

[@SzybkiTom]

Great video. Thanks for explaining Gantt charts very well! Just a small correction: Adamiecki is Polish, not Russian.

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thank you - this has been noted a number of times and I reference the correction in my pinned comment.

[@kerrymorris1193]

I'm still super confused! This video is great, but my teacher set a really weird gantt chart task where we have to mark the dates where we can't do any work. I don't know what to do!

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Marking non-productive time on a Gantt Chart or other plan is common. If your teacher did not say what convention to use, I would shade out the dates when the team cannot work - weekends and public holidays etc. But I am not aware of any way on a Gantt Chart that you can identify dates when specific individuals are unavailable.

[@robcurrey2129]

what software did you use to create this video?

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Final Cut Pro X, with png files animated in that I created with PowerPoint. I love FCPX, but I'm sure you can do this with other capable editing software.

[@robcurrey2129]

@@Onlinepmcourses Thank you for your reply - I enjoyed your video and thought it was professionally done. Great job.

[@Onlinepmcourses]

@@robcurrey2129 Thank you.

[@antares_the]

I didn't expect this to be funny lmfaoooo

[@Onlinepmcourses]

😂

[@allaboutnic]

1. Like: done 2. Subscribe: done 3. Notification: done, because of you I turn it on 😄

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thank you very much, Sara. Reply: done, because I appreciate every viewer, subscriber, and comment.

[@ML-vc8zs]

Gantt charts are cumbersome and do not account for unforseen events in a long project with many moving parts. No risk management can accurately account for the unknown barriers that will occur. Gantt charts create a false sense of security and many times unrealistic goals locking you and your team into these milestones setting the entire project up for failure. The only thing they are good for is collecting tasks at the beginning of a project. They need to be more flexible and evolve over the course of the project. Unfortunately too many people, typically high level managers, lock onto a projected completion date and blow up the group when that date is missed due to the unforseen. I have removed Gantt charts completely from any project management as they are now proven to be obsolete and an obstacle in the overall success of a project.

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Okay, there is so much to unpack here... 'do not account for unforseen events in a long project' - correct. It's not what they are for. They represent a baseline for a predictive project 'No risk management can accurately account for the unknown barriers that will occur' - no, but it can put in place strategies. However, this point has nothing to do with Gantt charts - it's about risk management and, especially, ontological risks. See my video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4Cpm6CIaJKmp80 'Gantt charts create a false sense of security' - only in people who (foolishly) believe they are tru. No experienced project manager sees them as anything other than a tool for thinking, planning, and communicating 'They need to be more flexible and evolve over the course of the project' - agreed. And, when used properly, they are. 'Unfortunately too many people, typically high level managers, lock onto a projected completion date and blow up the group when that date is missed due to the unforseen.' - True that. But Gantt charts aren't the problem here. If they are part of the problem, then it's because they have been used or explained incorrectly. 'I have removed Gantt charts completely from any project management' - as is your right. They aren't mandatory 'they are now proven to be obsolete and an obstacle in the overall success of a project' - that's a HUGE claim for which I have seen, and you have presented, no evidence: none, zero, zip.

[@freedivinginmaldiveswithry2119]

👍 nice

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@juansgalt]

Great video. I hope you figured out how to turn off auto focus, as I'll probably watch more videos!

[@Onlinepmcourses]

No worries - not been using Autofocus for nearly a year, so plenty of new videos without it - and 2 more every week! Thanks.

[@juansgalt]

Looks like it was intentional and you were trying to bring focus to the chart! Great work man, I'm IN. :D

[@Onlinepmcourses]

@@juansgalt I understand... Yes, the de-focus behind the chart is deliberate! I know there are a small number of videos where the autofocus plays up though.

[@juansgalt]

@@Onlinepmcourses Gotcha. I appreciate the response. :)

[@BB-wh2vm]

love this😂

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Great!

[@properoldschool]

Thank you very informative and simply explained

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thanks, Thomas. You're welcome!

[@properoldschool]

@@Onlinepmcourses I am doing a Mbus degree and the first module is PM we have to do a Project as the assessment based on Gantt.

[@Onlinepmcourses]

@@properoldschool Sounds great - Good luck with your assignment and I hope you'll find a load more great content on our channel and at onlinepmcourses.com

[@properoldschool]

@@Onlinepmcourses Thanks Mike, I have to plan a project for my assignment. I have never planned one before at least I didn't use a planning process to do one.

[@Onlinepmcourses]

@@properoldschool Two videos you might like: 1. Plan Your Project: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpmloGOKadyWg5I (simple) 2. Project Planning Process - How to Build Effective Project Plans kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3jCfap9bdStptE (probably more than you need but good background) I hope it goes well.

[@gaiakingdom1462]

Adamiecki was a Polish guy, not Russian! But the fact that you got it wrong also proves your point - not enough marketing in english lol

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thank you. You aren't the first to spot it - see my pinned post!

[@gaiakingdom1462]

@@Onlinepmcourses ok thanks!

[@Sam-pg5lt]

Adorable

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thanks!

[@robertholcomb5450]

If you think you gannt understand this stuff, give this video a watch.

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Lol! 😂🤣😂🤣🤭

[@peppermint7789]

This is so funny 😂😂😂

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Glad you liked it!

[@brunorocha9898]

brabo

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Is this a variant of Bravo? In which case thank you Or Portuguese for Anger? In which case, why?

[@brunorocha9898]

@@Onlinepmcourses exactly!! heheh

[@brunorocha9898]

@@Onlinepmcourses exactly, but I wanted to say thank you hehehehe I learned a lot from your videos.

[@hervekalundu2978]

Right about it in English.... I don't know how i feel about it

[@Onlinepmcourses]

I was being ironic. Hopefully, the world has changed since then. But, the reality...

[@marco-avezzano]

Ah ah, poor Adamiecki.... btw, he was not russian, but polish (and his surname is pronounced "Adamiezki")... and he published his works in polish and russian... but I guess that for Mike Clayton this is even worse :)))))

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Marco - Yes, I was aware that Adamiecki was Polish, but not of how he pronounced his name. Thank you. Why should I think that worse? More on Adamiecki: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karol_Adamiecki

[@avtandilachuashvili8437]

More respect for Karol Adamiecki.

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Absolutely!

[@oakyd3929]

Karol Adamiecki was Polish not Russian 😅

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Yup - thank you. Check the pinned comment for details.

[@alexandroschristou8439]

so ademiscky is the guy who said the joke and gantt is the guy who said the same joke but louder?

[@Onlinepmcourses]

😆

[@nkonge]

NICE! NO BS, NO BROUHAHA, NO PHD......NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thanks, Nkonge.

[@eesabkhan]

Those pauses when he speaks, have separate fan following.

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thank you.

[@TheTruthTeller99]

you're a funny fella

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thank you.

[@osleuszy428]

AdamieCki C read as TZ = AdamieTZki

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thank you very much, Ośle.

[@KristofskiKabuki]

So it's literally just a timeline of the project?

[@Onlinepmcourses]

That's one way of thinking of it, yes. Literally, it's a graphical representation of the timeline of the project.

[@diment4231]

THE VOICES ARE BACK GAAAGHHH

[@Onlinepmcourses]

What?

[@479210251]

This man has a huge adam's apple

[@Onlinepmcourses]

And...