A lot of individuals in the business world, would agree that Gantt chart template is undeniably  the most useful tool in project management. It was proclaimed as the most popular project management tool in use today. This is all possible because this template is ready to go and produce a Gantt chart at any time.

For over 50 years, the Gantt Chart Template went its evolutionary steps. It started with paper and pencil. Now, it has evolved into a fully functional piece of software that is included in most project management programs. This was done because of the useful information this type of visual communications is possible of.

The Gantt chart template was initially designed to help illustrate a project’s schedule in the form of a bar chart. When more than one task is listed in the same chart, the use of color can be used to help distinguish the difference between them. This allows for easier reading of the chart from all that might need to use it as a quick reference tool.

Today the Gantt chart template helps to clearly illustrate the many different components of the work breakdown structure. To help advance the use of this type of visual aid, dependency can now be added to the Gantt Charts to show just how the different tasks or activities are related to one another.

The use of the Gantt chart template is not only restricted to the use if the schedule of tasks involved in a project. It can also be used anywhere a bar graph can illustrate a comparison between two points in time or amounts. A good example of this is the use of a Gantt Chart to illustrate the progression of the number of deliverable until a specific goal is achieved.

One of the constraints of using the Gantt chart template is that they were designed to help illustrate time, cost and scope of an activity involved in a project.

When a project is on a larger scale, the use of a simple Gantt Chart losses some of its appeal since not all of the bars in the chart can be fitted on the same page.

Another handicap of the Gantt chart template is that it cannot display the size of the activity or the magnitude of the work involved in completing the task or activity. Another important component involved in the completion of a task that cannot be illustrated by the Gantt Chart is the complexity of the tasks being completed.

One of the illustrations the Gantt chart template can help to illustrate is what tasks involved in a project that can be completed simultaneously. It also assists in showing and selecting which ones will have to wait until a previous task is completed. This will reduce the amount of delay in the starting of a new task for your project.

One of the leading complaints about the use of a Gantt chart template and the results it produces is the lack of detail it provides. In most instances that indicate on the edge of the charts do not include each number, but are rather broken down into sections.

For over 100 years, the use of the Gantt chart template and the resulting charts has been a part of any project. They will never replace the need for the Gantt chart or its ability to clearly illustrate the progression of task as compared to time for all to understand though other types of charts like the Pie chart have been developed and are used.

Short summary about the role of a Project Management Plan within a project.
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