Guide to Management Theory of Henry Gantt

Incorporate Gantt theory into your work schedules to boost productivity
By Janie Sullivan

Gantt charts, and their modern equivalent, program evaluation and review technique (PERT) charts are graphic management tools, providing visual methods of scheduling both time and resources for work projects. Henry Gantt management theory incorporates the record of the work that has been done, balanced with the work that still needs to be completed.

According to Gantt theory, a Gantt chart is a bar chart showing the progression of time through the phases of a project. The charts can be simple or complex, depending on the needs of the project manager and the team. As you are deciding on how to manage a project, consider the following:

1. The management theory of Henry Gantt dictates the use of both resources and time when evaluating projects. Considering this, how many people will be needed to complete the project?

2. Henry Gantt scientific management is a theory that incorporates benchmarks in a project as a way to complete the project efficiently. What are the milestones and their deadlines in your project?

3. How much time is needed to meet each of the milestone deadlines?

Action Steps

The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Explore Henry Gantt scientific management theory online solutions There are multiple websites that offer interactive solutions to your management scheduling problems. Look for open source solutions, free tutorials, and blog discussions that support Henry Gantt management theory.

I recommend: Visit the Gantt Project, an open source community where you can demo software and download free Gantt chart resources. You can also participate in GanttHive, an interactive portion of the Gantt Project community that is dedicated to building a free project management tool. GetAhead offers an excellent, comprehensive free tutorial can give you the information you need to determine how you can incorporate Gantt charts into your business solutions toolkit.

Train your staff to use project management solutions based on the management theory of Henry Gantt Your staff will be much more productive once they understand how valuable a solution to business scheduling issues Gantt charts can be. There are online resources for free training on how to create and use Gantt charts.

I recommend: You can find an excellent step-by-step tutorial on building Gantt charts at Mind Tools. Your staff will learn the concepts behind project planning as well as examine critical path analysis techniques. You can also sign them up for a free, simple project management solution at Smartsheet.com that will give them access to multiple templates for use in creating Gantt charts.

Choose Gantt chart software that will meet your needs There are multiple software solutions for creating Gantt charts, PERT charts, and other project management tools. Be sure to review several of the options before making your choice. Some programs are very complex and others may be too simple for your projects.

I recommend: Sign up your team for a free test drive of Viewpath, an online solution for sharing your project charts, time lines, and even calendars. An alternative solution is offered through AceProject, where you can test drive the software anonymously, or sign up for a free full-featured online option that can be upgraded to a paid subscription depending on your needs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

Project management doesn't have to be rocket science. Management theories abound and can sometimes overwhelm. Take only what you need from the discussion, and create Gantt chart tools that will truly assist you in completing your projects on time and within budget. In other words, keep it simple for success.