Gantt theory of production management emerged around the turn of the 20th century, as American industry was growing and becoming mechanized incredibly quickly. Like many of the management theorists of his time, Henry Gantt's background was in engineering. Gantt's main focus was on creating charts for managing productivity.

While many business continue to use Gantt charts in their project planning, other important Gantt contributions are often overlooked. Gantt theories also included an innovative task and bonus system, as well as a theory of social responsibility for business. Caring for employees and society continue to be relevant applications of Henry Gantt management theory.

Making the most of the management theory of Henry Gantt is simple when you consider three important areas of application:

1. Use Gantt charts for efficient project planning.
2. Consider the contribution Henry Gantt made to task and bonus theory.
3. Maintain a sense of social responsibility for your business using Gantt theory.
   

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Use chart models developed for Henry Gantt scientific management theories

Project planning was an important focus of Henry Gantt, and most businesses today use some form of project plan. Project planning is useful for assessing a realistic timeline, aligning efforts to achieve a project goal, figuring out which tasks are dependent on others to complete the project and ensuring that necessary resources are available throughout the project. Gantt charts help managers map out these factors across a project's lifespan.

I recommend: Learn about the history and uses of the types of charts developed by Henry Gantt at the Gantt Charting for Fun and Profit website, and contextualize the charts within other productivity improvement theories using the history provided by Accel-Team. ASQ provides a step-by-step walk through for creating and implementing a Gantt chart for your company.

Learn how Henry Gantt management theory improves the bonus system for your employees

Henry Gantt scientific management theories incorporated an important element--worker incentives. While Gantt's contemporaries were interested in punishing unproductive workers, Henry Gantt adopted a more humanistic task and bonus system that provided incentives for workers to complete and go beyond their required duties.

I recommend: Learn more about Henry Gantt management theory of tasks and bonuses from the International Institute of Management, and on the University of the Philippines management personalities page, which includes Henry Gantt and others. While your company may already be implementing bonuses, consider how radical Gantt's humanistic theory seemed during the industrial labor movement period and what innovations you could make to inspire your employees the way Gantt did.

Adopt the social responsibility elements of Gantt theory

Social responsibility is increasingly important for businesses today, but was an innovation in management when Henry Gantt was first developing his theories. Gantt's idea that businesses had a responsibility to society provided the first steps in the creation of the Human Relations School of Management, which fundamentally changed the role businesses play in their communities and the world.

I recommend: Learn more about Gantt's social responsibility ideals at teachspace.org. You can adopt more socially responsible policies if you understand some of the fundamental assumptions of the Human Relations Movement, available in a chart from the Northeastern University, College of Business Administration. These assumptions include the fact that teamwork and cooperation are essential and that increased satisfaction leads to increased productivity.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider using Gantt chart software for making the most of the management theory of Henry Gantt. Software programs will produce charts following Gantt's model based on your specific workplace and project planning needs.

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?

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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.

After spending 14 years working on his Henry Gantt scientific management experiences, the scientist began his career as an independent management consultant. The methods of the Henry Gantt scientific management theories include a pay arrangement based on a basic daily wage, a task and bonus system and supervisor encouragement toward employees. The Henry Gantt management theory and the Gantt chart have had profound effects on the productivity of many organizations. They have reinforced Gantt’s belief that the successful completion of organizational goals hinges primarily upon humanitarian management.

Due to the positive effects of the implementation of the Henry Gantt management theory in the workplace, many employers are interested in management theory of Henry Gantt Education and Training as a method to improve their workplace environments. There are a number of venues through which the Gantt theory of management and Gantt charts may be learned and understood:

1. Attend online lectures and complete online educational courses which offer a sizable concentration on Gantts theories and upon the Gantt management theory, in particular.

2. Attend exhibitions and seminars which focus on the management theories of Henry Gantt.

3. Use specifically-designed software to assist in the comprehension and application of the teachings of Henry Gantt.

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Invest in the proper education to most thoroughly understand the Gantt management theory

Determine which lectures and learning programs are available with an emphasis on Henry Gantt and his teachings. This will help to explain the intricacies of Gantt's work, making it more relevant and comprehensive to the people who are interested in utilizing the material.

I recommend: StudiesFaction.com offers an online lecture explaining the Theoretical Approaches to Management, covering material from Henry Gantt. At the end of the online lecture, there is also a test to complete. Gantt course material is also available online at TeachSpace.org.

Research available Henry Gantt management theory seminars, reviews and other learning series

Sometimes, despite having the knowledge, individuals may need assistance in applying what they have learned. As a result, seminars and lectures can be extremely beneficial in learning to utilize the information and strategies set forth by Henry Gantt.

I recommend: GanttHead.com offers a management package for those who are interested in learning more about Henry Gannt, his contributions and how his skills and knowledge can be utilized in the workplace. The seminars offered by GanttHead are private and focus the attention specifically on those who need it. UNT.edu offers notes on a recent seminar which reviewed, among other managerial theories and concepts, the Gantt chart.

Supplement your management theory of Henry Gantt education and training through software

Even after learning information, it can be difficult to retain this knowledge without practice and practical application. Henry Gantt software helps with this issue, and works to ensure that individuals will be able to easily and effectively apply their knowledge in the workplace. Additionally, some individuals are visual learners and not verbal learners. As a result, their education of the Gantt charts and Gantt information may be benefited most through such software programs.

I recommend: Kioskea.com offers Gantt software which allows users to realize Gantt charts and diagrams in order to plan specific projects and subsequently manage the company’s resources. The software offered from the Kioskea site is available at no charge. SmartDraw.com also allows individuals and businesspersons to learn to draw organized and complete Gnatt charts.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  There are many management theories available for businesses and corporations. As enticing as one may sound, it is important to find the right management theory for the specific establishment. In order to be effective, the management theory needs to be applicable to the specific site of operation.

Henry Gantt is best known for the creation of the Gantt Charting system for project management. However, aside from the fact that he was a colleague of Frederick Taylor, few know about his contributions to management theory and the social sciences.

This purpose of this guide is to introduce you to key elements for all of Henry Gantt's management theories and contributions in order to provide you with a better understanding of his work.

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Gantt Chart

Henry Gantt is most famous for the creation of the Gantt Chart (commonly misspelled as Gant or Gannt Chart). Also called a milestones chart, activity chart or project bar chart, this complex system helps project managers to keep a project on task according to a strict time line.

I recommend: Visit Mind Tools or the American Society for Quality for detailed instructions on creating a Gantt Chart.

Milestones

Milestones are an element of Gantt Charts that Gantt found to be important motivators. Adding milestones to the time line of a Gantt Chart gives employees obtainable goals and motivates them to work toward completion of those goals by the designated deadline.

I recommend: Read more about milestones, and other Gantt Chart elements, on Gantt Charts for Everyone.

Today Line

The Today Line is an element of the Gantt Chart that was later added in order to make employees aware of today's progress. It is a vertical line across the Gantt Chart that distinguishes where the project currently is from where the project should be, giving employees an idea of how they're doing.

I recommend: Access 12manage for more information on Gantt Charts and the Today Line.

PERT

PERT stands for Program Evaluation and Review Technique. The PERT is a development that stemmed from the Gantt Chart and you will often find reference to it when reading about Gantt. PERT has disadvantages (no calendar) and advantages (correlation between activities are easier to follow) in comparison to Gantt Charts.

I recommend: Visit the Internet Center for Management and Business Administration for more information on PERT.

Task and bonus system

The task and bonus system that Gantt developed isn't as widely known as the chart system. However, it is equally as important. Gantt believed that employees should look forward to rewards for a job well done, rather than fear punishments if they don't meet management standards. Among the many incentives Gantt developed was a wage incentive for employees who complete tasks before the deadline.

I recommend: Scroll down to the information on Henry Gantt on the University of the Philippines Extension Program in Olongapo (UPEPO)website for more information on his incentive programs.

Backcasting

Backcasting is a term coined by Gantt to describe looking at a goal backwards. To backcast, you state a goal and then look at the possible tasks necessary in order to complete that goal.

I recommend: Teachspace's Changes in Management Theory During the Twentieth Century mentions Gantt and backcasting.