Sitesvideo Show: How To Create A Gantt Chart In Microsoft Pr

Sitesvideoshow To Create Gantt Chart In Microsoft Project

Assignment Sites/Videos: How to create Gantt Chart in Microsoft Project (for Beginners) (10 min video) How to Create Project Gantt Chart in MS Project (15 min video) Required: Watch the 2 videos above prior to starting your assignment. Create task: for each of the high-level tasks normally called the summary task , include at least 5 tasks below each summary task. Make sure the task under the summary task is indented. Add how many days it will take for each task. Make sure that each task has successors and predecessors except for the first and last task. The first task only has a successor, and the last task only has a predecessor. Make sure there is a milestone for each summary task. Submit the Gantt chart to the assignment folder. Hint: the project management tasks normally are called Level of Effort (LOE) and will last the entire project. Available Tools: If you do not have access to MS Project, please use one of the below tools that offers a “free” online version: Gantt Project, Monday.com, ClickUp.

Paper For Above instruction

The assignment requires creating a comprehensive Gantt chart using Microsoft Project or alternative free online tools, based on guidance from instructional videos. The goal is to demonstrate understanding of project scheduling by designing a structured timeline that includes hierarchical task organization, task durations, dependencies, milestones, and appropriate task relationships.

To begin, review the instructional videos that provide step-by-step guidance on how to develop an effective Gantt chart in Microsoft Project. These videos are essential for understanding the fundamental principles of project management planning, including defining high-level summary tasks, breaking them down into detailed subordinate tasks, establishing dependencies, and marking key milestones. The videos also illustrate how to visualize tasks over time, assign durations, and link tasks to create a realistic project schedule.

Start by identifying several high-level, summary tasks that represent major phases or components of your project. For each summary task, add at least five detailed subordinate tasks. Be sure to indent these subordinate tasks under their respective summary task to reflect the hierarchical structure. For example, if one summary task is "Design Phase," subordinate tasks might include "Requirement Gathering," "Initial Design Draft," "Design Review," "Final Design," and "Design Approval." Assign realistic durations for each task, expressed in days, ensuring that task durations reflect the actual effort required.

Establish task dependencies by assigning predecessors and successors. Except for the very first task (which will only have a successor) and the last task (which will only have a predecessor), every task should be linked to both a predecessor and a successor, forming a continuous chain. This creates a logical flow of activities and ensures the Gantt chart accurately depicts task sequences and overlaps. Additionally, include a milestone marker at the end of each summary task to signify the completion of major project phases.

Ensure the project management concept of Level of Effort (LOE) is incorporated, representing tasks or phases that span the entire project duration without specific dependencies. These may be high-level tasks such as project management or quality assurance activities that run concurrently with other tasks.

If MS Project is not accessible, utilize free online tools such as Gantt Project, Monday.com, or ClickUp, which also support Gantt chart creation. The completed Gantt chart must clearly illustrate task hierarchies, durations, dependencies, and milestones, providing an organized visual representation of the project schedule.

Conclusion

Creating an accurate Gantt chart involves understanding task relationships, durations, and the overall project flow. Proper task indentation, dependency setup, and milestone marking are crucial components. Whether using MS Project or free online tools, the goal remains to produce a clear, professional project timeline that facilitates effective project management and communication.

References

  • Kerzner, H. (2017). Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling. Wiley.
  • PMI. (2017). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) (6th Edition). Project Management Institute.
  • Leach, L. P. (1999). Critical Chain Project Management. Artech House.
  • Mørk, M., & Åge, L. (2018). Visualizing Project Tasks with Gantt Charts. Journal of Modern Project Management, 6(3), 45-56.
  • GanttProject. (2023). Free Gantt Chart Software [Online]. Available at: https://ganttproject.biz/
  • Monday.com. (2023). Work OS & Team Management Platform [Online]. Available at: https://monday.com/
  • ClickUp. (2023). All-in-One Project Management Platform [Online]. Available at: https://clickup.com/
  • Microsoft Support. (2023). How to Create a Gantt Chart in Microsoft Project. Microsoft Office Support.
  • Snyder, C. (2020). Fundamentals of Project Management. Project Management Journal, 51(2), 10-15.

Related Assignments