What is a Gantt chart?
A Gantt chart, named after Henry Gantt, is a bar chart of a project schedule. Each task is a bar on a timeline; links between bars show dependencies; diamonds mark milestones. The longest chain of dependent tasks is the critical path — delay any of them and the project is late.
How to build a Gantt chart
- List all tasks (a work breakdown structure).
- Estimate each task's duration.
- Identify dependencies — what must finish before what can start.
- Place tasks on the timeline and mark milestones.
- Find the critical path.
- Assign owners and update progress weekly.
Example: opening a new outlet
| Task | Weeks | Depends on |
|---|---|---|
| Sign lease | 1–2 | — |
| Fit-out | 3–8 | Sign lease |
| Licences | 2–7 | Sign lease |
| Hire & train staff | 6–9 | — |
| Soft launch | 10 | Fit-out, licences, staff |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Planning in too much detail too early.
- Not updating the chart, so it shows a fantasy.
- Ignoring the critical path.
How DOOfy helps
A Gantt chart shows the plan; DOOfy shows how operations are actually running once the project goes live — so a new outlet or line can be compared with the rest of the business from day one.
Frequently asked questions
What is the critical path in a Gantt chart?
The longest sequence of dependent tasks. Any delay on it delays the whole project.
Gantt chart or Kanban?
Gantt suits projects with a fixed end date and dependencies. Kanban suits continuous streams of work.