In order to finish projects on schedule and under budget, a successful project manager must have the appropriate tools at their disposal. Both Gantt chart and PERT chart/diagrams are capable of achieving these goals in the short term.
If you want to get the most value out of these two tools, we’ll go through why they’re so valuable for project managers and how to utilize them both to plan and monitor your projects in order to get the best potential outcomes. In order to complete your project, you must comprehend the differences between a PERT chart and a Gantt chart, as well as how they differ from one another.
What do you mean by a PERT Chart? How do you use it?
People who work on projects use PERT charts to plan, organize, and coordinate the work that needs to be done on it. For example, break a project up into its parts in order to figure out how long each feature will take.
Project managers may use a PERT chart to identify all of the tasks and activities that these will require for the project and then estimate an acceptable completion date for the task and activity lists. You can also use PERT charts to organize and manage the project’s responsibilities among the project team members.
What do you mean by a Gantt Chart? How do you use it?
When you’re managing a project, a Gantt chart is a kind of horizontal bar chart that shows how much work you’ve planned to do overtime. It shows how a project’s timetable looks in a way that helps with planning, coordination, and tracking individual tasks. By using a Gantt chart, all stakeholders can see the exact schedule information, set mutual expectations, and follow the planned process.
Each task is shown on a Gantt chart, which shows how it is linked or dependent on another job. In a Gantt chart, tasks are shown in the order they need to be done. You can view a timeline to see how long each assignment and the project will take. Gantt charts can also show the order in which different tasks need to complete and which groups and people are in charge of each one.
PERT chart vs. Gantt chart: What are the benefits?
When planning a project, you can use a PERT chart to get a high-level view of all the tasks, their dependencies, and when they should be done. A PERT chart is a great way to show how each project’s activities connect to the other. It looks like a flowchart, with each task leading directly to the next one (or actions). Unfortunately, using PERT charts for big, complex projects with hundreds of tasks can quickly become confusing or even impossible to understand.
Keep track of projects with Gantt charts. People on the team and people interested in the project can use Gantt charts to see how the project will work. PMs can see right away if a project is on track and where each job is in the project cycle with the help of a Gantt chart. The process of making and updating a Gantt chart might take a long time, but it could be worth it. As for Gantt charts, they can be made and managed with the current software.
PERT Chart vs. Gantt Chart: what are the differences?
| PERT ChartGantt ChartPERT charts are a form of project management tool designed to arrange, organize, and work collaboratively on a project. | The Gantt chart is a horizontal bar chart. It visualizes tasks that are scheduled to run overtime. |
| Creation: | |
| The U.S. Navy created it in the 1950s as a way to streamline the administration of complex projects. | Henry Gantt created the Gantt chart in the early 1900s so that people could understand how a project was progressing at a glance. |
| Illustration | |
| Non-linear diagrams include PERT charts. You may build PERT charts using any graphic design or digital drawing software. | Databases and bar charts are extensively utilized in Gantt charts. As a result, Gantt charts will require specific software. |
| Customization | |
| Additionally, PERT charts are less flexible because of their intrinsic constraints, making them a less versatile choice. | Gantt charts, which are exceedingly comprehensive, give extra options if a project or divisional organization changes along the way. |
| Project planning | |
| Organization, job identification, detection of dependencies, and time estimation are all made easier using the PERT chart. | Once a project has begun, a Gantt chart may help you keep track of it. However, it cannot aid in project planning. |
| Uses | |
| During the execution phase, a PERT chart is commonly used. | During the planning stage, a Gantt chart is commonly used. |
| Execution of tasks | |
| Teams may quickly see which tasks are interconnected and who is responsible for them using a PERT chart. | To understand the big picture, team members may have to go through multiple pages of Gantt charts that are sometimes rather large and comprehensive. |
PERT Charts vs. Gantt Charts: Which One to Choose?
You may use a PERT chart or a Gantt chart to organize your work. A PERT chart can be used to estimate how long it will take to complete a project from start to end. Moreover, it demonstrates how tasks in large or sophisticated projects are related.
It is feasible to estimate how long each job will take using a Gantt chart. The need for healthy and efficient communication is one of the most crucial things that good project managers feel they should never forget. PERT and Gantt charts may be used to demonstrate how activities are interconnected and to explain intricate plans. This method makes it simple to keep everyone on the same page.
The verdict is:
PERT charts are the best way to see a project’s scope and timetable in one place. Gantt charts are best used when you have a team working on a project together. It might change after it’s done. There are some times when a Gantt chart is better than a timetable. You should only use PERT charts when the project’s scope isn’t going to change much.
