Software Project Management

CS-463
Course Instructor: Dr. Shafaq Mussadiq
Institute of Computing (IOC)
Kohat University of Science & Technology (KUST)

Software Project Management CS-463 Instructor: Dr. Shafaq

Mussadiq Institute of Computing, KUST
Topic: Gantt Chart

Lecture’s Topic
• Scheduling Techniques
oGantt Chart

Software Project Management CS-463 Instructor: Dr. Shafaq Mussadiq Institute of Computing, KUST
Topic: Gantt Chart

Scheduling
• Scheduling in project management is the listing of activities,
deliverables, and milestones within a project.
• A schedule also usually includes
o the planned start and finish date,
o duration,
o and resources assigned to each activity.
• Effective project scheduling is a critical component of successful time
management.

Software Project Management CS-463 Instructor: Dr. Shafaq Mussadiq Institute of Computing, KUST
Topic: Gantt Chart

Scheduling
• Scheduling is carried out in advance of the project commencing and
involves:
oidentifying the tasks that need to be carried out;
oestimating how long they will take;
oallocating resources (mainly personnel);
oscheduling when the tasks will occur.

Software Project Management CS-463 Instructor: Dr. Shafaq Mussadiq Institute of Computing, KUST
Topic: Gantt Chart

Scheduling
• Once the project is underway control needs to be exerted to ensure
that the plan continues to represent the best prediction of what will
occur in the future:
• Based on what occurs during the development; often necessitates
revision of the plan.

Software Project Management CS-463 Instructor: Dr. Shafaq Mussadiq Institute of Computing, KUST
Topic: Gantt Chart

Scheduling
• Effective project planning will help to ensure that the systems are
delivered:
owithin cost;
owithin the time constraint;
oto a specific standard of quality.

Software Project Management CS-463 Instructor: Dr. Shafaq Mussadiq Institute of Computing, KUST
Topic: Gantt Chart

Scheduling Techniques
• Gantt chart
• Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)
• Critical Path Method (CPM)

Software Project Management CS-463 Instructor: Dr. Shafaq Mussadiq Institute of Computing, KUST
Topic: Gantt Chart

Gantt Chart
• The Gantt Bar Chart, was developed by Henry Gantt (American
mechanical engineer and management consultant) in 1910 to display
graphically the process of a project.
• Henry Gantt was then the one who elaborated the actual chart that is
currently in use.
• His diagram is a tool that belongs to the network scheduling
technique and it shows the various activities and their time on the
Cartesian axis.
• The vertical axis represents the activities whereas the horizontal one
shows the time.

Software Project Management CS-463 Instructor: Dr. Shafaq Mussadiq Institute of Computing, KUST
Topic: Gantt Chart

Gantt Chart
• Gantt is one of the most used scheduling tool both for the operational
and controlling phases.
• In the Gantt chart the correlations of the various activities aren't
showed: however it is possible to figure out when the activities are
scheduled (starting date and end date) but it is not possible to see
from which activities one task depends on or which is the input for
one activity.
• For this reason it is recommended to use Gantt Chart with PERT to
have a wider prospective of the whole project.

Software Project Management CS-463 Instructor: Dr. Shafaq Mussadiq Institute of Computing, KUST
Topic: Gantt Chart

Advantages of Gantt Chart

• Adaptable to all industries and projects
• Easy to view progress
• Ability to set accurate deadlines
• Easily modified
• Easy to produce
• Easy to understand
• Ability to assign tasks to resources
• The manager can compare work planned versus work accomplished
at a glance

Software Project Management CS-463 Instructor: Dr. Shafaq Mussadiq Institute of Computing, KUST
Topic: Gantt Chart

Limitations of Gantt Chart

• It is difficult to depict interrelationships.
• It is weak in forecasting.
• It is inflexible.
• No progress tracking

Software Project Management CS-463 Instructor: Dr. Shafaq Mussadiq Institute of Computing, KUST
Topic: Gantt Chart

Input for Gantt Chart

• To create the Gantt Chart only four elements are needed:
oProject Scope
oResponsibilities
oAvailable Resources
oSchedule Management System
oActivities, their timing and sequences

Software Project Management CS-463 Instructor: Dr. Shafaq Mussadiq Institute of Computing, KUST
Topic: Gantt Chart

Creating a Gantt Chart

• AXES
oThe first thing is to create a sheet with horizontal timescale and the
activities on the vertical axis.
oIt is useful to add a calendar timing for the various activities to have
an idea of the needed timescale.
oTo have a little bit of margin for extra activities or mistakes it is
recommended to always add spare time.

Software Project Management CS-463 Instructor: Dr. Shafaq Mussadiq Institute of Computing, KUST
Topic: Gantt Chart

Creating a Gantt Chart

• DRAWING BARS
oEvery activity is represented by a bar and its length is proportional to
its duration.
oSometimes some activities can be split into several steps (sub
activities)
oEvery bar has to be placed according to its sequence. If task B is after
A and before C, its bar has to be between the other two.

Software Project Management CS-463 Instructor: Dr. Shafaq Mussadiq Institute of Computing, KUST
Topic: Gantt Chart

Creating a Gantt Chart

• ARE ALL ACTIVITIES NECESSARY?
oAfter the whole chart is done, it is necessary to check if all the
activities listed in the Gantt chart are necessary.
oIf some are useless it's better to delete them.

Software Project Management CS-463 Instructor: Dr. Shafaq Mussadiq Institute of Computing, KUST
Topic: Gantt Chart

Example of Gantt Chart

Activity Predecessor Duration (weeks)
A / 5
B / 4
C A 3
D A 4
E A 6
F B, C 4
G D 5
H D, E 6
I F 6
J H,G 4

Software Project Management CS-463 Instructor: Dr. Shafaq Mussadiq Institute of Computing, KUST
Topic: Gantt Chart Duration
Activity Predecessor
(weeks)
A / 5
Example of Gantt Chart B / 4
C A 3
D A 4
E A 6
F B, C 4
G D 5
H D, E 6
I F 6
J H,G 4

Software Project Management CS-463 Instructor: Dr. Shafaq Mussadiq Institute of Computing, KUST
Thank You