VoIP Part 2 (Gantt and PERT Charts)

PERT and Gantt Charts
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Abstract
Project managers are tasked with the duty of ensuring timely completion of projects. To successfully plan and manage projects, managers use a number of methods and tools. PERT and Gantt charts are some of the tools that act as project visualization tools. PERT charts deal with complex and broad projects and predict time spans for each task while Gantt charts apply to simple projects and give the real time needed to complete each task. These visualization tools are crucial as they assist managers in ensuring that their projects do not run behind schedule. While Gantt chart is used before the commencement of the project, PERT diagram is used when the project is in progress. This paper looks at the difference in information received when using the two charts and the advantages of each over the other. Further, the paper highlights the appropriate instances for the application of PERT and Gantt charts and finally explains the importance of critical path in managing projects.
Comparison and Contrast between the Information from a Gantt Chart, versus That of a PERT Diagram
Gantt chart and PERT Diagram are merely visualization tools which help project managers in displaying tasks needed to complete a project. Both tables assist in the scheduling of tasks, control, and administering all the duties significant to completion of a specific project (Bennatan, 2000). The charts help managers in analyzing their plans by visualizing and providing them with tools that split their projects into smaller and parts that are easy to manage.

Gantt charts include information on all the tasks to be performed in a plan and also information on the start and end date of each of the functions.
Although the two charts apply visualization tools, some primary differences exist between them. First, as Bennatan (2000) highlights, Gantt charts were first introduced by Charles Gantt to handle task sequence for project completion while the US Navy founded the PERT charts which apply in handling complex and large projects. Second, while PERT chart pays attention to inter-task relationships, Gantt chart displays the actual time needed to complete all the task of a project. The PERT diagrams demonstrate a flow chart with parallel networks between functions while Gantt is merely a bar chart with linear representations of time (Bennatan, 2000). Third, due to their complexities, PERT charts are complicated and are designed for small parts of a project while Gantt chart is less cumbersome and straightforward hence intended for projects that require changes.

Fig1. Gantt chart for the VoIP installation project

Fig 2. The PERT chart

Fig 3. An enlarged section of the PERT chart;
Advantages of Using a Gantt Chart over a PERT Chart and vice versa
Gant charts are simple and easy to interpret as compared to PERT charts which are involved. Unlike PERT charts whose information is interlinked hence dependent on each other, Gantt charts provide independent information which is easy to interpret and change as the project progresses. Unlike PERT diagrams which require a project manager to predict the time needed to complete the project tasks, Gantt charts provide accurate time are necessary to achieve each work.
On the other hand, PERT charts have an advantage over Gantt charts in that it displays interlinking data that are dependent on each other due to their interconnecting networks that link individual tasks to each other. Consequently, while Gantt charts can only be used on simple projects, PERT charts helps predict time frames needed to complete complex projects. PERT charts also assist in determining the critical paths of a project which help a project manager organize their time and resources in a way that allows them to meet the project deadlines.
When is it appropriate to use one over the other? Justify your response
Project managers should choose the appropriate time to apply each of the charts. First, a Gantt chart applies while a project is in progress since the map allows them to arrange each task by date and reveal the amount of work that is complete (Nahmias, 2013). On the other hand, PERT charts are better to apply before the commencement of the project to predict the duration needed to complete each task. Also, PERT charts are appropriate when used before the project begins since they help the manager identify any simultaneous and parallel role which helps in organizing the tasks (Bennatan, 2000). Gantt charts are better to apply to simple and straightforward projects which have less or no interrelated tasks. The reason is that the graph has two representations only which are; the project tasks and time allocated to each of the functions. Consequently, it is easy to interpret data on Gantt charts than that from PERT charts. On the other hand, PERT diagram is appropriate when used on complex projects since they have vast interconnecting networks which help in linking individual parts of a project.
Assess the Importance of the Critical Path in Project Management
Initially, the critical path was designed to help project managers in estimating the length of time needed to complete a task and also assist people who were behind time schedules to get back to the set track. The critical path is essential in project management as it helps managers in assessing and identifying the crucial tasks of the project and make sure the project is complete on time. According to Nahmias (2013), to ensure that plans do not fall behind schedule, critical paths helps the project manager in understanding which tasks need completion, when and within what timeframes and at what costs. Using essential path allows a manager to visualize the overall time required to complete the entire project hence enabling them to make necessary time adjustments if they realize they got time constraints. Also, critical path allows managers to efficiently manage project resources since they know what needs to be done at any given time hence no different tasks (Bennatan, 2000). Finally, a critical path is essential as it helps project managers in comparing the planned project progress against the actual development which allows the project manager in monitoring the entire project.
References
Bennatan, E. M. (2000). On time within budget: Software project management practices and techniques. New York: Wiley.
Nahmias, S. (2013). Gantt Charts. Encyclopedia of Operations Research and Management Science, 631-633. doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-1153-7_375