All of these tasks have to be scheduled correctly to allow enough time for later phases.

However, the “Test Hardware” task depends on two other activity sequences. The direction of the arrows shows the sequence of tasks, including whether certain tasks are dependent on others or whether they can run simultaneously.įor instance, in the PERT chart example above, the first column represents tasks that can all be completed simultaneously. And arrows represent the activities or work necessary to reach each phase (or node). The rectangles or circles (known as ‘nodes’) indicate each completed phase of the total project. What do those arrows, circles, and boxes mean? Unlike the linear setup of a Gantt chart, a PERT chart is a type of network diagram with a multilayered sequence of activities. They focus on the relationship between different tasks, and therefore, are useful for planning the flow of the project. PERT charts are often used before the project begins to help you estimate more accurately. As they’re essentially bar charts, Gantt diagrams depict the start and finish of a task and are 100 percent focused on time. You can picture them as a series of horizontal blocks that stretch across a calendar. Gantt charts provide a timeline of smaller tasks with dates to show durations and completion times. Both diagrams divide projects into smaller tasks and organize the sequence of activities.

If you’re familiar with Gantt charts, then you’ll probably notice the similarities. What’s the difference between a PERT and a Gantt chart? Factor in uncertainty, so you can schedule a project without knowing precise details and timeframes.Determine a critical path to project completion, including task order.Spot new opportunities for project optimization.Make informed decisions about complex projects.Anticipate the amount of time it’ll take to complete a project.But at their simplest, PERT charts help you to: They can be very top-level and show only the most crucial stages of a project or more detailed and granular. It also helps you identify the minimum amount of time you’ll need to complete the entire project as a whole.Ī PERT diagram is made up of arrows, rectangles, circles, or tables, which map a project’s tasks and the overall schedule. What is a PERT chart?Ī PERT chart breaks down the separate tasks that make up a project and helps you analyze the time it will take to complete each task. Here’s how to use a PERT chart to map out your next big project and get better results.

The Program, Evaluation, and Review Technique (PERT for short) is a popular project management tool that dates all the way back to the 1950s. Bearing this in mind, it’s no surprise that we’re continuously creating techniques to streamline our projects and track productivity. Project management is a task as old as time. From early hunter-gathers foraging for goods to ancient Roman architects building the aqueducts, humans have always looked for ways to delegate work and break complex projects into smaller chunks.

Pert chart