Gantt 5s4o14

Chapter 3: Gantt chart This chapter introduces a review of the Gantt chart method and its relevant ive evidence. It also explains the utilized Gantt chart used for the client’s Feasibility study. The Gantt chart was developed over a hundred years ago and popularized as a project management tool to illustrate a project schedule by Henry Gantt ([ CITATION Eri13 \l 1033 ] cited from (Gcek, 2008)). Today Gantt chart is a key element of the common language used in the project management society. The Gantt chart method is extensively used to demonstrate projects’ schedules and actual progress of tasks against time [ CITATION Suz04 \l 1033 ]. It is considered one of the most popular planning and controlling methods used in projects. It was ranked the fourth most used tool out of 70 project management tools in a survey done with 750 project managers as per [CITATION Joa12 \l 1033 ] cited from (Besner and Hobbs, 2008). [CITATION Joa12 \l 1033 ] Explains that among the most utilized project management tools there is no tool that replace the Gantt chart and its use is increasing with time as per (Wilson, 2003). That is the reason of making the Gantt chart used as an essential platform in the most popular project management software such as MS project and Primavera. The Gantt chart uses graphical presentation of work activities which is useful in communicating the project schedule and creating a common perception of the progress or lack of progress of tasks, as it provides comparison between the plan and the actual progress which enables the managers to identify the issues that are hindering the progress and causing delays and focus the team’s attention to the critical tasks and bottlenecks in the project [CITATION Joa12 \l 1033 ]. The Gantt chart is simple and practical method that is useful in connecting the activities and durations of the project. It is instrumented to improve the cognitive capability to cope with the structural complexities and coordination of large number and diverse interdependent tasks as per [CITATION Joa12 \l 1033 ] cited from (Geraldi et al., 2011). The Gantt chart has fixed principles such as being time focused as tasks are coordinated through time and deadlines, objective based as the work activities are analyzed in detail and divided into smaller defined and specific tasks and sequential as the tasks are allocated in a specific sequence in which each task depends on the completion of its previous task and critical path is identified [CITATION Joa12 \l 1033 ]. The feasibility study of the client’s project has a duration of six months (24 weeks) and it comprises three main sequential phases. Phase one is identifying the functional requirements and it lasts for 6 weeks. During this six weeks, Stakeholder analysis and mapping is going to be conducted during the first three weeks followed by benchmarking study in the subsequent 3 weeks. Phase two is identifying the structural requirements and it lasts for eleven weeks. It starts by conducting a SWOT analysis for two weeks followed by PESTLE analysis in the next five weeks and eventually Porter’s 5 forces analysis for the rest four weeks. Phase three is identifying the resources requirements and it lasts for six weeks. It starts by Resources estimation process that takes two weeks followed by a Cost benefit analysis for the following four weeks. The last week (the 24 th) is dedicated for compiling the final report and summarizing the feasibility study findings and the available options and recommendations for the client. Gantt chart of the feasibility study is included in the attached A3 report (Appendix No.1).