Gantt Chart vs Pert Chart

Difference between Gantt Chart vs Pert Chart

To wrap up projects on time and within budget, project managers require efficient planning and management tools. For that purpose, both Gnatt and Pert charts come in handy.

But what is Gantt Chart vs Pert Chart? Many people ask us this question – especially given that some project management software offers both and uses both words interchangeably. But they are quite different, and knowing the difference will be important to you.

Without further ado, let’s delve into the Gantt chart vs Pert chart comparison;

Gantt Chart vs Pert Chart: What are They?

Gantt Chart and Pert Chart are project management tools used to create a graphical representation of a project’s schedule.

Gantt chart vs pert chart

Historically, Gantt charts have been used to visualize the progress of projects.

Gantt Charts

Gantt charts are introduced by Henry Gantt to show tasks, their durations, and milestones over time. This makes it easier for team members to understand what they must do, when, and how much time they will need to complete the task. It also helps you identify where you’re falling behind so that you can take necessary actions such as rescheduling or adding more resources.

Pert Charts

Pert stands for “Program Evaluation Review Technique.” A Pert chart is similar to a Gantt chart in that it shows the start and finish dates of a project, task, or activity. However, Pert charts can also show how long each task will take (duration), as well as how soon it must begin (earliest start) and end (latest finish).

In Pert charts, there are three types of events

Critical path
Optimistic path
Most likely path (also known as an expected path)

Pert Chart vs Gantt Chart: How to Choose?

When choosing between the Gantt chart vs pert chart, consider these factors:

Project Scope

You’ll want to choose the right chart based on your needs and what you’re trying to accomplish with your project management software (or spreadsheet). If you’re managing an important or large-scale project, then Gantt Charts will help you visualize how many resources are needed per task at any given time during the duration of your project (or how long each phase will take).

Timeline

Gantt charts are great for keeping track of time-sensitive projects, like construction or event planning. Pert charts are better suited for projects that don’t have a completion date and may have unknown variables.

Flexibility

Pert charts can be easily changed to accommodate changing circumstances. They’re good for situations where the project has no deadline and can be modified as necessary. Gantt charts are also flexible, but they require more work from you to make changes as problems arise or new tasks arise.

Task Assignment

A Pert can be used for any project or task with multiple people involved and dependencies among those tasks. A Gantt is better suited to small projects that don’t involve many people or dependencies.

Pert vs Gantt: Which one is best?

You make tough decisions as a project manager. Which project management software should you use? How do you choose between Pert and Gantt charts? What’s the best way to manage your projects?

The answer to that question is dependent on your needs and project type.

Gantt and Pert are two of the most popular types of bar charts. Both can be used for scheduling and planning projects. Gantt charts are typically more popular than Pert charts because they are easier to use and understand. However, Pert charts can give you more details about each task, which may be important if you need to do a lot of calculations with your schedule.

Key Differences Between Gantt Chart and Pert Chart

Gantt charts and Pert charts are two different types of project management charts. Both of these charts have a lot of similarities, but they also have some differences. Here are the key differences of Gantt Chart and Pert Chart:

Task duration vs task start date

In a Gantt chart, you can see the duration of each task in days, weeks, or months. On the other hand, in a Pert chart, you can see the start date for each task.

Task dependencies vs path length

In Pert charts, you can see the path length, which shows how much time it takes to complete all tasks from beginning to end. On the other hand, in Gantt charts, you can see task dependencies, which show how much time it takes to complete one task after another (e.g., A must finish before B).

Multiple tasks per node vs one task per node

In both charts, there is only one node per row or column. It means multiple tasks are placed under one node instead of having multiple nodes for each task, like what we do with Excel’s AutoFilter feature or pivot tables (which is why our project management software has built-in filters).

Final Words

Both the Gantt chart and the Pert chart are project management tools that display task schedules on charts. The charts plot interrelated tasks over a defined period and then break up the tasks with the aid of bars or lines extending from a central task to a peripheral one. Both project management tools have pros and cons, and it is important to choose the right one as per your requirements.

If you want to learn more about project management software, ProScheduler is the best solution available.

FAQs

What is Different Between Gantt Chart vs Pert Chart vs CPM?

The Gantt Chart, Pert Chart, and Critical Path Method (CPM) are three scheduling tools that can help you schedule project activities. Their usage and the information they provide can vary based on the project and tool you’re employing.

Are bar graphs Pert or Gantt?

A bar graph can be either Pert or Gantt. It depends on the way you set up your bar graph.

It’s a Pert chart if you use a bar graph to show the completion date of a project.
When a bar graph represents a project’s projected completion date, it’s a Gantt chart.