Gantt charts, risk plans and the stage review

Overview

Gantt charts and their limits, the critical path and float with a worked example, risk plans and ratings, responses to risk and the stage review before execution.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   What is a Gantt chart?

   Model answer

   A Gantt chart is a bar chart that shows each project activity against a timeline. Each bar shows when an activity starts and how long it lasts.

2. 2

   How does a Gantt chart help a project manager plan tasks?

   Model answer

   A Gantt chart shows the order, overlap and length of activities at a glance. The manager can see which tasks run at the same time and where resources clash.

3. 3

   How is progress shown on a Gantt chart?

   Model answer

   Completed work is shaded within each bar. A line at today's date shows which tasks are ahead or behind schedule.

4. 4

   Give two limitations of a Gantt chart.

   Model answer

   A Gantt chart does not show dependencies clearly on a large project. A Gantt chart can become cluttered and hard to update when there are many tasks.

5. 5

   What is the critical path of a project?

   Model answer

   The critical path is the longest chain of dependent activities through the project. The critical path sets the shortest possible project duration.

6. 6

   Tasks A (3 weeks), B (2 weeks, after A) and C (4 weeks, after A) must all finish. What is the shortest project length?

   Model answer

   The shortest project length is 7 weeks. Task C follows A and is the longer branch, so 3 + 4 = 7 weeks.

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