Gantt chart and critical path

A timeline of tasks, and the sequence that determines the finish date.

What it means

A Gantt chart shows tasks as bars against a calendar with dependencies. The critical path is the longest chain of dependent tasks — the one that sets the end date.

Why it matters

Only delays on the critical path delay the project. Knowing which tasks are on it tells you where to put attention and where slack exists.

What it looks like in practice

Identify dependencies before dates. Most schedules are wrong because a dependency was missed, not because an estimate was.\n\nFloat is the slack a non-critical task has before it becomes critical.

What to watch out for

Schedules built backwards from a desired end date. That is a wish, and it usually fails at the first dependency.

Where to get proper advice

Any project tool draws one. The thinking about dependencies is the part that matters and no tool does it for you.