Gantt charts are one of the most popular visual tools for project managers. They allow you to see all tasks and subtasks, their duration, dependencies, and date range for a given project. That’s why it’s no surprise that most software developers trying to adopt Agile practices also want their own Gantt chart in Agile. However, where traditional project management tools use Gantt charts to give an overview of the entire project at once, most Agile processes require visibility on a more micro-level.
For example, in Scrum you must be able to see every task in the next two weeks so you can manage your team effectively. That’s why we’ll explore how to make Gantt chart in Agile work for you and your team.
What is a Gantt chart in Agile? #
Gantt charts represent the planned or actual progress of a project on a timeline. It helps you understand dependencies between tasks, visualise your project’s progress, and communicate it to others. Gantt charts are used in various fields like construction, project management, software development, and many others. Gantt charts are also named after the man who invented them – Henry Gantt. He was an American engineer, who created one of the first project management tools ever. Gantt charts are used to visualise the planned progress of a project on a timeline. It helps you understand dependencies between tasks, visualise your project’s progress, and communicate it to others.
Why do teams want a Gantt chart in Agile? #
Gantt charts are designed to show a high-level overview of your project, which is often essential in the early stages of a project. In fact, some project management experts recommend that you create a Gantt chart at the very beginning of a project. However, in the mid-to-late stages, most experts recommend that you don’t use a Gantt chart at all. Instead, you should focus on managing your work in process (WIP) – the amount of work that is currently being worked on. That’s why some Agile teams want to know how to make Gantt charts work in agile.
Limitations of Gantt charts in Agile #
While Gantt charts are a valuable tool for project managers, it is important to understand their limitations when used in an Agile environment. One of the biggest differences between Ganttcharts and Agile tools is that Gantt charts are designed to show the whole project at once, while Agile tools show information that is relevant to the current process only. That’s why Ganttcharts are not suitable for Agile practices. Gantt charts also show a lot of information in one place, which makes it hard to keep things up-to-date. On the other hand, Agile tools show only the information that is relevant for now. If you use Gantt charts in Agile, you’ll likely spend a lot of time updating your charts instead of working on your product.
How can you make Gantt charts work in agile? #
Making Gantt charts work in agile doesn’t have to be difficult. Here are a few things you can do to make it work for you and your team.
Break down work into tasks – If you want to make Ganttcharts work in agile, you need to break down your work into tasks (or activities) first. With this foundation, you can create your Gantt chart easily.
Set milestones and dependencies – You can use milestones to highlight major events in your project. You can also set dependencies between different tasks. This way, you’ll understand which tasks have to be completed before other tasks can be worked on.
Set WIP limits – Most Agile teams focus on WIP limits. This means that you should only work on a few tasks at a time. Gantt charts don’t work well when you try to work on too many tasks at once.
Scrum and Kanban tools that offer Gantt data #
Gantt chart tools are mostly used outside of Agile. However, there are also a few Agile tools that include Gantt data: –
Jira – One of the most popular Agile tools is Jira. While it doesn’t offer Gantt charts, it has a built-in Gantt chart option.
YouTrack – Another tool for Agile teams is YouTrack. It offers Gantt charts, which you can use to show the progress of your work.
TeamWox – For teams who work with Scrum, there’s an excellent tool called TeamWox. It offers Gantt charts as well as other Agile tools, so you can use it to make Gantt charts work in agile.
Bottom-line: Is a Gantt chart in agile always a bad idea? #
Gantt charts are designed for project managers, and they often show the high-level progress of a project. Agile, on the other hand, focuses on managing work in process and team progress. Therefore, it makes sense that Ganttcharts don’t work well in Agile. However, you can use them if you break down work into tasks, set milestones and dependencies, and keep WIP limits in mind. If you want Ganttcharts in agile, you need to break down your work into tasks, set milestones, and keep WIP limits in mind. With this in mind, you can make Ganttcharts work in agile.
