Event Operations Manual
Software for Club Treasurers

Creating a Gantt Chart

The Gantt Chart (seen in the illustration below) is a commonly used technique for planning work flows in event management.

The major features of the Gantt Chart are:

(a) a listing of the tasks that must be completed (seen on left of the chart below).

(b) the time frame for each task (the date on which the task must start and the date when it must finish)

sample Gantt Chart

The Gantt Chart has two principal benefits:

(1) The chart conveys complex information more easily at a glance; and more importantly

(2) The chart requires the Event Manager to go through the process of identifying tasks and considering timelines for each task.

There is plenty of software available to assist the Event Manager produce a Gantt Chart. Prices range from $0 (completely free) for "Gantt Designer 0.9" to approximately $1,500 for Microsoft Office Project Professional 2007.

The above Gantt Chart was produced using Microsoft Excel. For instructions on how to construct a Gantt chart using Microsoft Excel, visit the following page http://www.tech.leoisaac.com/excelex/excelex15.htm

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