It seems like whenever we say the words “Gantt Chart” those within earshot throw up in their mouth a little.
But why?
Since we have a career project manager on our staff (yours truly), we figured I should give it some thought. Here’s my hypothesis and supportive, experiential points:
1 – The Gantt Chart is like a pocket protector, or a hip-belt holster for your phone; they are purely functional inventions. They were the best solutions to the problems they solved the moment they were created. Can you think of a better method to hold your writing utensils or display your plan? No, you can’t. Don’t even try… you just can’t.
2 – The Gantt Chart…is a chart. The word “chart” inherently makes us think of “numbers” and “analysis” and “statistics.” All words that, at one point in my pre-nerd life, elicited fear or an unconscious desire to yawn. Let me put it into perspective: Justin Bieber Chart. Superman Chart. …you get it.
3 – Speaking on based on experience, creating Gantt Charts (the old way, manually), is a NIGHTMARE that you can’t ever wake up from. If you’ve ever had to wash all your dishes by hand, and then were blessed with a dishwasher, you know what I mean.
Summary:
Our experience has created our gag-reflex for Gantt Charts, so we use words like “Plan Communications” or “skittle charts” (one of my favorites over the years) to avoid it. It’s a psychological means of talking about the thing we need (there’s no alternative), without actually using the word.
To be clear, though, we, at OnePager, actually love the Gantt Chart, and we talk about it constantly. It’s our business. BUT, we make Gantt Charts sexy. We’re the high-tech, armor-plated, pocket protector, Justin Bieber of Gantt Charts…OK, maybe scratch that last one. Although we won’t say the “words” when we take your calls, just know that we’re doing everything we can to make creating Gantt Charts something that will eventually put the words “ahhhh” into your mouth, rather than something less pleasant.
Jay….in using your product, I was often asked “hey, can you make another one of your lucky charms charts”….thought you would like that…
LOL, Rich! “Lucky Charms” …wonderful.
Hi Jay!
My boss used to call them candy bar charts!
Hope all is well!
Joy
Hiya Joy! Candy and cartoons seem to be the going themes. Hard to argue with sweets and a laugh. I look forward to adding a lot more seriousness to this subject in the coming months! Best to you.
Lucky Charm charts. I like that! Around here OnePager charts are called cartoon charts. As if tier 1 schedules drawn in PowerPoint are somehow less cartoonish.
Part of the dislike of Gantt charts is that Henry Gannt developed them around 1910 to replace line of balance charts that were not answering the mail. Critical path networks didn’t come into use until The Pacific campaign of World War 2; 1958 if you don’t know that CPM was a military secret until the technique was declassified in 1958. Remember bubble charts? Think Pacific Islands. The term “float” takes on a whole new meaning when you realize they first CPM networks were dealing with ships moving from island to island. Bar charts were used to avoid having to study bubble charts/maps. Coded task names were used prevent spies from taking clear photos of island hopping battle support logistics plans.
Lines of balance, bubble charts, war and hand calculating CPM dates and the general dislike by millennials of anything created before they were born of the all leave a bad taste in the mouth. Is it any wonder some people dislike modern Gantt charts?
Chris, you clearly have many battle scars from your experiences in planning, and we appreciate that! If you ever feel like inking a blog post for us, we’d love to have you do it. Gotta pass the torch!