Pre-Organization of Computer Data for the Project Gantt Chart

When using software to create the project Gantt chart, the project manager should pre-enter the basic project data into the software package prior to the first Gantt chart meeting. One entry is the estimated project launch date, which should be the day after the team expects to complete the plan review. This entry sets the computer's calendar, which can be adjusted after the Gantt chart development is completed. In addition to entering this date, company nonworking days also should be entered.

Another important entry is the resource cost information. The project manager should have a fairly good idea about the people and other resources needed for the project. All task leaders will work on the project and can be entered by name or category on the resource table. (Software packages come with a resource cost-entry table to be used for the cost rates of all identified resources.) It is helpful to log in this information as soon as possible. Additional entries can be made as the Gantt chart is being created. Figure 6-1D shows an example of a resource entry cost sheet from Microsoft Project 2002^®.