What is a Gantt chart used for?

A Gantt chart is primarily used as a visual scheduling tool to represent project tasks over time. It allows project managers to plan and track the progress of specific activities, indicating the start and finish dates of each task. By displaying tasks along a timeline, the Gantt chart helps teams visualize the project schedule, understand task dependencies, and monitor the status of work.

The horizontal axis of a Gantt chart typically shows the timeline, while the vertical axis lists the project tasks. Each task is represented by a bar that spans the duration of the task, making it easy to see which tasks are on schedule, which are delayed, and how tasks overlap. This visual representation facilitates communication among team members and stakeholders, enabling more effective planning and decision-making throughout the project lifecycle.

While the other options refer to important operational functions, they do not pertain to the specific use of Gantt charts. Financial performance analysis, employee productivity measurement, and inventory control serve different objectives in operations management and do not utilize Gantt charts in their processes.