Page 155 - Manual for Activities directed at the Underwater Cultural Heritage

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This graphic representation should show:
• all the tasks to be undertaken
• the correct sequence in which the tasks will be
undertaken
• theinter-relatednessandinterdependenceofthese
tasks
• time-critical elements and considerations
• the length of time allocated to each task
• the personnel allocated to each task
• agreed monitoring points
There are a number of different ways to represent a projects timetable visually, such as cascade charts, Program Evaluation & Review Technique (PERT) and Critical Path Analysis (CPA). The size and complexity of the project will influence the method best suited to presenting the timetable. However, one of the most widely-used methods is the Gantt chart, named after the American engineer Henry Gantt (1861-1919).
A Gantt chart is a useful tool for planning and scheduling projects and monitoring their progress. It consists of a bar chart that graphically represents the duration of tasks against the progression of time. Along the y-axis of the chart individual tasks and activities are identified and arranged, while along the x-axis the time is represented. It can also include the allocation of project team members to specific tasks.
According to the nature of the project and the activities performed, the timetable on the chart could extend over a day, weeks, months and even years. The chart can be broken down into smaller time allocations for specific tasks. Putting a project timeline in a visual format can be an important outcome of the project planning stage and is good management practice.
Specific timetables: In addition to the general timetable for the project as a whole, more detailed timetables should be created for specific activities. For example, a specific timetable can be developed for field conservation which is carried out for excavated artefacts, prior to their transportation to a specialized conservation laboratory. The process of field conservation, also known as first-aid con-
Project duration – timetable