We will also provide you with a project timeline example<\/strong> to illustrate the matter, as well as free project timeline templates<\/strong> you can use. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, without further ado, let\u2019s dive into the world of project timelines!<\/p>\n\n\n\n A project timeline is a visual overview of an entire project, from start to finish, that represents tasks and activities in chronological order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A project timeline incorporates the following elements:<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the latest project management statistics<\/a>, only 59% of projects get completed on time, even when a formal project management methodology is used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having a project timeline helps keep your team on track and prevents your project from stalling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the help of a project timeline, project stakeholders<\/a> and team members can get a quick overview of a project at a glance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Creating a project timeline can be a complex endeavor that requires 9 steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The end result will definitely be worth the effort, though. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To create a project timeline, you should:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, let\u2019s discuss each step in more detail. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before you begin working out the small details of your project timeline, you must decide who the intended audience is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We had an opportunity to discuss project timelines with Dimitri Graf<\/a>, a PMP- and PgMP-certified professional, who explained why it\u2019s essential to take into account who will be reading the project timeline:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThink about the audience, the recipients. You will likely need more than one version of a project timeline with varying levels of granularity and focus.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, your high-level stakeholders (such as a project sponsor) care about major milestones \u2014 when does the project start, what are the phases, when does a regulator enter the picture, when is the closure, and how long do the post-closure responsibilities last.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Your team, however, will need more than just a bird-eye view timeline. Therefore, you need to dig deeper and create a more detailed project schedule for the team.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Project scope identifies all aspects of the work we need to deal with to develop a product or service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Project scope is defined in the scope statement, which should be clear and precise, and include the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 Plaky Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are curious about the project scope, read more about it in our comprehensive guide:<\/p>\n\n\n\n A work breakdown structure (WBS) is an element of the scope baseline<\/a> created in the project planning phase. It breaks down all the project work into smaller chunks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These smaller chunks are not yet tasks \u2014 they are just smaller deliverables. You will later use them to set your project tasks and their dependencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An Assistant Professor of Project Management at Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC, and a holder of PMP and CSM certifications, Dr. Michael J. Shick<\/a>, considers a WBS to be crucial for creating a project timeline:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen creating a project timeline, it is essential to create a work breakdown structure (WBS), which is a hierarchical decomposition of all the work to be performed in the project. This enables project leaders and team members to develop a comprehensive <\/em>task list<\/em><\/a> of all activities and work packages. The project manager may establish the interdependencies, duration, and resources.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n A WBS makes a complex project seem significantly less intimidating, as it breaks the project into smaller parts, which can be easily managed and performed by smaller teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 Plaky Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Learn more about the WBS in our guide:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that you\u2019ve split your project into deliverables<\/a> using the WBS, you should determine which steps you need to take to accomplish said deliverables. These steps will be your tasks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, say you\u2019re organizing a company\u2019s annual retreat, and one of the deliverables is to choose a hotel. The tasks you should perform to complete this deliverable include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n Manage your projects and organize your tasks. Stay on top of your work with Plaky!<\/p>\n\n The next step is dedicated to determining dependencies between tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a nutshell, dependencies are relationships between tasks that dictate their order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are 4 types of task dependencies:<\/p>\n\n\n\n To determine dependencies, you need to identify the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n For this purpose, you can create a dependency diagram to visualize the data by using a Gantt chart<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 Plaky Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Find out more about dependencies in our guide:<\/p>\n\n\n\n A project milestone in project management marks significant events within a project and serves as a benchmark for the progress we\u2019re making with our project. <\/p>\n\n\n\n An example of a milestone in project management<\/a> could be any of the following: <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to achieve the previously mentioned milestones, you need to pay attention to project time management<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You should decide on how much time team members will spend on each task within a project. Try to be as realistic as you can. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When setting project deadlines<\/a>, add buffer time to secure finishing your project on schedule, even if something unexpected occurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The more realistic you are, the better your team\u2019s chances of achieving the milestones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When estimating time, it\u2019s also crucial to take into account the people who will be working on these tasks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t set dates that only look great to your stakeholders, while your team members struggle to achieve them and need to work overtime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When we asked Tres Roeder<\/a>, PMP, PMI-ACP certified author of A Sixth Sense for Project Management<\/em> and Managing Project Stakeholders,<\/em> how to create a high-quality project timeline, he pointed out that you should account for the time people need to adapt:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA timeline should include an allocation of time for people to get comfortable with the changes. Most who create timelines understand that it is important to create the “critical path” of elements that are dependent on each other. Very few, however, put people into that formula. People need time to understand, process, and react to the project.\u201d<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 Plaky Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to learn more about the critical path method, read our article on the topic:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You have already set deliverables, tasks, milestones, and deadlines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, you have to think about the allocation of resources<\/a> required to carry out the project. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Take into account your team members\u2019 strengths, talents, and skills to pick the best person for each task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For instance, if the task is to design a cover for a cookboo , and one of the illustrators has more interest and experience in cooking than others, they can create the main design, while the other team members can design smaller elements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Last but not least \u2014 don\u2019t forget to check whether your project schedule overlaps with the team member\u2019s workload<\/a> and schedule on other projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are 2 ways to visualize your project timeline:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to see your tasks, milestones, and dependencies at a glance, but don\u2019t have time to build templates from scratch, don\u2019t worry \u2014 we have prepared 9 different versions of project timeline templates for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the next heading, we will explain different types of templates and show you how to use them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So you can choose the one you prefer and start setting your own project timeline. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Using templates is an excellent way to save time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, project management software<\/a> provides way more options and is a lot more flexible than templates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As Dr. Shick points out, using project management software offers many advantages:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA high-quality timeline would include all the necessary information […] Ideally, that information should be loaded into project management software, so the project timeline can be created, updated, and managed as required. Further, the software allows for efficient updates when changes occur to the duration of activities or based on stakeholder involvement.\u201d<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Dr. Shick also shares how PM software can help with visualization:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAdditionally, software assists project managers with producing a visual depiction of the project timeline, whether it be more of a strategic chart such as a Gantt or a more tactical level visual representation in a Project Schedule Network Diagram, which has more granular level information for project teams.\u201d<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n We will go into more detail a little later about how you can utilize Plaky<\/a>, a project management tool, to create a timeline for your project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are various types of project timelines you can create depending on the type of project you are working on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In this guide, we will focus on the following types of timelines in project management<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ll briefly explain each type and provide you with an example and a template.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Gantt chart is a widely used tool for creating project timelines. It is named after Henry Gantt, a well-known figure in project management history who popularized it as a project management tool around 1910. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, Karol Adamiecki, a Polish engineer, management researcher, economist, and professor, invented the harmonogram in 1896 \u2014 which can be considered a predecessor of the Gantt chart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Gantt chart comes in handy for visualizing your project as it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can create a Gantt chart for the whole project that will encompass an entire year for example, or several months. But, you can also make hourly or weekly Gantt charts for smaller chunks of a project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We provide you with 2 types of Gantt chart templates based on the timespan they encompass:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can find free templates under each picture of the chart. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In each of these PowerPoint project timeline templates, you will have a slide with instructions followed by a slide with the template itself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The timeline consists of red arrows representing tasks and different stars representing milestones and deadlines. You can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The hourly Gantt chart uses hours as a base unit and is great for more granular planning, such as organizing your daily work. <\/p>\n\n\n Get the hourly Gantt chart template<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n In a weekly Gantt chart, each working day in a week represents one unit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This type of chart is useful when you want to visualize part of your project, for example, all the tasks needed to accomplish one deliverable. <\/p>\n\n\n Get the weekly Gantt chart template<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes, you don\u2019t need an overly elaborate timeline. For simple projects, a well-organized table in Google Sheets or Excel can do the trick. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We have provided you with 2 versions of a Google Sheets project timeline template.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first version of the Google Sheets project timeline template contains a Gantt chart-like table with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The duration of each of the tasks from start to finish is marked on the timeline by coloring the cells in the table corresponding to the appropriate dates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This project timeline template is useful for projects in which tasks don\u2019t have too many dependencies, and you need a clear overview of the start and end dates of each task. <\/p>\n\n\n Get the simple project timeline template \u2014 version 1<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 Plaky Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You can make your own Gantt chart in Google Sheets using one of the three methods presented in the blog post below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the second version, the timeline consists of 2 tables:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The information from both tables is also presented in the form of charts, to make it more clear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The start and end dates of tasks and milestones are organized in a line chart, while a pie chart presents the status of each task and milestone in vivid colors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a useful template for projects where you have to constantly keep track of the progress, and check the status of the tasks and milestones.<\/p>\n\n\n Get the simple project timeline template \u2014 version 2<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n As its name suggests, a chronological chart timeline shows tasks in chronological order and comes in 2 variations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Depending on the selected timeline, we can display tasks from left to right or top to bottom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This type of timeline lays out all tasks and milestones vertically and shows task progress\/data change over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A vertical chart timeline is most suitable for projects that deal with data-driven tasks, such as marketing and finance projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, we can use it to demonstrate:<\/p>\n\n\n\n This chart template consists of groups of tasks, milestones, and dates. For each milestone, you can write down the tasks that need to be completed and the date by which the milestone should be reached. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This way, you will have a clear overview of what needs to be done to achieve each milestone. <\/p>\n\n\n Get the vertical chart timeline template<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n This type of chronological timeline displays tasks and milestones on a horizontal axis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It is best used for presenting tasks that have Start-to-Finish task dependencies, like manufacturing a product, from the creation process, over quality inspection and packaging, to delivery of the product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This template consists of: <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can drag and drop each of these arrows at the desired place on the timeline to create your own horizontal chart timeline. <\/p>\n\n\n Get the horizontal chart timeline template<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 PLAKY PRO TIP<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Get the horizontal project timeline, the yearly and monthly Gantt charts, and browse other timeline templates in Word, Excel, Power Point, Google Docs and Google Sheets, here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you find it challenging to map project tasks or track task dependencies, you should try a PERT chart. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It comes in handy for more complex projects with many related tasks and procedures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) chart can be used to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n A PERT chart uses circles or rectangles called nodes to display project events or milestones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These nodes are connected by vectors or arrows that show various tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The PERT chart template consists of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n When filling out the template first write down milestones with corresponding numbers in the notes section. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Then define your relevant phases, processes, and tasks along with their duration and write them on the arrows in the chart. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This way, you will have a clear visual representation of all the dependencies in your project. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can use this template for a project with many dependencies, such as app creation, where many different teams have tasks that depend on other tasks (e.g. QA or design teams cannot start working on tasks before the development team finishes their tasks).<\/p>\n\n\n Get the PERT chart timeline template<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, let\u2019s take a look at the benefits of having a project timeline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having a project timeline has many benefits. It\u2019s very useful, since it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s take a look at each benefit separately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To stay on track with a project, you need to keep an eye on the big picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A project timeline enables everyone working on a project to focus their attention on the project\u2019s goal by visualizing everything important in a single view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It helps project managers<\/a> get a bird\u2019s eye view of the project without going into the details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everyone on the team can get a clear picture of the project status by simply taking a look at the project timeline. It displays tasks, dependencies, and deadlines and pinpoints people working on particular tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A project timeline includes all the upcoming tasks and identifies what needs to be done and when.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, tasks are often tied together, and some of them need to be finished first before you can start working on others. These relationships between tasks are called task dependencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Identifying task dependencies helps avoid blockages that may delay a project. This is particularly practical in complex projects with multiple phases and many correlated tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Displaying dependencies in a project timeline allows us to foresee how a delay in one specific task can affect the entire project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A project timeline provides an overview of project tasks and shows who is assigned to which one. It is great for tracking the amount of work every project team member<\/a> will have assigned to them in a specific period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This way, project managers can keep track of everyone\u2019s workload and distribute tasks so they don\u2019t overburden individual team members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A project timeline is an excellent visibility tool that lets everyone involved in a project: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Keeping everyone in the loop makes project communication<\/a> easier. It builds trust between stakeholders and team members working on the project. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A project timeline boosts transparency as it summarizes tasks, dependencies, and milestones, and pinpoints team members working on particular tasks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It reveals what lies ahead so everyone involved has insight into where they stand with the project and what the next steps are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A project timeline is helpful for every project, especially more complex ones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Let us look at an example of how you can create a timeline for a large project \u2014 developing a custom CRM software<\/a> solution for your company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The development process may consist of the following stages:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Every stage consists of a list of tasks you need to complete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n Manage your tasks and stay on track. Try Plaky!<\/p>\n\n At the beginning of any project, you have to determine the project budget<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As there are many types of CRM software<\/a>, you also have to choose the one that suits your needs the best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Project](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Project-timeline-cover-1024x512.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat is a project timeline?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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How to create a project timeline in 9 steps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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#1 Think about the intended audience<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Dmitry](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Dmitry-Graf.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n#2 Identify project scope<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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#3 Use a work breakdown structure (WBS) to break your project down into smaller chunks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Michael](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Michael-Shick.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
#4 Create tasks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Free project management software<\/h2>\n
![\"Illustration\"](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-learn\/src\/images\/plaky\/banners\/default@2x.png)
\n <\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n#5 Determine dependencies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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#6 Set milestones<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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#7 Estimate the time required for each task<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Tres](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Tres-Roeder.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
#8 Determine the availability of your resources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
#9 Visualize your project timeline<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Use a project timeline template to visualize your project timeline<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Use project management software to visualize your project timeline<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nTypes of project timelines + templates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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#1 Gantt chart timeline<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Hourly Gantt chart template<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"Hourly](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Hourly-Gantt-chart.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nWeekly Gantt chart template<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"Weekly](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Weekly-Gantt-chart.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n#2 Simple project timeline<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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![\"Timeline](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Timeline-template-version-2.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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![\"Timeline](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Timeline-template-version-1-.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n#3 Chronological chart timeline<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Vertical chart timeline template<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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![\"Vertical](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Vertical-chart-timeline-template.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHorizontal chart timeline template<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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![\"Horizontal](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horizontal-chart-timeline-template.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
#4 PERT chart timeline<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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![\"PERT](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/PERT-chart-template.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThe benefits of a project timeline<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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#1 A project timeline provides a visual overview of a project <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
#2 A project timeline reveals task dependencies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
#3 A project timeline displays everyone\u2019s workload<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
#4 A project timeline keeps everyone in the loop<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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#5 A project timeline makes the project processes transparent<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
An example of a project that needs a timeline<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Free task management software<\/h2>\n
![\"Illustration\"](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-learn\/src\/images\/plaky\/banners\/landing-1@2x.png)
\n <\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n#1 Setting the budget, determining requirements, and preparing the design<\/h3>\n\n\n\n