What is a Project Timeline and How to Implement it in Your Business?

Whether you’re swimming across the Bosphorus or redesigning your website — breaking a complex task down into smaller parts makes it much less terrifying. The same goes for managing project tasks. Striving to manage them one step at a time is less overwhelming than dealing with it in one go.

This is what a project timeline is used for: it assists in breaking big jobs down into small pieces, then organizing those pieces in a logical order.

A handy project management timeline that communicates the essential tasks and milestones is a robust tool for successful planning.

What should we know about project timelines? Are there any secrets?

This post will help you learn the basics and explore vivid examples and tools for building great PM timelines.

What is a project timeline?

A project timeline is a chronological order of events in a project. It is a visual representation of all the tasks, subtasks, and milestones you and your team members need to achieve to meet your goal.

Timelines contain dates, events, or essential actions that give teams an understanding of their work at a glance.

What are the critical elements of a project management timeline?

The elements of a PM timeline change from project to project. However, there are standard ones:

• Task dependencies.
• Assignees.
• Task duration.
• Dates related to the tasks.

What is an example of a PM timeline?

Project teams get many benefits when using a timeline. It helps them organize work, show when work should start, and display deadlines and dependencies.

One of the most helpful tools for generating a timeline is a Gantt chart. It allows seeing task dependencies and the current progress of your work at one single glance.

Here is a simple example of a Gantt chart timeline.

Below you can see some famous PM timeline examples that are built with the help of a Gantt diagram.

1. Project timeline for product development

A product development timeline visualizes the work required in each phase, from planning to product delivery.

2. Project timeline for event planning

This project timeline can visualize a corporate meeting, seminar, conference, trade show, or another event.

3. Project timeline for construction

Construction projects are always complicated. They integrate many specific tasks and sub-tasks. That is why most project planning tools for this niche tend to be overly sophisticated.

Consistent steps to create a stunning project timeline

Now it is time to explore how to create a project timeline step by step.

By the way, you can create a timeline even working remotely. This is a critical option, as ​distributed work is getting high on the list of predictions for the future of project management.

So, let’s clarify how to build a PM timeline without extra effort.

Step 1. Define the project scope

Any project starts with a plan. It is crucial to care for these foundations and understand the scope as accurately as possible. The scope must sum up the key goals and objectives.

Step 2. Pick up a proper software solution

Now you have to put your timetable together in a logical way. A professional management tool will be a good helper.

Step 3. Break down the project into smaller pieces

There are many pieces and constituent parts in any project. It would help if you recognized which smaller pieces make up the big statement at this stage.

Step 4. Form tasks

Now it is time to create tasks from the smaller project’s pieces (recognized at the previous step).

Step 5. Set dependencies

Some tasks cannot begin until others have been completed.

A task dependency means that the project has a definite order. Fortunately, modern PM tools can help turn this headache into a smooth process.

Step 6. Define the time required for every single task

Creating accurate estimations for all tasks requires enough experience and skills.

As you set out your tasks on a horizontal line, you will note that you can naturally develop an estimate for how long a project might take.

Step 7. Assess resources

It is also vital for managers to improve the creation of timelines constantly. However, it will simplify all upcoming efforts.

Step 8. Add milestones

Setting key milestones allows teams to get feedback far before the final deadline. It is better to add project milestones regularly and based on the key moments (completing a complex task, for example).

Step 9. Share the timeline

Sharing timelines is an essential feature that many modern PM software offer. It enables all stakeholders to review, discuss, and approve files in one place.

What is an example of a project timeline tool?

One of the best project management timeline software is GanttPRO. It offers robust features for managing and completing tasks of various complexity. You can use handy Gantt chart timelines to plan and schedule tasks, set dependencies and milestones, collaborate, and manage resources.

GanttPRO allows exporting and importing charts from such famous software as MS Project and Excel.

GanttPRO is also known as a powerful online year planner https://ganttpro.com/online-planner/.

Another online PM timeline maker is Workzone. The tool allows visualizing schedules graphically across a colorful timeline. You get a user-friendly dashboard that provides an instant big-picture view of the status of projects across the company.

Don’t hesitate to search for more project management timeline solutions — you will definitely find your best option.

Feel free to read the full version of this article: Your 2022 Guide to Project Timelines: Examples and Tools to Implement Them https://blog.ganttpro.com/en/timeline-maker-a-way-of-visual-displaying/.