top of page
搜尋

[Zenkit Projects Tips] 5 Steps to Create an Efficient Project Timeline

  • 作家相片: DevOps Tec
    DevOps Tec
  • 7月9日
  • 讀畢需時 5 分鐘
ree

A project timeline is a visual representation of the chronological order of tasks related to a project. It helps project managers scale and organize workflows within the organization. Project managers can use a project schedule to arrange tasks and see what needs to be done within a specific time frame and when those tasks should be completed. Effective project process management can help achieve goals efficiently.



Project Timeline

What is a project timeline? The appearance and complexity of a project timeline may vary depending on the project and the stakeholders involved.

Below is a basic example of a project timeline using the Gantt view in Zenkit:


To create an effective project timeline, consider the following six steps:


  1. Define the Project Scope


ree

The first step in creating an effective project timeline is to define the scope of the project so that you know which tasks to exclude when building the timeline.


An effective project scope should include details such as how long each task will take, the project timeline, and any resources that might be needed to complete the project. A project scope statement is a document that defines all the elements of the project scope, including assumptions, project requirements, and acceptance criteria.


For example, if you want to launch a new product, you might start a project for that product launch:


Creating a new no-code platform to support automation. In this case, the scope statement might begin with "Our team will create a new no-code platform within four weeks."


To understand the project scope, you must first define the basic elements of the project. The first element is the project goal, such as what you want to achieve and how you plan to measure the success of the project.


Key stakeholders are another component of the project. Without their involvement, the project cannot begin.


Finally, project requirements and constraints are also critical components. Stakeholders must understand these constraints to better envision the project as a whole.



  1. Align Project Tasks with Milestones


ree

Every project should have defined milestones, as they help monitor the project's progress. So even if the team falls behind on a milestone, there will still be time to adjust and meet the final deadline.


Milestones can be anything that serves as a checkpoint, such as events, specific deliverables, or dates. Milestones are especially important for complex projects with multiple stages.


Milestones should not be viewed as deadlines but rather as small wins. Achieving each milestone signifies progress and shows that the team is on the right track toward the final goal.


First, align milestones with the specific tasks needed to achieve them. This is a very simple process: define a milestone and consider the smaller tasks needed to reach that sub-goal.



  1. Assign Tasks


ree

An effective project timeline must include the exact quantity and type of resources needed to complete the project. So, if you want to launch a new product using no-code development and automation, resources might include no-code building tools, designers, and marketers.


Although the term "resources" can have different meanings, when planning a project, the primary focus should be on human resources, as each task must be clearly assigned to relevant team members.


Team members' availability is constantly changing, so the project planning process must include reviewing employees' schedules and knowing how much free time they have. Team members' skills and capabilities should also be considered. The project lead can create a chart like the one below to clearly show what each member can and cannot do. The project timeline overview should incorporate essential resource management.


When assigning tasks, always keep team members’ availability in mind.


Suppose the task of designing a no-code platform requires several hours from a designer, but the assigned designer is already busy with other ongoing projects and has also scheduled two days off. As a result, the platform design might take a week instead of a few hours. This also means that the assigned designer may not be the best person for the job at that time. Therefore, the task should be delegated to someone else with similar skills but more availability.



  1. Estimate Project Budget and Resources


ree

Workload estimation is the process of calculating how much time or money will be needed to complete a project. It helps project members know whether they are on track to achieve the project goals.


Workload estimation helps determine the time and money needed to complete a project. Effective estimation also helps keep the project on track!


Project members can review the task list to determine how long each task will take and can estimate the workload for each task or the entire project in several ways:

  • Expert estimation: Ask experts how long it would take to complete a task.

  • Formal estimation: Use historical data. For example, see how long it took the team to design previous no-code platforms.

  • Decomposition estimation: Break down the task list and work with the team to estimate how long each task will take.

Once the time required for each task is determined, add them up to get the overall workload estimate.



  1. Task Dependencies


ree

Task dependencies refer to situations where a team cannot start the next task until another task is completed. Identifying dependencies in complex projects can be very challenging.


But once clarified and included in the project timeline, it becomes easier to visualize how the entire project process should unfold. As such, it can save you time and unnecessary stress.


Understanding task dependencies in advance also allows team members to plan their schedules accordingly. Therefore, adding task dependencies to the project timeline is essential.


The Gantt chart is one way to visualize task dependencies. Different colored bars indicate different tasks, and you can also see which tasks overlap with others.



Final Thoughts: Creating a Project Timeline

ree

An effective timeline helps project managers keep the entire project on track.


By building a solid project timeline, teams can better understand company expectations and gain realistic forecasts for the project.

A successful project begins with effective project timeline management!


It’s time to put everything into your project timeline! Let’s review the steps we’ve covered:


  1. Organize tasks in chronological order.

  2. Label tasks and assign responsible team members.

  3. Include the time required to complete each task in the project timeline.

  4. Define key milestones.

  5. Set up task dependencies.


Project management tools can make it easier for team members to create a project timeline. Start building your timeline today!



If you have any questions about the above content or would like to learn more about our products, DevOps offers free consultation services.

Feel free to contact the DevOps professional consultant team for more information or details!














留言

bottom of page