The Real Reason Gantt Charts Fail

"Gantt charts look perfect, but reality is a mess."

Many PMs say this.
Why are we still using this tool created by Henry Gantt in 1910?

Answer is simple: There was no better alternative.

But now it's different.

The 7 Deadly Sins of Old Gantt Charts

1. The Trap of Rigid Planning

Ever opened MS Project?
To move one task: click, properties window, date edit, dependency check, conflict resolution...
5 minutes fly by.

So you end up saying "I'll just use Excel."

2. Lonely Chart Only PM Sees

const traditional_gantt = {
  primary_user: '1 PM',
  viewers: 'PM + reporting boss',
  actual_workers: 'Don't know what Gantt chart is',

  result: {
    plan: 'Perfect Gantt chart',
    execution: 'Coordinate schedule via KakaoTalk',
    gap: '100%',
  },
};

3. Takes Weeks Just to Learn

Enterprise PM training shows MS Project basics, WBS input, resource management, dependency setup takes 10 days.
But actual usage? Less than 20%.

4. Plans Disconnected from Reality

Gantt charts assume all tasks start exactly Monday 9 AM and end Friday 6 PM.
But reality? Issue occurs, start Wednesday, finish next Tuesday early morning.

5. One-Way Communication

When PM says "Updated Gantt chart, please check",
Team members don't even know where to look.

6. Manual Update Hell

One PM's day: spends entire morning updating Gantt chart.
Check yesterday's completed tasks, modify delayed task dates, readjust dependencies...
Can only start actual work at lunchtime.

7. Impossible Collaboration

PM modifies Gantt chart, exports to PDF, shares via email,
Team member sends feedback via email, PM modifies again...
Version conflict? Start over.

The Real Reason Gantt Charts Fail

Cognitive Overload

Human short-term memory capacity is 7±2 items.
But Gantt charts have average 50-200 items.
Our brains give up in front of 700% excess information.

Context Switching Cost

For a developer to see Gantt chart?
Stop coding, run program, login, find project, find my task, understand...
8 minutes 30 seconds pass. Information gained? Almost none.

The Start of Innovation: Real-Time Collaborative Gantt

Before 2006, Word files were shared via email.
After 2006, Google Docs enabled real-time simultaneous editing.

Gantt charts should be like that now.

Conditions for Modern Gantt Charts

interface ModernGanttRequirements {
  // Real-time
  realtime: {
    simultaneous_editing: true;
    immediate_reflection: true;
    conflict_resolution: 'automatic';
  };

  // Accessibility
  accessibility: {
    web_based: true;
    mobile: true;
    learning_time: 'within 10 minutes';
  };

  // Flexibility
  flexibility: {
    drag_and_drop: true;
    auto_adjust: true;
    various_views: ['Gantt', 'Calendar', 'Kanban', 'List'];
  };
}

What Change Looks Like

After one startup switched from traditional Gantt to modern Gantt:

• Gantt chart usage: 10% → 85%
• Schedule adjustment time: 4 hours/week → 30 minutes/week
• Project delay: 40% → 5%
• Team satisfaction: 5/10 → 8.5/10

What Changed?

Everyone Has Ownership

Before, PM said "I'll adjust the schedule"
Now, team member says "My task might be delayed. I adjusted it directly in Gantt."

Transparency Creates Responsibility

When everyone can see, schedule compliance rises from 50% to 85%.
Advance notice also goes from "sometimes" to "100%."

Real-Time Adjustment Reduces Stress

Before, from schedule change request to team sharing took a week.
Now? Drag and drop, immediate notification, immediate confirmation. Done.

Conclusion: Gantt Charts Aren't Dead

Gantt charts themselves aren't the problem.
The implementation method was the problem.

Henry Gantt's idea from 100 years ago is still valid.
Visualizing time, showing dependencies, displaying progress.

But now it must be real-time, collaborative, and easy.

Is your team still looking at PDF Gantt charts?

---

Want to experience modern Gantt charts? Check out Plexo.