{"id":59837,"date":"2021-05-05T17:20:23","date_gmt":"2021-05-05T17:20:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging-mondaycomblog.kinsta.cloud\/?post_type=pm&p=59837"},"modified":"2024-10-06T12:07:09","modified_gmt":"2024-10-06T12:07:09","slug":"timeline-chart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/monday.com\/blog\/remote-work\/timeline-chart\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a timeline chart? A simple definition with examples"},"content":{"rendered":"

As a kid, whenever I was on a long trip with my parents, I wouldn\u2019t stop asking the annoying question, \u201cMom, are we there yet?\u201d<\/p>\n

Not because I expected a positive answer, but because I wanted to know how much time was left until our arrival. I was bored and couldn\u2019t stand the uncertainty of not knowing what to expect.<\/p>\n

You see, that\u2019s exactly how project managers, teams, and stakeholders can feel without a well-defined timeline.<\/p>\n

As we\u2019ll see later, timeline charts help you understand how you\u2019re doing against your baseline project plan and visualize how much work is left.<\/p>\n

Today, we\u2019ll explore everything you need to know about timeline charts, starting with the most basic question.<\/p>\n

Get started with monday.com<\/a><\/p>\n

What\u2019s a timeline chart?<\/h2>\n

Let\u2019s say that you\u2019re the owner of a software development company and one of your clients wants to know how things are progressing.<\/p>\n

You have 2 options:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Call your client by phone and simply tell them what you\u2019ve done so far, what\u2019s left, and whether you\u2019re on the right track.<\/li>\n
  2. Create a detailed timeline chart and SHOW them your progress.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Which option is better?<\/p>\n

    In our biased opinion, we think the second one.<\/p>\n

    Timeline charts aim to describe the chronological order of past and future events on a time scale. In project management, this type of chart is often used to oversee team workload and understand the overall progress of a specific project.<\/p>\n

    Besides, timeline charts highlight specific events and milestones and help you visualize who\u2019s working on what and when.<\/p>\n

    For example, a typical project timeline<\/a> chart might look something like this:<\/p>\n

    \"monday.com's<\/p>\n

    Commonly, timeline charts are presented horizontally, marking units of time and important events, tasks, and activities from left to right.<\/p>\nA project timeline chart makes it easier for stakeholders to understand what needs to be done, how long it may take, and what they should expect in the future.<\/span><\/a>\n

    Since timeline charts document every step in the process, you can avoid potential problems and misunderstandings about how long a project should take.<\/p>\n

    Why do you need a timeline chart to manage a project?<\/h3>\n

    Poor resource management, inconsistency in approach, and lack of planning skills are among the biggest challenges<\/a> faced by organizations.<\/p>\n

    \"Biggest<\/p>\n

    (Image Source<\/a>)<\/p>\n

    Even though a timeline chart wouldn\u2019t solve all of those problems, per se, it\u2019ll definitely help.<\/p>\n

    For example, by understanding the scope of your project, you can better manage your capital and resources. Or being aware that you\u2019re totally off-track could help you make the appropriate changes in time to avoid bigger issues.<\/p>\n

    Timeline charts are more than just a graphical representation of your project scope \u2014 they foster transparency and increase team accountability, as everyone knows exactly what needs to be done and when.<\/p>\n

    Other benefits of timeline charts include:<\/p>\n