How to Make a Timeline in PowerPoint (Template Included)

Timelines enable organizations to estimate how lengthy it’s going to take to execute a undertaking, it doesn’t matter what trade they’re in. That is finished by figuring out all of the duties that will probably be executed, estimating their length after which figuring out their begin and finish dates.

In addition to monitoring time and scheduling duties, undertaking timelines additionally enable undertaking managers to know precisely when sources comparable to labor, supplies and gear will probably be wanted, which is essential for finishing tasks on time and estimating prices precisely.

Due to their significance for undertaking planning, there’s numerous free and paid software program instruments that may assist make undertaking timelines. On this weblog, we’ll clarify how you can create a timeline in PowerPoint.

Why Make a Timeline in PowerPoint?

One of many important benefits of utilizing PowerPoint to make a undertaking timeline is that most individuals are aware of this software program and it may be simpler to make use of than different Microsoft merchandise comparable to Phrase, Excel or Challenge.

Alongside the identical strains, PowerPoint is out there in most organizations which makes it an economical different to undertaking administration software program. This additionally makes it a file format that’s straightforward to grasp for exterior undertaking stakeholders comparable to shoppers.

Sadly, PowerPoint wasn’t designed for undertaking administration and lacks the undertaking planning, scheduling and monitoring options that specialised software program comparable to ProjectManager can provide. ProjectManager gives a number of instruments for making and monitoring undertaking timelines, together with Gantt charts, kanban boards, real-time knowledge undertaking dashboards and rather more. Get began with ProjectManager totally free right now.

Whereas PowerPoint might not be the software program organizations want for managing tasks, it’s nonetheless excellent for making easy timelines for undertaking administration shows. Because the staff is probably going already aware of PowerPoint, it may be a constructive resolution for many who aren’t able to improve to extra highly effective and dynamic software program.

PowerPoint Timeline Template

This free PowerPoint timeline template is right for explaining to undertaking staff members their duties, their anticipated length, and the due dates for his or her completion throughout a undertaking administration presentation comparable to a kickoff assembly or a undertaking standing assembly.

 

Learn how to Make a Timeline in PowerPoint in 3 Steps

Let’s now overview the step-by-step course of of making a timeline in PowerPoint. If you happen to don’t wish to make a timeline from scratch, you’ll be able to as an alternative obtain our free PowerPoint timeline template from our undertaking administration templates library. We’ve damaged the template into sections for every worker and their duties, all on an easy-to-read timeline.

 

1. Outline the Time Body the Challenge Timeline Will Cowl

Timelines might span throughout a number of timeframes, comparable to a month, a 12 months, and even longer. Often, companies and nonprofit organizations make use of yearly timelines divided into quarters as that is the popular timeframe for enterprise planning and reporting. For the sake of simplicity, we’ll make a month-to-month timeline to unfold the workload of a small undertaking staff. To get began select a clean web page structure, which is able to facilitate the following steps.

When the desk seems, choose all of the columns within the prime row, right-click them after which choose “Merge Cells.” This can mix all these cells and this merged cell will work because the heading for the timeline. For this instance, we’ll enter the title of the month and 12 months. Then enumerate the underside row cells to indicate the day of the month.

When you’ve accomplished the steps above, the timeline ought to appear like this.

 

2. Checklist Group Members and The Duties They’re Assigned to Full

Now, repeat the method of inserting a desk, however this time will probably be a two-column desk. The cell within the prime left nook will probably be used to determine the staff member who will probably be finishing undertaking duties, and the rows below will probably be used to listing the actions they’re liable for. Then the scale of the column to the appropriate must be adjusted as proven beneath.

For these two process listing tables, we used two columns and 5 rows, however you would possibly add extra rows relying in your staff’s workload.

3. Add Challenge Duties to the PowerPoint Timeline

Now it’s time so as to add bars to characterize undertaking duties, their begin and finish dates and durations. To take action, merely select a form from the highest menu. On this case, we’ll use a rectangle with rounded corners, as this form is often utilized in Gantt charts, essentially the most generally used undertaking scheduling instrument. Then begin including these shapes to indicate the duties that every of your staff members will full as proven beneath.

Congratulations, you’ve simply created a PowerPoint timeline template your group can use to plan its tasks and analyze workload.

Nonetheless, as acknowledged above, PowerPoint will help make a fundamental timeline however doesn’t provide the planning, scheduling and monitoring options wanted to handle duties, processes or tasks. If you happen to’re in search of undertaking administration software program to assist create detailed timelines, attempt ProjectManager as an alternative.

ProjectManager’s Gantt Chart Is Higher Than a PowerPoint Timeline

ProjectManager is award-winning undertaking administration software program that’s designed to handle tasks from begin to finish. This entails making timelines, assigning duties to staff members, monitoring the price of sources and serving to undertaking managers monitor how sources are being allotted. Let’s overview a few of its key undertaking planning and scheduling options.

Make Interactive Challenge Timelines with A number of Instruments

ProjectManager’s on-line Gantt chart maker is right for making undertaking timelines that present rather more than simply the due dates and length of duties. With this strong undertaking scheduling instrument, undertaking managers can hyperlink process dependencies, determine the important path, allocate sources and examine price estimates towards precise undertaking prices. Better of all, it permits customers to create their very own columns to trace distinctive variables about undertaking duties.

Then as soon as a undertaking timeline has been created utilizing the Gantt chart, the duties that make it up may be managed utilizing different instruments comparable to kanban boards, undertaking calendars, and process lists. These enable undertaking managers and staff members to visualise the undertaking timeline from completely different views and handle work with their favourite instrument.

Observe Challenge Timelines with Actual-Time Information

After making a timeline it’s essential to have instruments to trace the progress of the staff that may execute the work to make sure the undertaking will probably be accomplished throughout the deliberate timeframe. ProjectManager’s Gantt chart syncs with undertaking administration dashboards that present the share of completion of duties, useful resource utilization and price monitoring data, which helps undertaking managers test whether or not their groups are on monitor to satisfy the undertaking on time and below finances. There are additionally quite a lot of real-time knowledge stories that may be generated in minutes.

Steadiness Your Group’s Workload and Observe Prices

ProjectManager gives a workload administration chart to visualise how duties are being allotted amongst staff members, which could be very useful when making a timeline. With this instrument they’ll decide who’s over or underallocated, to allow them to distribute work evenly. This helps make a sensible timeline. Moreover, ProjectManager’s timesheets routinely log the work hours of staff based mostly on the duties they’re assigned to within the Gantt chart and different undertaking planning instruments.

Associated Content material

We’ve created dozens of blogs, templates and guides to assist undertaking managers grasp the artwork of creating undertaking timelines. Listed here are a number of of them.

ProjectManager is strong undertaking administration software program outfitted with a number of undertaking administration views that will help you handle each side of your undertaking. Select between Gantt charts, kanban boards, undertaking dashboards and different award-winning undertaking administration instruments. Get began totally free right now.