Gantt chart vs Kanban
Get both in one app. Gantt chart, Kanban board, Google Workspace integration.
What if your project manager is desperate for a Gantt chart while others are okay with just moving cards on a Kanban board? Can everyone be happy and don’t have a Gantt chart vs Kanban battles? Spoiler: YES!
Gantt chart vs Kanban: when should we use them?
Gantt charts
The Gantt chart is a horizontal bar chart that shows tasks on a timeline. It’s been around for almost a century but is still actual and useful for many businesses. This type of chart provides us with a visual representation of a work scope that needs to be done on a project to finish it successfully.
When properly created, a Gantt chart makes it easy to understand the timeline for a project as well as to get the idea of how long each particular task will last in cohesion with all other tasks forming the work scope. It also helps to manage changes in the resource needs over that period.
To get started, you just need to know the dates you are working towards and the tasks that need to be completed. As you fill in the chart, you will see that establishing dependencies between different tasks is a vital step in getting a more complete picture of how the project needs to progress.
Kanban boards
The Kanban method was first introduced by Toyota in the 40th of the 20 century. Since then it has gained its popularity, especially with the spreading of the agile approach. It also provides a simple visual representation of the work on your project in a different form.
The very basic form of a Kanban board has three lists representing three stages of any process. They are “To do”, “Doing” and “Done”. By creating cards that represent tasks and placing them on the appropriate list, and then moving from the “To Do” to “Done” you also get a picture of your project.
However, in this case, you can see just the progress of individual tasks as they move through the different stages. As long as your project is relatively small, Kanban boards may be enough but when it’s growing and becomes more complex, you might want to have the Gantt chart as well.
Basic Kanban board in Kanbanchi with the lists “To Do”, “Doing”, and “Done”
Gantt chart in Kanbanchi without dependencies between cards
Gantt chart in Kanbanchi with the dependencies between cards
Gantt charts: Pros and Cons
PRO – The deadlines are clear at any stage of the project. You are more confident when working with hard deadlines and always see what needs to be done by which date.
PRO – You can break down your project into small tasks and see how they are dependent. This is how you minimize the risk of missing a certain task or working on tasks in the wrong sequence.
PRO – They help you properly allocate resources for the duration of the task.
PRO – Can be used in many different industries, regardless of the specific.
CON – You need to estimate the deadlines at the beginning of a project which may be nearly impossible for some. The wrong initial estimation may cause inaccuracies further when executing a project. Even one task completed not in time can have a bad effect on others and on the whole project.
CON – Gantt charts for large projects become complex and hard to read.
Kanban boards: Pros and Cons
PRO – You break your complex project into smaller pieces. It helps to better understand what you need to do and helps to digest the complexity better.
PRO – It is very simple to define the stopping point that doesn’t allow you to progress further. Whenever you notice that the work is not moving to the next stage for a long time, this is the weak point that requires your attention.
PRO – Kanban boards help teams to stay focused by drawing team members’ attention to the most urgent tasks. Prioritization helps to stay organized and not to fall behind the schedule.
PRO – Kanban methodology is widely used in different areas of business, so you may be sure that you will find many apps that support it and a lot of tutorials that will help you to start and keep going.
CON – It may not work well enough for certain teams. For example, if you are in a culture of strict rules and deadlines, Kanban boards may seem too “open” for you. However, if you set up the rules for using them, they may also work well for your team.
CON – If you don’t set due dates for tasks your team members may be unsure of what to do first.
When should you use Gantt charts or Kanban boards?
There are no exact rules for using one or another methodology. Teams all over the world choose Kanban or Gantt charts depending on the needs of their projects and their personal preferences. However, this shortlist might be helpful at the beginning.
![](https://www.kanbanchi.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/gantt-chart-vs-kanban-use-cases.png")
Gantt tools and Kanban tools
Online versions of Gantt charts and Kanban boards are now available in many variations. The biggest advantage of using online tools is that you can work together with remote team members in one shared environment. Everyone has access to the tool and can work whenever is a good time for them.
Physical chart or board can get messy and may not stand many times of editing each time you need to change something on your project. Online tools are meant for these cases, they always stay clean and neat.
This is not to name integrations with your other tools, ability to be used from any corner of the Earth, providing far more flexibility than their physical predecessors.
So what about using a combination of Gantt charts and Kanban boards? When you combine them you are able to get the best out of both and get rid of the drawbacks. For example, the Gantt chart provides you with a clear timeline, deadlines and dependencies between tasks while the Kanban board allows your team members to quickly understand what they need to do.
Kanbanchi: Don’t compare Gantt chart vs Kanban board but get them synchronized in real-time
The biggest issue that you may face when using both the Gantt chart and Kanban board for one project is the challenge of keeping them synched all the time. Whenever you update one, you should make sure the other one is also updated with the same information. Failing to do so may cause confusion among your team members. Having the application that will do it for you is crucial for saving your time.
Kanbanchi app has Kanban board and Gantt chart synchronised in real-time. Whenever you make any change on a Gantt chart your team will see it reflected on a Kanban board and vice versa. So, you may stop choosing between them here and use the benefits of combining them instead. Despite providing both powerful tools in one application, Kanbanchi is easy to start with and you will definitely pick it up in less than 30 minutes.
The tool made for Google Workspace users
Apart from synched Gantt chart and Kanban board, Kanbanchi offers the Google Workspace integration. The app works inside your Google Drive and becomes a part of the Google ecosystem. You will easily attach files from your Drive and will see Kanbanchi in the list of apps available with your Google account.
Built-into the Google ecosystem
Kanbanchi requires no more than your Google account to sign up and log in.
Google Drive integration
Helps you to collaborate on your tasks with your colleagues as easy as you share files with them.
Google Calendar integration
Allows you to set up reminders in your familiar way (not mentioning the in-app notifications).
Easy deployment for big companies
As easy as a pie: just one click in the Google Workspace admin panel.
Intuitive and familiar interface
Helps you to start using the app right almost without any learning curve.
Friendly and available support
Provides a solution to any issue (if you will ever have them).
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