In project management, what is a Gantt chart primarily used for?

A Gantt chart is primarily used for scheduling tasks and tracking project progress, making it a vital tool in project management. It visually represents the timeline of a project, displaying tasks along a horizontal timeline and indicating their duration, start and end dates, and sequence of execution. This graphical representation helps project managers and teams understand which tasks are to be completed in which timeframe, identify dependencies between tasks, and monitor progress against the scheduled timeline.

The ability to visualize project milestones and deadlines contributes to effective communication among team members and stakeholders, keeping everyone informed about the status of the project. Additionally, it allows for easier identification of delays or potential bottlenecks, enabling project managers to make necessary adjustments to keep the project on track.

In contrast, while identifying risks, defining project scope, and analyzing stakeholder influence are important aspects of project management, they do not specifically relate to the primary function of a Gantt chart. Each of those activities addresses different dimensions of project planning and execution but does not utilize the detailed task scheduling and progress tracking function that Gantt charts provide.