What is a PERT chart in project management?

A PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) chart is a project management tool that maps a project’s tasks and their dependencies as a network, to estimate how long the project will take and identify the sequence of activities that drives the schedule.

Where it comes from

PERT was developed by the U.S. Navy in the 1950s for the Polaris missile programme. It was designed to plan and coordinate large, uncertain projects where task durations are hard to predict.

How a PERT chart works

Tasks are drawn as a network of nodes and arrows showing dependencies. Each task gets three time estimates — optimistic, most likely and pessimistic — combined into an expected duration. Following the longest path through the network reveals the critical path.

PERT vs. Gantt

A PERT chart emphasises task relationships and time estimation under uncertainty; a Gantt chart emphasises the schedule along a calendar. Many teams use PERT to model dependencies, then a Gantt to plan and track the work.

Building a PERT chart with FoxPlan

FoxPlan models task dependencies and highlights the critical path on an interactive Gantt, giving you the analytical power of PERT with the clarity of a visual schedule.