What is PERT in Project Management?

PERT charts were created in the 1950s to manage the creation of weapons and defense projects for the US Navy. While PERT was being introduced in the Navy, the private sector simultaneously gave rise to a similar method called critical path. PERT is similar to critical path in that they are both used to visualize the timeline and the work that must be done for a project. However with PERT, you create three different time estimates for the project:

• The shortest possible amount of time each task will take
• The most probable amount of time
• The longest amount of time tasks might take if things don't go as planned

PERT is calculated backward from a fixed end date since contractor deadlines typically cannot be moved.

Further reading:

• 23 Project Management Books for All Experience Levels
• Project Management Basics: 6 Steps to a Foolproof Project Plan
• The 3-Step Guide to Choosing the Right Project Management Methodology
• The Project Management Beginner’s Guide to Gantt Charts