The earliest method used for planning of projects was

Explanation:

• The first method invented for planning projects was the bar chart method which was introduced by Henry Gantt around the year 1900 A.D.
• Bar chart is therefore also referred to as Gantt Chart. A bar chart is a graphical representation of activity v/s time where the horizontal axis represents time duration and the vertical axis represents activities.

Bar chart (Gantt chart):

(i) It is a pictorial chart.

(ii) It has two coordinate axes, the horizontal line (coordinate) represents the elapsed time and the vertical coordinate represents the job or activity to be performed.

(iii) The beginning and end of each bar represent starting and finishing times of a particular activity respectively.

(iv) The length of the bar shows the time required for completion.

 Additional InformationLimitation of a bar chart:

(i) Lack of degree of detail.

(ii) A bar chart does not show the progress of work and hence it can not be used as a control device.

(iii) A bar chart is unable to depict the interdependencies of various activities clearly.

(iv) No provision to account for time uncertainties.

(v) Bar chart can not distinguish between critical and non-critical activities and hence resource smoothening and resource-leveling can not be done.