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A Complete Guide to Timeline with Example

What is Timeline
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A timeline is a list of major incidents structured in the order in which they occurred. Timelines are also found in historical texts and biographies — they describe what happens to a single person or over a given amount of time, beginning with the earliest occurrence and over time. This article will thoroughly examine timeline and define - what a timeline is.

1. What is A Timeline?

Often, the term is generalized to indicate tabular, year-by-year columns or merely hypothetical chronology. A simple response to a timeline is that the timeline helps track some form of progress, making history easier to remember, and assisting audiences in identifying past and current patterns.

For example, in project management, a calendar shows goals, deadlines, and other critical dates and activities over the project's lifecycle, specifically linking expectations to particular dates. Furthermore, the example of Google company, which shows the development and milestones of Google in detail.

what is timeline

Source: EdrawMind

1.1 The Usages of A Timeline

A timeline is a multifunctional instrument which is extended to a large number of spheres. Since it serves as the method for sequential structuring of events, the timeline can be used to show any project or subject.,nbsp;

  • Education

Timelines were initially created for studying history. Timelines were developed and commonly used to simplify the method of analysis of historical dates and events. The technique conveys social patterns, incidents, times and allows students to identify different subjects more quickly.,nbsp;

  • Project Management

In this case, deadlines come in handy when it is vital to plan the execution phase of such projects, map out deadlines, and envision a project’s phases. Due to the timetable, staff members have an outstanding opportunity to blend into the plan and quickly identify priorities to be accomplished.

  • Business

Timelines act as one of the leading business methods for monitoring and making the process more effective. The primary aim of timelines is to illustrate a series of acts within a given time. Although timelines span a large amount of time, they are not very comprehensive. Nevertheless, pictures, details, or figures may be added.

1.2 The Benefits of A Timeline

There are several benefits for content planning, especially for marketers or writers. Through content planning, they could schedule or arrange contents flexibly.

  • Improved Communication

Implementing a coordination approach into project management for better communication, conveniently described with deadlines, is the key. A timetable for project management facilitates coordination so that everybody knows who is doing what.

  • Time Management

Time plays a leading role in every project's performance. While defining what a timeline is, you get to realize how detrimental a pause can be until you prepare your project correctly.

When you've got a clear view of the goal, it's easier to stop focusing on projects mindlessly. Your staff would now concentrate on what needs to be accomplished each week.

  • Better Motivation

Motivation may be what drives a project. Members of the team find it easier to be focused as they have a timeline before them as it serves to sharpen their concentration and discipline. Motivation often increases as they can see that they are finishing their assignments on schedule (or in advance).

2. The Classification of Timeline
    1. Chronology Timeline

chronology timeline

Source: EdrawMind

The timeline for chronology is widely used. It visualizes the chronological order of events. The timeline usually begins with the earliest date and finishes with the latest date-sorted from left to right on the X-axis.,nbsp;

You can easily find diagrams for chronology in history books, and the use of this sort of map to tell a historical event is very useful.

    1. Gantt Chart

chronology timeline

Source: EdrawMind

Gantt charts are used to organize tasks, bringing all aligning variables such as project plan, progress tracker, process, and system into a single structure like a spreadsheet.

This document is supposed to be shared with all team members, keeping the plans and priorities transparent. Given the variables it encompasses and how large the project is, these maps can be complicated.

    1. Interactive Timeline

interactive timeline

Source: EdrawMind

The interactive timeline is a dynamic timeline where you can click, zoom in, zoom out, or adjust the data in real-time. Vast volumes of data or this occurrence last for an extended period, an immersive, scrollable timeline.

    1. Historical Timeline,nbsp;

historical timeline

Source: EdrawMind

Timeline in history revolve around events and their times. They may be for the history of war, ancient civilizations, royal families, biographies, etc. You will also incorporate citations, notices, and other related material to suit your needs. These maps generally look simple, like an ordered list.

3. How To Use A Timeline in EdrawMind

EdrawMind is the most accessible tool to create the timeline, mind map, fishbone diagram, etc. Choose a theme or a map, type whatever you want, and finish your timeline. Here is the guide to teach you how to create a timeline in EdrawMind.

Step 1 choose Horizontal Timeline or Winding Timeline to get started.

how to create a timeline

Source: EdrawMind

Step 2 After choosing the timeline type, select a theme you like from the theme gallery in the right panel, or customize your timeline with substantial design elements, like color, icon, etc. At the same time, type your content accordingly.

how to create a timeline

Source: EdrawMind

Step 3 Export your timeline in multiple formats, directly print it out or share it with your friends through social media and email.

how to create a timeline

Source: EdrawMind

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4. The Example of Project Timeline

This part illustrates how to create a timeline for project management. As we all know, a project could enroll substantial team members, effectively take fair use of a timeframe for arranging group tasks, and establish project milestones that seem vital for each project manager. According to the following steps, it could be easier to moderate project management.

    1. Explicitly State The Goals

Define what the priorities are before you start. Your team members should also be on the same page with objectives and their targets for each project. Get everyone's agreement for the defined goal before going on so there won't be any misunderstandings later.

goals

Source: Pinterest

    1. Notice Critical Milestones

Milestones are a great way to help you schedule and measure your project as it goes forward. An achievement may include work completed, a project process, an agreement, or even a meeting.

milestones

Source: EdrawMax

    1. Decide Timeframe

You'll need to figure out who's available on your project and what their workload can be. It is crucial knowledge to help you build a timetable for the project to settle on each milestone's timeframe.

timeframe

Source: Pinterest

    1. Review Everything

Review everything, including your team and your customers. Send your project schedule plan to your managers, and ask for input.

review

Source: Pinterest

    1. Create A Timeline

When it comes to developing a timetable for project management, using EdrawMind is a smart practice. It lets you control your activities and schedule and organize your project correctly.

EdrawMind

Source: EdrawMind

5. Key Takeaways

In this article, the timeline has been explained in multiple aspects, such as its usages, its benefits for business, education, history, etc. Meanwhile, the timeline can be classified into four types: chronology timeline, Gantt chart, interactive timeline, and historical timeline.

Last but not least, it gives two ways to create a timeline: one is from the general aspect, and the other is a timeline tool called EdrawMind to create a timeline with no efforts. After all, a timeline is the best way to record the milestones in every family, company, or country. Through the timeline, people could remember an unforgettable moment before.

EdrawMind is an intuitive tool to help you create these timelines.

  • The software provides 12 different map types, 33 themes, and more than 700 clip art materials to design the timelines.
  • Through incorporating more detail such as callouts, relationships, points, comments, hyperlinks, and so on, the timeline can be taken to the next level.
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