What chart is commonly used to represent timelines in systems development projects?

A Gantt chart is commonly used to represent timelines in systems development projects because it provides a clear visual representation of project schedules. It displays tasks or activities along a timeline, allowing project managers to see the duration of each task, when they start and finish, and how they overlap with one another. This helps in tracking project progress and managing resources effectively.

Gantt charts also allow teams to identify dependencies between tasks and understand the overall sequence of activities, which is essential for ensuring that projects are completed on time. The simplicity and effectiveness of a Gantt chart make it a popular choice among project management tools for organizing and communicating project timelines.

Other types of charts, such as flow charts, PERT charts, or network diagrams, serve different purposes in systems development. Flow charts illustrate processes or workflows, PERT charts focus on task dependencies and critical paths, and network diagrams depict the relationships and sequences of tasks. While all of these tools are valuable in their own right, Gantt charts are specifically designed for showcasing timelines in projects, making them the most relevant choice for this question.