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Donna -
Useful varies depending on the use case. For some, Excel or Visio suffice whereas for others, a true CPM-based scheduling engine such as MS Project or Primavera are required. The one thing I'd recommend is unless absolutely necessary, don't obsess over individual task status. The focus should be on milestone status and using a buffer management approach to protecting milestone dates means that you are less concerned about individual tasks. Kiron 
As Kiron said, you have various options, like MS Project, or other more complete Project Software solutions, like Planview or Primavera, that include other functionalities in addition to the popular Gantt Chart.
Sergio Luis Conte
Helping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based Organizations
Buenos Aires, Argentina
I was working from the time where there is not software to do that. From long time ago I am using what @Kiron said above. It has no sense to think that things will be happened as stated into a schedule in the moment stated into the schedule. More than a gantt chart to be aware of those activities that could jeopardize the whole is a must. And that´s required a continue monitoring to be alert about the time elapsed vs the remainder amount of effort.
Abolfazl Yousefi Darestani
Manager, Quality and Continuous Improvement| Hörmann-TNR Industrial Doors
Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
I would say MS-project and Primavera.
Keith Novak
Tukwila, Wa, USA
Everyone has software preferences. I typically pick from what I have available with my employer, and what is the least difficult to meet my needs.
As for frequency, that is very dependent on the situation. In a project lasting many months where activities have long durations, I will typically review once per week to see if there are any major changes and to check on near term deliverables. I won't ask whether every milestone months out is on-plan, but try to develop trust so people will tell me when it is off-plan. At some phases in the project such as nearing delivery, there may be many things going on that must be very tightly integrated. If I have one crew of people standing by waiting for another group to complete a task before they begin their own work, I will probably review the tasks daily if not each morning and evening. A judgement call is required to evaluate the float in the activity, as well as the risk of not meeting the date. Missing some dates may be trivial. Missing others may be extremely expensive. If my project is scheduled to deliver at the end of year, missing a day may mean it is not counted in the financials until the following year. 
The Gantt Chart is a tool. At a glance it allows you to see where you thought you where going, where you have been, where you are now and where you may be going. It tracks what has changed and what has been or could be affected by that change. It allows you to see the current project delivery logic and helps identify how the logic can be adjusted/changed to get a better (or worst) outcome. It can be used to identify who is responsible for what and who may not be performing to expectation. It is used to create the S-Curve (a visualisation of project delivery performance). I'm sure there are few others, but you get the point - it can be a complex yet simple tool.
It can be achieved manually (that's what I started with in the 1970s) or with any number of computer based or software programs. First, determine how you will use the Gantt Chart. Second, find the program that best suits that purpose. Drafting table, paper, pencil and straight edge still works for basic presentation but is a bit unwieldy for adjustments and updates. Also hard to transmit electronically.
Donna,
We monitor Gantt Chart at regular intervals, which could be twice a week, before the review meetings, reviewed during the review meetings. This one chart speaks volume w.r.t. the project schedules, milestones which is used by all the depts./stakeholders. Changes and discussion with regards to timelines are updated instantly to know see how the project is progressing. Along with it we use MS Projects which complements the Gantt chart. ...
1 reply by Peter Rapin
Sep 07, 2021 10:06 AM
Peter Rapin
...
Great tool if updates are timely and consistent. That is usually the challenge. Gantt chart updates usually lag by a month or longer as info is collected and entered
Eduard Hernandez
 Community Champion
Plenty of good comments.
From a tool perspective, MS Project suits just fine, or the cloud-based free of charge Gantter. Use the Gantt chart to plan and monitor the project, but avoid schedule micromanagement. One of the most interesting and useful features, in my view, is to learn and monitor project's critical path.
Sep 05, 2021 7:40 AM
Replying to Ganesh Kumar
...
Donna,
We monitor Gantt Chart at regular intervals, which could be twice a week, before the review meetings, reviewed during the review meetings. This one chart speaks volume w.r.t. the project schedules, milestones which is used by all the depts./stakeholders. Changes and discussion with regards to timelines are updated instantly to know see how the project is progressing. Along with it we use MS Projects which complements the Gantt chart. 
PRAVEEN PAYYANATTU MADATHIL
Planning and Project Control Engineer| Hitachi Energy
Malappuram, Kerala, India
Donna,
Most convenient tool for gantt chart may be MSP. But in large projects i prefer to use Primavera P6. If possible weekly tracking will be idle, if time is a constraint for you then go for monthly tracking. |
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