What is Critical Path Analysis used for in project management?

Critical Path Analysis (CPA) is an essential project management technique used primarily to determine the longest sequence of dependent tasks and identify the shortest time in which a project can be completed. Its focus is on understanding the relationships and dependencies between different activities, particularly those that have the potential to delay the project's overall timeline if they are not completed on schedule.

By analyzing these critical tasks—the ones that directly affect the project's finishing time—project managers can effectively plan and allocate resources, ensuring that lead times are minimized. This means that option B is aligned with the primary purpose of CPA, as it directly addresses the objective of shortening lead times through efficient scheduling and management of project tasks. This process allows project managers to prioritize specific tasks and reallocate resources as necessary, which is integral in meeting deadlines without unnecessary delays.

On the other hand, the other options do not fully capture the essence of what CPA specifically achieves. While minimizing costs might be a secondary benefit of effectively managing the project timeline (which CPA assists with), it is not the main purpose of Critical Path Analysis. Similarly, evaluating team performance is more of a human resource management task, and managing change requests pertains to adapting project scope and schedules, which CPA does not directly address. Thus, the focus of CPA is