What does the Critical Path Method (CPM) primarily illustrate?

The Critical Path Method (CPM) primarily illustrates the sequence of activities within a project, highlighting the critical path that determines the project's duration. By focusing on the beginning and ending activities, CPM helps project managers identify which tasks are essential for the timely completion of a project, ensuring that any delays in these critical activities lead directly to an extension of the overall project timeline.

This method emphasizes the interdependencies of tasks, providing a visual representation of the project schedule, which enables better planning and resource allocation. Understanding the beginning and ending activities allows project managers to strategically focus their efforts on those tasks that cannot be delayed without affecting the final deadline, making it an essential tool for effective project management.

In contrast, other options do not align with the primary function of CPM. While budget allocations, team assignments, and environmental assessments are important aspects of project management, they do not directly relate to the primary aim of illustrating the timeline and progress of project activities as CPM does.