Project control involves schedule, budget, and scope. Focus solely on the critical path to the exclusion of these other aspects is not a good idea. Nor is it a good idea to ignore "noncritical" paths that could become critical.
The project manager needs to have a good understanding of the network of dependencies among schedule tasks and resources. Such a dependency network can help the project manager identify the critical chain of resources that determines the project duration. Once that is done, the project manager can monitor project buffers to learn which schedule segments are in need of risk-reduction effort.
The project manager needs to have a good understanding of the network of dependencies among schedule tasks and resources. Such a dependency network can help the project manager identify the critical chain of resources that determines the project duration. Once that is done, the project manager can monitor project buffers to learn which schedule segments are in need of risk-reduction effort.