diff --git a/backend/tests/test_ap22b_linear_critical_path.py b/backend/tests/test_ap22b_linear_critical_path.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f66e66d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/tests/test_ap22b_linear_critical_path.py
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+"""AP2.2b — A2 linear project: critical path in execution graph + Next Action."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from tests.factories import provision_user_in_tenant
+from tests.test_initiatives_actions import _auth, _create_initiative, _login
+
+
+def test_linear_critical_path_and_next_action(client):
+    user = provision_user_in_tenant(tenant_role="admin")
+    token = _login(client, user)
+
+    created = _create_initiative(
+        client,
+        token,
+        title="Neue Küche",
+        archetype_key="initiative.linear_project",
+    )
+    initiative_id = created.json()["id"]
+
+    a = client.post(
+        f"/api/initiatives/{initiative_id}/actions",
+        json={"title": "Rohbau", "status": "open", "sort_order": 0},
+        headers=_auth(token),
+    )
+    b = client.post(
+        f"/api/initiatives/{initiative_id}/actions",
+        json={"title": "Elektrik", "status": "open", "sort_order": 1},
+        headers=_auth(token),
+    )
+    c = client.post(
+        f"/api/initiatives/{initiative_id}/actions",
+        json={"title": "Endabnahme", "status": "open", "sort_order": 2},
+        headers=_auth(token),
+    )
+    assert a.status_code == 201 and b.status_code == 201 and c.status_code == 201
+    a_id, b_id, c_id = a.json()["id"], b.json()["id"], c.json()["id"]
+
+    dep1 = client.post(
+        f"/api/initiatives/{initiative_id}/execution/dependencies",
+        json={
+            "predecessor_action_id": a_id,
+            "successor_action_id": b_id,
+            "dependency_kind": "requires",
+        },
+        headers=_auth(token),
+    )
+    dep2 = client.post(
+        f"/api/initiatives/{initiative_id}/execution/dependencies",
+        json={
+            "predecessor_action_id": b_id,
+            "successor_action_id": c_id,
+            "dependency_kind": "requires",
+        },
+        headers=_auth(token),
+    )
+    assert dep1.status_code == 201 and dep2.status_code == 201
+
+    graph = client.get(
+        f"/api/initiatives/{initiative_id}/execution/graph-state",
+        headers=_auth(token),
+    )
+    assert graph.status_code == 200
+    body = graph.json()
+    assert body["critical_path"] == [a_id, b_id, c_id]
+    assert a_id in body["ready_actions"]
+    assert b_id in body["blocked_actions"]
+
+    snap = client.get(
+        f"/api/initiatives/{initiative_id}/steering-snapshot",
+        headers=_auth(token),
+    )
+    assert snap.status_code == 200
+    next_actions = snap.json().get("next_actions") or []
+    assert next_actions
+    top = next_actions[0]
+    assert top.get("action_id") == a_id
+    assert top.get("reason_code") in ("execution_ready", "execution_critical_path")
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/CriticalPathPanel.jsx b/frontend/src/components/CriticalPathPanel.jsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bd06c93
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/CriticalPathPanel.jsx
@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+import { useEffect, useState } from 'react'
+import { Link } from 'react-router-dom'
+import { getInitiativeExecutionGraphState } from '../api/executionPlan.js'
+import { LoadingState } from './LoadingState.jsx'
+import { ErrorState } from './ErrorState.jsx'
+import { EmptyState } from './EmptyState.jsx'
+import { StatusBadge } from './StatusBadge.jsx'
+import { ExecutionFlowBadge } from './ExecutionFlowBadge.jsx'
+import {
+  buildCriticalPathSteps,
+  findNextReadyOnCriticalPath,
+  summarizeCriticalPath,
+} from '../utils/executionGraph.js'
+import { actionPath, scopedPath } from '../utils/routes.js'
+
+export function CriticalPathPanel({
+  initiativeId,
+  actions = [],
+  embedded = true,
+}) {
+  const [graphState, setGraphState] = useState(null)
+  const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true)
+  const [error, setError] = useState(null)
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!initiativeId) {
+      setGraphState(null)
+      setLoading(false)
+      return undefined
+    }
+    let cancelled = false
+    setLoading(true)
+    setError(null)
+    getInitiativeExecutionGraphState(initiativeId)
+      .then((data) => {
+        if (!cancelled) setGraphState(data)
+      })
+      .catch((err) => {
+        if (!cancelled) setError(err.message)
+      })
+      .finally(() => {
+        if (!cancelled) setLoading(false)
+      })
+    return () => {
+      cancelled = true
+    }
+  }, [initiativeId])
+
+  const steps = buildCriticalPathSteps(graphState, actions)
+  const summary = summarizeCriticalPath(graphState, actions)
+  const nextReady = findNextReadyOnCriticalPath(graphState, actions)
+
+  const body = (
+    <>
+      {loading && <LoadingState message="Lade kritischer Pfad …" />}
+      {!loading && error && (
+        <ErrorState message={error} onRetry={() => window.location.reload()} />
+      )}
+      {!loading && !error && steps.length === 0 && (
+        <EmptyState message="Noch kein kritischer Pfad — Arbeitspakete mit Abhängigkeiten unter Plan → Zielzustände / Durchführungsplan anlegen." />
+      )}
+      {!loading && !error && steps.length > 0 && (
+        <>
+          <p className="critical-path-summary muted">{summary.message}</p>
+          {nextReady && (
+            <div className="critical-path-next card-list-item">
+              <span className="badge status-badge status-active">Nächster Schritt</span>
+              <strong>{nextReady.action.title}</strong>
+              <p className="muted">
+                Kritischer Pfad — ausführungsbereit, keine blockierenden Vorgänger.
+              </p>
+              <Link
+                to={actionPath(nextReady.actionId)}
+                className="btn btn-primary btn-sm"
+              >
+                Arbeitspaket öffnen
+              </Link>
+            </div>
+          )}
+          <ol className="critical-path-steps item-list">
+            {steps.map((step) => (
+              <li
+                key={step.actionId}
+                className={
+                  'list-item card-list-item critical-path-step' +
+                  (step.isNextReady ? ' critical-path-step--next' : '') +
+                  (step.status === 'done' ? ' critical-path-step--done' : '')
+                }
+              >
+                <span className="critical-path-step__index muted">{step.index}</span>
+                <div className="list-item-main">
+                  <Link to={actionPath(step.actionId)} className="link-inline">
+                    <strong>{step.title}</strong>
+                  </Link>
+                  <p className="list-item-desc muted">{step.reason}</p>
+                </div>
+                <div className="list-item-meta">
+                  <StatusBadge status={step.status} />
+                  <ExecutionFlowBadge meta={step.meta} actionStatus={step.status} />
+                </div>
+              </li>
+            ))}
+          </ol>
+          <p className="muted critical-path-hint">
+            Graph unter{' '}
+            <Link to={scopedPath('/plan/gates', { initiativeId })} className="link-inline">
+              Plan → Zielzustände
+            </Link>
+            {' '}pflegen.
+          </p>
+        </>
+      )}
+    </>
+  )
+
+  if (embedded) {
+    return (
+      <section className="card critical-path-panel">
+        <div className="section-header">
+          <div>
+            <h2>Kritischer Pfad</h2>
+            <p className="section-lead muted">
+              Längster Abhängigkeitspfad aus dem Execution Graph — Steuerungsantwort für
+              lineare Vorhaben (A2).
+            </p>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+        {body}
+      </section>
+    )
+  }
+
+  return body
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/constants/operating.js b/frontend/src/constants/operating.js
index 66410d4..c3ded6d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/constants/operating.js
+++ b/frontend/src/constants/operating.js
@@ -60,6 +60,13 @@ export const SIGNAL_LABELS = {
   work_in_progress: 'Arbeit in Umsetzung',
 }
 
+export const NEXT_ACTION_REASON_LABELS = {
+  execution_ready: 'Ausführungsbereit',
+  execution_critical_path: 'Kritischer Pfad',
+  execution_waiting: 'Wartet (Reihenfolge)',
+  planning_debt: 'Durchführungsplan fehlt',
+}
+
 export const NEXT_ACTION_KIND_LABELS = {
   action: 'Arbeitspaket',
   resolve_blocker: 'Blocker klären',
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/initiative/InitiativeOverviewPage.jsx b/frontend/src/pages/initiative/InitiativeOverviewPage.jsx
index 3659c2a..6f517c0 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/initiative/InitiativeOverviewPage.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/initiative/InitiativeOverviewPage.jsx
@@ -2,11 +2,22 @@ import { Link } from 'react-router-dom'
 import { scopedPath } from '../../utils/routes.js'
 import { useInitiativeOperations } from '../../context/InitiativeOperationsContext.jsx'
 import { SteeringSnapshotPanel } from '../../components/SteeringSnapshotPanel.jsx'
+import { CriticalPathPanel } from '../../components/CriticalPathPanel.jsx'
 import { NextActionWidget } from '../../widgets/NextActionWidget.jsx'
 
+function usesCriticalPathControl(initiative, steeringSnapshot) {
+  const archetypeKey = initiative?.archetype_key
+  const methodKey = steeringSnapshot?.method_key
+  return (
+    archetypeKey === 'initiative.linear_project' || methodKey === 'sequential_dependency'
+  )
+}
+
 export function InitiativeOverviewPage() {
   const {
     initiativeId,
+    initiative,
+    actions,
     error,
     steeringSnapshot,
     steeringSnapshotLoading,
@@ -18,6 +29,7 @@ export function InitiativeOverviewPage() {
   } = useInitiativeOperations()
 
   const counts = steeringSnapshot?.counts || {}
+  const showCriticalPath = usesCriticalPathControl(initiative, steeringSnapshot)
 
   return (
     <>
@@ -35,6 +47,10 @@ export function InitiativeOverviewPage() {
         />
       )}
 
+      {showCriticalPath && capabilities.has('kairo.action.read') && (
+        <CriticalPathPanel initiativeId={initiativeId} actions={actions} />
+      )}
+
       {capabilities.has('kairo.workspace.read') && (
         <NextActionWidget
           scope="initiative"
@@ -42,6 +58,16 @@ export function InitiativeOverviewPage() {
           items={steeringSnapshot?.next_actions}
           loading={steeringSnapshotLoading}
           embedded
+          title={
+            showCriticalPath
+              ? 'Nächster Schritt am kritischen Pfad'
+              : undefined
+          }
+          subtitle={
+            showCriticalPath
+              ? 'Empfehlung aus sequential_dependency — bereite Arbeitspakete zuerst.'
+              : undefined
+          }
         />
       )}
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/styles/program-chrome.css b/frontend/src/styles/program-chrome.css
index e1866bf..b230ddd 100644
--- a/frontend/src/styles/program-chrome.css
+++ b/frontend/src/styles/program-chrome.css
@@ -704,3 +704,56 @@
   width: 16px;
   height: 16px;
 }
+
+/* AP2.2b — kritischer Pfad (Kontrolle / A2) */
+.critical-path-panel .critical-path-summary {
+  margin: 0 0 12px;
+  font-size: 14px;
+}
+
+.critical-path-next {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  align-items: flex-start;
+  gap: 6px;
+  margin-bottom: 16px;
+  padding: 12px;
+  border-left: 3px solid var(--jk-primary);
+  background: var(--jk-surface-muted, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.03));
+  border-radius: 6px;
+}
+
+.critical-path-steps {
+  margin: 0;
+  padding: 0;
+}
+
+.critical-path-step {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: flex-start;
+  gap: 10px;
+}
+
+.critical-path-step--next {
+  border-color: var(--jk-primary);
+  box-shadow: inset 3px 0 0 var(--jk-primary);
+}
+
+.critical-path-step--done {
+  opacity: 0.75;
+}
+
+.critical-path-step__index {
+  min-width: 1.5rem;
+  font-weight: 600;
+  font-size: 13px;
+}
+
+.critical-path-hint {
+  margin: 12px 0 0;
+  font-size: 13px;
+}
+
+.next-action-reason {
+  margin-left: 4px;
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/utils/executionGraph.js b/frontend/src/utils/executionGraph.js
index 246e1b2..86cd9e8 100644
--- a/frontend/src/utils/executionGraph.js
+++ b/frontend/src/utils/executionGraph.js
@@ -44,3 +44,126 @@ export function dependenciesForAction(dependencies, actionId) {
     successors: list.filter((dep) => dep.predecessor_action_id === actionId),
   }
 }
+
+/**
+ * @param {Array<{ id: string }>} actions
+ */
+export function actionByIdMap(actions) {
+  return Object.fromEntries((actions || []).map((a) => [a.id, a]))
+}
+
+/**
+ * First ready action on critical_path (AP2.2b).
+ * @param {Record<string, unknown>|null|undefined} graphState
+ * @param {Array<{ id: string, title?: string, status?: string }>} actions
+ */
+export function findNextReadyOnCriticalPath(graphState, actions) {
+  const path = graphState?.critical_path
+  if (!Array.isArray(path) || path.length === 0) return null
+
+  const byId = actionByIdMap(actions)
+  for (const rawId of path) {
+    const actionId = String(rawId)
+    const meta = getActionExecutionMeta(graphState, actionId)
+    if (!meta?.ready) continue
+    const action = byId[actionId]
+    if (!action || action.status === 'done' || action.status === 'discarded') continue
+    return { actionId, action, meta }
+  }
+  return null
+}
+
+/**
+ * @param {Record<string, unknown>|null|undefined} graphState
+ * @param {string} actionId
+ * @param {Array<{ id: string, title?: string }>} actions
+ */
+export function buildCriticalPathStepReason(graphState, actionId, actions) {
+  const meta = getActionExecutionMeta(graphState, actionId)
+  if (!meta) return 'Keine Graph-Daten'
+
+  if (meta.ready) {
+    return 'Bereit — keine offenen Vorgänger auf dem kritischen Pfad.'
+  }
+  if (meta.blocked && meta.blocked_by?.length) {
+    const waitingOn = formatBlockedByTitles(actions, meta.blocked_by)
+    return waitingOn
+      ? `Wartet auf: ${waitingOn}`
+      : 'Wartet auf Vorgänger-Arbeitspakete.'
+  }
+  return 'Noch nicht ausführungsbereit.'
+}
+
+/**
+ * @param {Record<string, unknown>|null|undefined} graphState
+ * @param {Array<{ id: string, title?: string, status?: string }>} actions
+ */
+export function buildCriticalPathSteps(graphState, actions) {
+  const path = graphState?.critical_path
+  if (!Array.isArray(path) || path.length === 0) return []
+
+  const byId = actionByIdMap(actions)
+  const nextReady = findNextReadyOnCriticalPath(graphState, actions)
+
+  return path.map((rawId, index) => {
+    const actionId = String(rawId)
+    const action = byId[actionId]
+    const meta = getActionExecutionMeta(graphState, actionId)
+    return {
+      index: index + 1,
+      actionId,
+      title: action?.title || actionId.slice(0, 8),
+      status: action?.status || meta?.status || 'open',
+      meta,
+      isNextReady: nextReady?.actionId === actionId,
+      reason: buildCriticalPathStepReason(graphState, actionId, actions),
+    }
+  })
+}
+
+/**
+ * @param {Record<string, unknown>|null|undefined} graphState
+ * @param {Array<{ id: string, title?: string, status?: string }>} actions
+ */
+export function summarizeCriticalPath(graphState, actions) {
+  const steps = buildCriticalPathSteps(graphState, actions)
+  if (steps.length === 0) {
+    return {
+      hasPath: false,
+      message: 'Noch kein kritischer Pfad — lege Arbeitspakete mit Abhängigkeiten an.',
+    }
+  }
+
+  const nextReady = findNextReadyOnCriticalPath(graphState, actions)
+  if (nextReady) {
+    return {
+      hasPath: true,
+      message: `Nächster Schritt am kritischen Pfad: „${nextReady.action.title || 'Arbeitspaket'}".`,
+      nextActionId: nextReady.actionId,
+    }
+  }
+
+  const openOnPath = steps.filter(
+    (step) => step.status !== 'done' && step.status !== 'discarded',
+  )
+  if (openOnPath.length === 0) {
+    return {
+      hasPath: true,
+      message: 'Kritischer Pfad abgeschlossen — alle Schritte erledigt.',
+    }
+  }
+
+  const waiting = openOnPath.find((step) => step.meta?.blocked)
+  if (waiting) {
+    return {
+      hasPath: true,
+      message: `Kritischer Pfad wartet bei „${waiting.title}" — ${waiting.reason}`,
+      blockedActionId: waiting.actionId,
+    }
+  }
+
+  return {
+    hasPath: true,
+    message: 'Kritischer Pfad vorhanden — kein bereiter Schritt.',
+  }
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/utils/executionGraph.test.js b/frontend/src/utils/executionGraph.test.js
index db4cfd2..17cbd7e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/utils/executionGraph.test.js
+++ b/frontend/src/utils/executionGraph.test.js
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@ import {
   formatBlockedByTitles,
   getActionExecutionMeta,
   sortActionsForExecutionPlan,
+  findNextReadyOnCriticalPath,
+  summarizeCriticalPath,
+  buildCriticalPathSteps,
 } from './executionGraph.js'
 
 describe('executionGraph utils', () => {
@@ -42,4 +45,40 @@ describe('executionGraph utils', () => {
     expect(dependenciesForAction(deps, 's1').predecessors).toHaveLength(1)
     expect(dependenciesForAction(deps, 'p1').successors).toHaveLength(1)
   })
+
+  it('finds next ready step on critical path', () => {
+    const graphState = {
+      critical_path: ['a', 'b', 'c'],
+      items: {
+        a: { ready: false, blocked: true, blocked_by: ['x'] },
+        b: { ready: true, blocked: false, blocked_by: [] },
+        c: { ready: false, blocked: true, blocked_by: ['b'] },
+      },
+    }
+    const actions = [
+      { id: 'a', title: 'Schritt A', status: 'open' },
+      { id: 'b', title: 'Schritt B', status: 'ready' },
+      { id: 'c', title: 'Schritt C', status: 'open' },
+    ]
+    const next = findNextReadyOnCriticalPath(graphState, actions)
+    expect(next?.actionId).toBe('b')
+    expect(summarizeCriticalPath(graphState, actions).message).toContain('Schritt B')
+  })
+
+  it('builds critical path steps with reasons', () => {
+    const graphState = {
+      critical_path: ['first', 'second'],
+      items: {
+        first: { ready: true, blocked: false, blocked_by: [] },
+        second: { ready: false, blocked: true, blocked_by: ['first'] },
+      },
+    }
+    const actions = [
+      { id: 'first', title: 'Erstes AP', status: 'done' },
+      { id: 'second', title: 'Zweites AP', status: 'open' },
+    ]
+    const steps = buildCriticalPathSteps(graphState, actions)
+    expect(steps).toHaveLength(2)
+    expect(steps[1].reason).toContain('Erstes AP')
+  })
 })
diff --git a/frontend/src/widgets/NextActionWidget.jsx b/frontend/src/widgets/NextActionWidget.jsx
index 29210eb..3f582e7 100644
--- a/frontend/src/widgets/NextActionWidget.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/widgets/NextActionWidget.jsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { useCallback, useEffect, useState } from 'react'
 import { Link } from 'react-router-dom'
 import { getNextActionCandidates } from '../api/attention.js'
-import { NEXT_ACTION_KIND_LABELS } from '../constants/operating.js'
+import { NEXT_ACTION_KIND_LABELS, NEXT_ACTION_REASON_LABELS } from '../constants/operating.js'
 import { EmptyState } from '../components/EmptyState.jsx'
 import { ErrorState } from '../components/ErrorState.jsx'
 import { LoadingState } from '../components/LoadingState.jsx'
@@ -52,6 +52,14 @@ function NextActionList({ items, initiativeId, showInitiativeLink = true }) {
             <span className="badge status-badge status-active next-action-kind">
               {NEXT_ACTION_KIND_LABELS[item.kind] || item.kind}
             </span>
+            {item.reason_code && NEXT_ACTION_REASON_LABELS[item.reason_code] && (
+              <span
+                className="badge status-badge status-progress next-action-reason"
+                title={item.reason_code}
+              >
+                {NEXT_ACTION_REASON_LABELS[item.reason_code]}
+              </span>
+            )}
             <strong>{item.title}</strong>
             {item.summary && <p className="list-item-desc muted">{item.summary}</p>}
             {item.recommended_action && (