Paul Brothwood

PRINCE2 has stood the test of time as an essential component of project management. Its transition from rigid origins to a flexible, adaptive methodology reflects not only changes in the framework but also shifts in how industries such as construction approach complexity. As a PRINCE2 Practitioner and COO in the construction industry, I’ve seen its transformative effects first-hand. The evolution of PRINCE2 — from its inception to its current iteration — shows how project management methodologies must evolve to remain effective in dynamic environments. Modern PRINCE2 places a much greater emphasis on flexibility, which has made it far more practical for industries like mine. I discovered this firsthand when I implemented PRINCE2 in our construction operations. Tailoring is no longer a suggestion but rather a key component of the framework. This is especially evident in how modern PRINCE2 enables project managers to tailor its principles to the scope and complexity of the task at hand. ...

As the COO of a construction company and an ITIL4 Practitioner, I’ve experienced how foundational ITIL concepts shape daily operations and the overall business framework, particularly in a dynamic and high-stakes industry like construction. Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL), which originated in the 1980s, began as a method for bringing consistency to IT management. Today, ITIL4 focuses on flexibility, incorporating Agile and DevOps principles, making it applicable beyond traditional IT environments. ITIL began with a focus on control. The structured approach emphasised documentation, standardisation, and repeatability, all of which are necessary for consistent IT service management. Back then, it was all about minimising risk through rigid processes, and it was heavily centralised. While that approach was effective at the time, it was often slow and rigid, particularly when applied outside of IT. The most recent ITIL4 framework, however, emphasises collaboration and ...

At the age of three, I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, and everything seemed to change. Suddenly, life presented me with a complex and demanding project: managing a disease that does not take breaks and can be both unpredictable and, frankly, deadly. While most children were playing and learning, I was learning about blood sugars, injections, and counting each bite of food. I didn’t let it overwhelm me; instead, I took control early on to ensure that diabetes would never get in the way of the life I desired. Managing Ty pe 1 diabetes is a demanding daily task. From a young age, I oversaw my own injections, which were often five per day, and meticulously tracked everything I ate and drank. Living with diabetes is no easy task, especially when blood sugar levels can fall dangerously low. However, this “project” never became a limitation. It taught me discipline, precision, and resilience — all of which are necessary skills for project managers, even before I knew what they were. Desp...