Matthew joined the organisation in the year 2000. He was the primary contact for the researcher throughout this study. He had not previously heard of PRINCE2 until this was introduced to him by Mary the Business Analyst who was working at OABC.
Attitudes and Motivation
During the first interview before the PRINCE2 training, Matthew mentioned the word “structure” eight times in relation to the PRINCE2 methodology:
The PRINCE2 methodology would give me the structure to guide me to know the considerations and components of the project at the front. (Matthew, Pre-Training).
Matthew looked forward to the PRINCE2 training as he described himself as ‘a systems and structured person’ and liked to have a really good workable understanding of a recognised methodology like PRINCE2. He admitted that he was a strong exponent for planning and prior preparation to prevent poor performance.
Personal qualities
The following results were compiled during the pre-training interviews.
‘Efficiency’ was how Matthew saw a successful project manager. Matthew used the words ‘efficient’ at least three times and commented how difficult
it was to be efficient amidst a culture that was experiencing a rapid rate of change. When asked what would be the outward signs of being a successful project manager, Matthew stated that there would be less anxiety and he would be a good manager and mentor for his team. He would get the job done in a way that was engaging and efficient.
In answer to the question from the researcher “What would help you to perform better?”, he stated how much a clear structure as offered by PRINCE2 would assist him:
Confidence in a clear structure. Every project I have done, I have just essentially been ‘winging it’ and it has worked…. Having the structure offered by PRINCE2 would allow me to be a lot more confident and potentially support other projects and identify fairly quickly where the specific stages are at. Having a good understanding of that structure would be very important.(Matthew, HR Director, Pre-Training)
The most important personal quality to Matthew was ‘being determined’ as this was the reason for his success in the past:
I am someone who has the determination to overcome road-blocks… I am always willing to give it a crack because of the confidence of being determined (Matthew, Pre- Training).
Matthew admitted that he was not the best project leader nor the best with people, but he had always relied on determination till he got it right. (Matthew, Pre-Training).
General observation
At the first interview when I asked him, “How do you think this methodology would help your organisation?” He asked to slightly rephrase my question to: “How would I hope it would help this organisation”. This
indicated that he perceived barriers in OABC to the adoption of PRINCE2 but was not able to convey to me at the time.
The ability to see the perspective of the whole
Matthew’s hobby at home was building and sculpting things. He did not consider himself to be artistic, however when he had a vision of what had to be achieved, he would plan out several different ways to get to the final result or product. Matthew stated that it was important on projects to have good clarity of what was to be delivered and to be able to visualise the end point:
Unless I am clear about what exactly it is, I cannot say how it will fit and what it will do. (Matthew, Pre-Training).
His ability to visualise the whole system and the future state was an important factor in his success in being promoted to manage projects in Asia Pacific:
I can’t explain it. I just get a vision and see what it is meant to look like. I continually improve the method to get to the final result. I apply this process in delivering projects.
He was able to build a vision of what the future state of the project delivery would be. He explained that only as the project progresses that the non- visual people start to ‘see’.
Consolidating lessons learnt on projects
To Matthew, PRINCE2 offered a methodology that provided an evolutionary concept or process that supported continuous improvement. PRINCE2 had the ‘learn from the experience’ principle built into it. Matthew described a visual representation of implementing a structured methodology as ‘like a spiral staircase’ where lessons are learnt and used to continually refine the methodology:
We start projects this way with a certain methodology and if we consistently apply the same methodology, we can consistently refine that methodology. It gives us a starting point for the next one and then a starting point for the next one and so on. (Matthew, Pre-Training)
However Matthew stated that OABC was very much behind in being able to progressively improve and were constantly re-inventing the wheel:
We need to continuously improve and not completely re- invent the wheel and winging it all the time…We don’t make the best of the experience that staff have – there is no continuous improvement or positive development. We just wing it. We run on spirit, we run on energy without being intelligent or clever about it. (Matthew, Pre- Training)
After PRINCE2 Training
Matthew failed his PRINCE2 Practitioner course (only marginally) but this did not stop him from using PRINCE2 or being seen to visibly apply the methodology to the projects he was managing.
Seeking opportunities outside of the OABC culture
By September 2013, opportunities had opened up in the Asia Pacific region for Matthew due to the successful project work that he had done in OABC:
There is always so much work to do in the (Asia Pacific) region. If I am seen to be a good a project manager, then I would see more opportunities would open up personally for me. (Matthew, Post Training 5+).
He moved out of the OABC jurisdiction and executed projects in the Asia Pacific region (for the same organisation). He continued using PRINCE2 for his projects. Matthew was observed by Mark taking the roles and responsibilities straight out of the PRINCE2 manual for his presentations in his new role in the Asia Pacific (Mark, Post Training 5+).
From the time Matthew was introduced to PRINCE2, he immediately gleaned the value of it and stated that he was applying it to his projects throughout the duration of this research.