Life in a Matrix

Matrix organization structures with their high levels of connectedness, multiple stakeholders and tendency to over-control and over-communicate tend to create a “high interrruption” enviornment. This has a big impact on our effectiveness at work in the matrix. 
 
Academics have been studying the impact of interruption at work for several years. Here is a summary of what they have [...]

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Last week was a whistle-stop tour of parts of the USA to visit clients and talk about some of their matrix organization issues. London-Detroit-Boston-New York-London.
Alignment came up, as always in a  matrix structure. We discussed that alignment is a good thing where we can bring clarity but that the purpose of a matrix organization is [...]

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This cartoon is based on a real conversation I had with a matrix manager.
Companies set up a matrix organization structure in order to connect people across the traditional silos of functions and locations. We spend time and effort to get people to communicate more.
Unfortunately, once people get the message, there is often an explosion of communication on [...]

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Senior managers often underestimate the impact that introducing a matrix structure has on the people below them. The reason for this is that matrix management has very little implication for you if you are at he top of the matrix. Everyone still works for you!

Immediately below this you find the people who are the [...]

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In our experience there are some predictable problems in working in a matrix organization structure - some of these are unfairly blamed on the matrix structure (it makes an easy scapegoat) and some are a function of working in such a complex environment.
What are the most difficult 3 issues for you personally in your matrix – [...]

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My book Speed Lead is based on our experiences working with over 300 major multinationals and training over 50,000 people in the skills of working in complex companies
If you are working in a matrixed, virtual, remote, cross-cultural, fast moving or just plain complex company you will find ways to

Simplify and speed up cooperation – be [...]

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One of the main problems that our clients experience in making their matrix structures work is the difficulty in aligning conflicting priotiries and objectives from the different “legs” of the matrix.
If objectives are not aligned people can feel pulled in different directions like the character in our first cartoon.
But a matrix deliberately sacrifices some clarity [...]

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