Life in a Matrix

We have been doing some work with a company called Big Picture Learning who specialize in creating graphics to communicate complex issues quickly. Our big picture communicates what we at Global Integration see as the big issues in working in matrix and other complex organizations.
Part 1, at the centre of the graphic are the key drivers of complexity […]

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I seem to have met a lot of project managers this year and in recent weeks I have spoken at a couple of events for project managers working in matrix organization structures. It seems project management is on the rise. Is it a good thing in a matrix organization, or is there also a dark side?
It is clear […]

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An, often unintended, consequence of matrix organization structures is that the real decisions about trade-offs and priorities are made where reporting lines intersect - at middle management levels (what I call the matrix middle). This means that matrix organizations are effectively led from the middle. The matrix management skills of middle managers are the most important […]

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T5 turned out to be a pleasant surprise. With online check-in and hand luggage the trip through to airside was very fast. The building is pretty impressive and there were no obvious design flow problems and some improvements - for example you move from the check-in desk straight forward (no fighting your way back through […]

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This week I will be travelling to San Francisco (where our US office is) , Napa Valley (for my USA team meeting - though I suspect wine tasting may break out) and to Oregon to meet with a new client - more on this when I get back.
I am a pretty regular traveller, for years in […]

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One of the biggest differences in working and managing in a matrix organization structure is the fact that we may have multiple bosses.
Traditional hierarchy (literally “holy-order”) existed for thousands of years based on a single, clear line of command and control. It lasted so long for a good reason - it worked.
In a matrix we […]

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Continuing our theme of communications overload and continuous partial attention in matrix (and other) organization, one of my colleagues in the UK  Phil Stockbridge, found an article in today’s Daily Mail on Email Time Bandits The research claims that people spend 4 hours per day on unnecessary emails, calls and gossip, that this costs UK industry […]

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I was asked to do an interview on Management in the matrix for the blog Slacker Manager.
As well as some of our familiar themes of matrix skills and communication in the matrix the interview looks at the impact of the matrix on employee engagement and the chances of Reading FC avoiding relegation. 
If you would like […]

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In  a previous post on matrix management skills we talked about the importance of networking in getting things done in a matrix organization structure.
A useful tool in this area is network mapping where we get participants in our skills for the matrix training to draw their network and analyze it to identify gaps, strengths, weaknesses etc…
I know […]

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I will away be on holiday from 3rd to 13th April and will not be posting over this period. I also won’t be checking emails or phone calls (a colleague will screen my calls for anything urgent - but I don’t expect anything). Here is the view from my hotel room in the spirit of […]

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