Life in a Matrix

The three secrets to building a truly integrated global leadership group.

Kevan Hall CEO of Global Integration shares three secrets for building a truly integrated global leadership group.
Don’t forget to check out and subscribe to our other videos at YouTube

[Read more →]

Many of our clients are currently focusing on creating more integrated IT functions. This tends to create a more complex IT organization and requires different skills if we are not to create delay, cost and dissatisfaction.
There are three main drivers for this

Cost savings – companies are pursuing cost savings in all areas but this is [...]

[Read more →]

An interesting insight came up in discussion with one of our clients recently about the role of central functions and business units in a matrix organisation.
A very experienced manager mentioned that he felt that part of the challenge was that central functions played two roles.  Sometimes they were standard setters and sometimes they were service [...]

[Read more →]

We are working with several clients at the moment on matrix management implementations, and we are interviewing their line managers about the key challenges of matrix management.
One of the key challenges that comes up is moving from traditional authority and control in getting things done to getting things done through influence and networks.
Many managers feel [...]

[Read more →]

Management teams in complex companies lead matrix, virtual, international and cross-cultural organizations. In operating as a team in such a complex environment they face some common challenges including

What is our unique contribution as a team – rather than just the sum of our individual roles?
What is the right level of control for our business?
What is [...]

 Management Teams in Complex Companies [10:27m]: Download

[Read more →]

It’s amazing what Google alerts throws up.  Apparently the Vulcan Kolinahr Fleet is organized on matrix management principles.
Conclusive proof that the matrix is the organizational form of the future.  I am sure a strict logic based approach to matrix management is a help. In the photo you can see Mr Spock clearly indicating the dual [...]

[Read more →]

In this podcast we focus on managing complexity within the HR function.
Many HR organizations have adopted some version of the Ulrich model with a system of business partners, specialists and (often outsourced) service centres for transactional activities. This has introduced a much more complex internal matrix structure within the HR function.
As a result HR people [...]

 Managing complexity in HR - Life in a Matrix podcast [7:36m]: Download

[Read more →]

Managing the relationship between HQ and local operations is always an area with the potential for problems. HQ and local people have different roles and sometimes competing priorities and perspectives.
In a tough economy there is a tendency for central control to increase which can place the HQ & local relationship under even more pressure and [...]

 Managing the HQ & Local relationship [13:16m]: Download

[Read more →]

Despite the off putting title this is a brief but interesting Business Week debate on the pros and cons of matrix management.
Read the full article Matrix Is the Ladder to Success – multi-dimensional organizational design is the best way to restructure a business. Pro or con?

[Read more →]

I was working with a client recently where people had real problems with prioritization. It made me think back to the old Time Management and Kepner Tregoe advice on how to prioritzse and to realize how outdated some of these assumption about prioritization had become in the matrix.
The assumption in the past was that if [...]

[Read more →]