Life in a Matrix

Nice article on Cisco’s view of

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Finding the right level of control is critical in complex companies.
There are many factors that can subtly (or not so subtly) undermine trust in complex companies (cultural differences, competing priorities, working through technology & misaligned goals – to name but a few). If trust is damaged mangers tend to increase central control and this can [...]

 Finding the right level of control [11:21m]: Download

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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 [...]

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I came across this summary page yesterday with a whole range of articles on matrix management and matrix organizations.
A mixture of links to pdfs on matrix management and others to academic papers on matrix organizations (some you have to pay for)
Worth checking out isf you are doing some serios research on the topic.
Check out the [...]

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This article on how ABB has used shared systems to integrate is various business units illustrates a simple point about coordination within complex businesses.
In a  matrix organization structure a lot of the complexity is caused by multiple reporting lines and the fact that people can be caught between multiple bosses and competing priorities – it [...]

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I came across the following collection of matrix management articles you might find useful.
If you are looking for other links to matrix management articles etc.. try the resources section of our sister site www.global-integration.com where you will find articles, cartoons podcasts and other resources or the matrix resources category on this blog.

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You can find a detailed presentation on the evolution of ABB’s matrix organization structure here.
The presentation shows how ABB’s matrix structure evolved over time and how ABB has reorganized several times in search of the best configuration.
This is a good example of the emphasis placed on structure as a solution to matrix issues. Structure has [...]

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One of the big challenges for French carmaker Renault, which ranks third in the world with Japanese partner Nissan and Russian ally AvtoVAZ, is that it is too complex, chief operating officer Patrick Pelata told the Reuters Automotive Summit. Read more

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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

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Lloyd Blankfein, chief executive of Goldman Sachs said yesterday: “The industry let the growth and complexity in new instruments outstrip their economic and social utility as well as the operational capacity to manage them.” (My emphasis)
It is clear that financial instruments became too complex to manage? By one estimate I saw it would have taken [...]

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