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Matrix Structures

A matrix organizational structure combines traditional functional departments with project teams, allowing individuals to work across various teams while maintaining their departmental roles. This structure offers advantages such as improved communication, resource sharing, and increased motivation, but also presents challenges like divided loyalties, unclear accountability, and coordination difficulties. It is essential to note that a matrix structure typically coexists with traditional functional structures rather than replacing them.

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Asif Zaki
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19 views1 page

Matrix Structures

A matrix organizational structure combines traditional functional departments with project teams, allowing individuals to work across various teams while maintaining their departmental roles. This structure offers advantages such as improved communication, resource sharing, and increased motivation, but also presents challenges like divided loyalties, unclear accountability, and coordination difficulties. It is essential to note that a matrix structure typically coexists with traditional functional structures rather than replacing them.

Uploaded by

Asif Zaki
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Matrix structures

A matrix type of organisational structure combines the traditional departments seen in functional structures
with project teams.

In a matrix structure, individuals work across teams and projects as well as within their own department or
function.

For example, a project or task team established to develop a new product might include engineers and
design specialists as well as those with marketing, financial, personnel and production skills.

These teams can be temporary or permanent depending on the tasks they are asked to complete. Each
team member can find himself/herself with two managers - their normal functional manager as well as the
team leader of the project.

An example of a matrix structure is illustrated below:

Matrix structures have advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages

 Can help to break down traditional department barriers, improving communication across the entire
organisation
 Can allow individuals to use particular skills within a variety of contexts
 Avoid the need for several departments to meet regularly, so reducing costs and improving
coordination
 Likely to result in greater motivation amongst the team members
 Encourages cross-fertilisation of ideas across departments – e.g. helping to share good practice
and ideas
 A good way of sharing resources across departments – which can make a project more cost-
effective

Disadvantages

 Members of project teams may have divided loyalties as they report to two line managers. Equally,
this scenario can put project team members under a heavy pressure of work.
 There may not be a clear line of accountability for project teams given the complex nature of matrix
structures.
 Difficult to co-ordinate
 It takes time for matrix team members to get used to working in this kind of structure
 Team members may neglect their functional responsibilities

It is important to remember that a matrix structure often sites alongside a traditional functional structure – it
is not necessarily a replacement.

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