Setting up and running a matrix organization requires a deep understanding of both its advantages and challenges. Here’s a rundown of what I see as the top four advantages:
With a matrix structure, resources can be deployed flexibly across the organization based on business needs. Functional experts can be assigned to work on the highest priority initiatives, regardless of where they reside in the organization. This can reduce redundancy and maximize productivity. When specialized skills and knowledge are shared efficiently across business units and projects, synergies, and savings that are difficult to realize within traditional organizational structures can be achieved.
Working on diverse assignments exposes employees to different parts of the organization and helps them develop a broader skill set and more versatility. It also helps them understand the bigger picture and how their work contributes to corporate goals.
In a first meeting, speaking up and taking initiative are seen as “competence cues,” signaling leadership potential, since those behaviors are associated with proactivity. The cues can include speaking up to make a point, summarizing data, or just asking a question that stimulates conversation. Being proactive at the beginning of a group’s life is essential since status is ascribed early and group members who initially achieve high status are likely to retain it. Remember this next time you are tempted to keep quiet during a meeting.
Quick responses to changes in the business environment — including emerging customer requirements and market demands — are enabled through the rapid formation and dissolution of teams. Adapting to project needs is crucial in today's fast-paced and ever-changing business landscape, where organizations must be able to pivot quickly to remain competitive.
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Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Many leaders feel compelled to motivate their teams to perform by being highly solutions-focused – but learning rather than directing often leads to better results. Consult the following checklist to guage whether...
Today’s workforce often includes a mix of permanent employees, freelancers, and outside contractors – but even organizations with mostly external workforces or highly autonomous workforces need proximity to succeed over the long...
Few things are scarier than being at the front of the room and losing your audience. Consult the checklist of questions below to understand why people are reacting negatively to what you...
Many CHROs have yet to understand the implications of GenAI for their employees. Test your knowledge of how it differs from ‘traditional’ forms and check out the tips on integrating GenAI tools...
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