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How Would You Justify The Use of A Matrix Design Since It Potentially Violates The Principle of Unity of Command

The document discusses the matrix organizational structure and its advantages. A matrix structure has employees reporting to both functional and project managers, violating the principle of unity of command. However, matrix structures evolved to help large organizations manage large-scale projects. They allow functional teams to be assigned to temporary project structures while maintaining the functional structure. This provides effective project goals, efficient use of human capital, knowledge sharing, and quick reassignment of employees after projects. Potential advantages include articulating project and functional objectives, efficient use of human capital, quick knowledge exchange, retention of expert teams, and teaching managers leadership skills.

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Anastasiia Baiuk
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412 views

How Would You Justify The Use of A Matrix Design Since It Potentially Violates The Principle of Unity of Command

The document discusses the matrix organizational structure and its advantages. A matrix structure has employees reporting to both functional and project managers, violating the principle of unity of command. However, matrix structures evolved to help large organizations manage large-scale projects. They allow functional teams to be assigned to temporary project structures while maintaining the functional structure. This provides effective project goals, efficient use of human capital, knowledge sharing, and quick reassignment of employees after projects. Potential advantages include articulating project and functional objectives, efficient use of human capital, quick knowledge exchange, retention of expert teams, and teaching managers leadership skills.

Uploaded by

Anastasiia Baiuk
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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1.

How would you justify the use of a matrix design since it potentially violates the principle of
unity of command?

A well-known characteristic of this bureaucratic paradigm is that they all answer to a single
supervisor in the organization. The matrix structure is strikingly different:
 Employees are normally responsible to more than one supervisor
 There are typically two different command chains
 The matrix system is structured to be partly impermanent
 There are two categories of bosses: technical bosses and project managers
 Management positions are dynamic, not set.
Matrix structures evolved in response to the rise of large-scale projects in contemporary
organizations. The matrix organizational structure offered solutions to these large-scale project issues by
having impermanent project systems coexisting with functional systems that were fairly permanent. For a
particular project a team in the functional system, which was always a sort of organizational organization,
may be recruited from many divisions. Instead of disassembling the functional structure to construct this
temporary project structure, the matrix structure maintains the functional structure and a temporary
project structure is superimposed on it. Team leaders keep reporting to specific administrators, but
reporting to team administrators too. Any member of the team now essentially has two bosses.

Advantages of Matrix Structures


 Effective articulation of project goals
 Workable way of combining project goals with functional objectives
 Efficient use of available human capital
 Quick knowledge exchange through the project
 Retention of expert teams over the life of the project
 Quick dispersal of team members back into the functional organization upon completion of the
project without interruption of organization
 Project management teaches managers to become leaders in effective organization
 Project systems build team spirit and strong morality
 Possibility of disputes occurring during the project transitioning to effective management

2.Identify the consequences of poorly designed organizational structures

Organizational structure refers to assigning management responsibilities and how you organize your
different functions. Many small businesses start with a flat organizational structure which has several
key employees reporting directly to the owner and working with him. As businesses grow, they often
create hierarchical corporate structures, including departments, managers, and subordinates.

1. Poor communication

A poor organizational structure can lead to miscommunication, as people may not be certain who needs
information or where to send important messages. This can lead to delayed orders and long waiting for
customers to pay. This can also lead to customers not getting product, forcing them to find a different
supplier.
2. Lack of Strategic Management

To maximize your growth potential, you'll need to make future plans that create opportunities, rather than
just waiting for new businesses. Without an organizational structure that regularly puts key executives or
employees together, effective long-term strategies will be difficult to build. Strategic management
involves the introduction of new products, the use of new distribution channels, geographical expansion
or the pursuit of new target market. Often these strategies require input from your managers in marketing,
accounting, information technology, production, and sales.

3. Reduced Productivity

If your organization is not set up to create effective communications, or you don't have creative strategic
management, you can miss opportunities, allow problems to continue, and reduce employee morale. If
employees are not happy, they may not volunteer new ideas or may be leaving for a better job. Poor
organizational structure leads to reduced productivity, lowering your potential for growth

4. Damaged Company

Furthermore, with poor organizational structure, you can create problems for your customers when they
do not get timely answers to their questions, receive poor customer service or have to wait for product
delivery longer than normal. You may lose customers when this happens, lose references and the ability
to attract new customers and reduce revenues enough to damage your business.

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