The Functional to Matrix Transition - 1809 Words

The Functional to Matrix Transition Karen R.J. White, PMP RECENTLY PARTICIPATED IN A CONSULTING ASSIGNMENT WHICH INVOLVED MOVING A LARGE ITS ORGANIZATION from an old-style functional-department organization structure towards one more friendly to proj- Common Pitfalls ects. The project faced the sorts of challenges that are common when trying to realign organizational structure with the new realities of managing by projects. In addition, there were added cultural barriers because the company was in the financial services sector-a very traditional industry, known for conservatism in management approaches. Project management consultants were called in because, for the first time, the organization was undertaking a multi-year†¦show more content†¦Programs were initiated by functional departments, making any kind of strategic alignment or project prioritization (portfolio management) problematic. And because project teams within programs were organized by functional department, not by deliverable, the physical and organizational barriers between project teams impeded communications. THE OTHER EXTREME The Project (Strong) Matrix organization, at the other end of the organization-structure spectrum, works well for crash efforts, where the focus is on cost and, especially, schedule. These types of project-based organizations are sometimes nicknamed Skunkworks after the Lockheed-Martin aerospace project that made this approach famous. The Strong Matrix is an organizational form beloved of project managers and organizational design theorists. To be sure, this model offers many advantages from the project management standpoint:  · It concentrates complete authority for decisions affecting a project or program within the project or program itself, which simplifies decision-making.  · Program budgets and staffing decisions are made within the programs.  · Staff members have a single manager to please and answer to.  · Resources are accountable to program for deliverables and performance.  · Clear communications paths exist. However, in the real world ofShow MoreRelatedPrinciples of Organization1040 Words   |  5 Pagesconsidered as exclusive principles of organization which are as under: Chronological Order (order of Time) In  chronological order  or  time order, items, events, or even ideas are arranged in the order in which they occur. This pattern is marked by such transitions as  next, then, the following morning, a few hours later, still later, that Wednesday, by noon, when she was seventeen, before the sun rose, that April, and so on. Chronological order can suit different rhetorical modes or patterns of expositionRead MorePrimary Project Management Organizational Structures1604 Words   |  7 Pagesthe mitzvah of sparse resources, efficiency further quality ropes the advent a persist in is through besides how goals again objectives are achieved. I will discuss following three organizational project structures †¢ Functional organization †¢ Pure Project organization †¢ Matrix Organization Project Considerations We can shoes project management structures on the basis of following project considerations. How important is the project to the firm’s success? What percentage of core work involvesRead MoreFunctional And Product Matrix Structure1570 Words   |  7 Pages If I were on the Dynacorp task force I would suggest that it have a functional/product matrix structure. I also suggest that it rely on Benchmarking, Change Management, Balanced Scorecards and efficient CRM as its alignment mechanisms. Dynacorp has a strong technical focus, targeting a very specific user base. It hit the market when the consumers were anxious for products with high end technological capabilities and innovative product engineering. This proved to be pivotal and a keyRead MoreEssay on Project Management1166 Words   |  5 PagesFunctional, Matrix, and Dedicated Team Approaches to Managing Projects These team approaches have all different set of advantages and disadvantages to them. The major difference between the three is that functional team approach is â€Å"employed† totally from within the parent organization. Functional approaches have absolutely no cost to them and provide more than adequate flexibility in the use of staff. However, its disadvantages include poor integration and a distinct lack of ownership that doesRead MoreWeek 5 Assignment Essay1131 Words   |  5 Pagesstructure options: functional, divisional or matrix. Essentially, the organizational structure creates a business hierarchy to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the business operations. Different small businesses operate in different ways, so there is no one-size-fits-all solution every small business should choose for an organizational structure. You can, however, determine which of the most common structures works for your business. Functional When you establish a functional organizationalRead MoreMoss and Mcadams Accounting Firm1648 Words   |  7 Pagescredentials it was evident that his skills were definitely in demand for those particular projects. In fact, it was obvious that his talent was quite possibly the best that the Moss and McAdams Accounting Firm had. In this case Ruby Sands had the role of functional manager and therefore ultimately made a decision that affected Palmer’s account. Initially her job encompassed the responsibility of the project manager which is to balance the project type, risk and resource demand, if expertise individuals wereRead MorePG Organization Structure Essay examples824 Words   |  4 Pagescorrespondingly in its life cycle. As it becomes a globalized company, it is weighed down by the bureaucracy and hierarchy. Finding a fit organization structure and executing the transition smoothly becomes critical to its future growth. Domestic - Entrepreneurial Stage: at its inception, Pamp;G established centralized functional structure and focused on product innovation. The centralized Ramp;D structure enabled in-depth knowledge and skill development and increased the efficiency of innovation. TheRead MoreProcter Gambler: Organisation1063 Words   |  5 Pages      Case: Procter Gamble: Organization 2005       1.Why did the US organizational structure shift from product grouping in the 1950s to a matrix in the 1980s? Why did the European organizational structure shift from geographic grouping in the 1950s to category management in the 1980s? Why were the two structures integrated into a global cube in the 1990s?       As mentioned in the article, the US market is a large homogenous one, which is characterized by buyers with similar needsRead MoreCase Study Orion Systems (a)1455 Words   |  6 Pagesfollows: * The project should be implemented with a strong matrix structure. This will make the project manager higher control and functional department managers will work like subcontractors. The project is a large, strategically important project in which innovation and coordination is very important due to the time and cost constraints. For these kinds of projects, there needs to be a higher control and authority. Moreover, with a strong matrix structure, the efficiency of the project will increaseRead MoreAnalyzing Managerial Decisions: Bagby Copy Company1065 Words   |  5 PagesDecisions: Bagby Copy Company 1. The subject, Bagby Company, has a dilemma between a specialized task assignment or broad task assignment. A specialized task entails designating an employee to a specific group of tasks that has a concentration in one functional capacity. In regards to broad task assignment, the worker is given a broader set of task that has variety. Depending upon which set of tasks is chosen, Bagby would have to understand what the tradeoffs are in making a decision. The benefits of specialized