Matrix vs. Project oriented organizations

Hi everybody,

Just wanted to hear your opinions on the subject. I'm
currently working in a matrix oriented organization and
it seems to suffer from the following illnesses:

1. There is a constant conflict of interests between
    project management and the software group. To me
    it seems that the software guys sometimes refuse to
    do the right thing for the project because of pressures
    arriving from their direct manager (which is not the
    project manager).

2. Lack of commitment to the project (again - from the
    software group).

In my experience - developing software in project
oriented organizations proved to be much simpler. Not
because it was technically easier (I suspect that this
is the main argument of matrix supporters), but because
of the negative psychological effects caused by the
matrix method (lack of commitment, conflicts of interests
etc).

Do you have a different experience in the subject ? If so -
how did you manage to avoid the pitfalls of the matrix ?

I Hate The Matrix !
Saturday, November 8, 2003

In The Matrix, I am "The One"

Neo
Saturday, November 8, 2003

Mr. Anderson, welcome back. We...missed you.

Agent Smith
Saturday, November 8, 2003

We have a matrix setup where I work, and I think it works out better.  you're always going to have conflicts of interests and guys that don't want to do stuff.  But where the matrix setup comes in handy is in how each department doesn't need its own technical staff, you have one big department with that staff, and they go out and do work for every other department as needed, charging them by the hour.  Saves money, I would think.

Also, if the boss of someone who is matrixed is still telling them what to do on projects, then that boss is in the wrong.  As we run it when you're matrixed the people you work for tell you everything what to do, and the only thing your "real" boss does is make sure you're on the right career development path.

Andrew Hurst
Saturday, November 8, 2003

I work in a matrix organization. My project supervisor sets priorities and technical guidance for the project tasks. My manager sets work priorities (which project do I work on, determining priority when two different projects contend for the same resources). It seems to work pretty well.

David Fischer
Saturday, November 8, 2003

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