Introduction to Matrix Management


Matrix management is an organisational approach where employees report to more than one manager, typically combining a functional leader with a project or product leader. Organisations use it to share skills across teams, respond faster to customers, and coordinate work across products, regions, or services.

Technique Overview

Introduction to Matrix Management

Introduction to Matrix Management Definition

Matrix management is an organisational structure where employees report to more than one manager - typically a functional leader and a project, product, or regional manager. It is designed to improve coordination, resource sharing, and responsiveness across complex operations. Success depends on clear roles, defined decision rights, and strong collaboration between managers to balance priorities and maintain accountability.

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Business Evidence

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Further Reading

Introduction to Matrix Management web and print resources *

Introduction to Matrix Management references (4 of up to 20) *

  • Bartlett, C.A. & Ghoshal, S. (1990) ‘Matrix Management: Not a Structure, a Frame of Mind’, Harvard Business Review, 68(4), pp. 138–145. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10106795/
  • Bhalla, V., Gandarilla, D. and Watkins, M. (2022) ‘How to Make Your Matrix Organization Really Work’, MIT Sloan Management Review, 64(2). Available at: https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/how-to-make-your-matrix-organization-really-work/
  • Hughes, J. and Hetrick, A. (2021) ‘Lost in the Matrix: How to Overcome the Daily Grind of Organizational Complexity’, California Management Review (Web). Available at: https://cmr.berkeley.edu/2021/12/lost-in-the-matrix-how-to-overcome-the-daily-grind-of-organizational-complexity/
  • Zani, C.M., Denicol, J. and Broyd, T. (2024) ‘Organisation design in megaprojects: A systematic literature review and research agenda’, International Journal of Project Management, 42(6), 102634. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2024.102634

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