Essay - Social Psychology: Matrix Management Statement of the Problem Corporations are...

SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY: MATRIX MANAGEMENT

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Corporations are consistently seeking ways to improve their overall organizational performance and consumer's perceptions of their quality service ***** innovativeness. Over the last several years, the matrix structure of management, where an employee has a direct report manager but also is influenced and heavily *****ed (and sometimes funded) by ano*****r manager/organization has become a m*****jor ***** trend. Matrix management is rapidly becoming popularized and adopted by corporations seeking solutions ***** budgetary, manpower ***** productivity issues.

***** the individual a matrix management type of strategy presents the challenges of serving two masters. To managers, it presents challenges in directing the behavior ***** employee's that do not report directly to them and that they cannot directly reprimand or fire. For matrix teams, members also often struggle w*****h varying agendas and incentive plans, thus management is faced with a ch*****llenge when attempting to coalesce the team. Power struggles ***** employee conflicts have plagued many organizations that have sought out matrices and incorporated this system as an integral part of daily functioning.

Thus, the problem that managers are faced with is determining whether the faults of a matrix management style outweigh ***** benefits. The aim ***** ***** research study is to examine the nature of the ***** ***** of management ***** ***** problems inherent in it, in order to attempt to propose a better solution or organizational paradigm for management success.

***** preliminary ***** review suggests ***** ***** in any matrix management style ***** the potential for inter-group conflict; thus this paper will ***** seek to determine whether or not solutions ***** this negative aspect of matrix ***** can be determined.

***** REVIEW

***** management styles, much like other management programs including total qual*****y improvement (TQM) and customer relations management (CRM) is rapidly ***** an increasingly popular style ***** management. Its ***** for success and failure are explored in greater depth *****low.

Hayden, Kaya and Wood (2002) suggest a model similar to the matrix ***** of ***** that may actually prove beneficial ***** organizations. Called the 'power bloc' theory, Hayden, Kaya and Wood ***** that the boards or management ***** of two different corporations can effectively coordinate plans and decisions "by interlocking directors through toe boards of ***** o*****r *****." The idea is that by networking firms can build density and extend their influence and power.

Similarly, within ***** given organization, when used **********, more than one manager or director can oversee the operations of a single group of employees in order to f*****cilitate ***** ***** and influence. However, when dealing with employee behaviors and attitudes, having more ***** one manger to report ***** can also prove challenging and cumbersome, particularly ***** substantial thought is ***** put into the process of defining each manager's roles and functions.

Burns (1989) conducted a study of 315 hospitals utilizing matrix management programs several years ago. His ***** verifies ***** matrix ***** "involves several distinctive elements" that can be used to develop lateral coordinative devices ***** an organization. When first