Which type of structure is characterized by employees having two bosses at the same time?
|
Suggest a new Definition Show
Proposed definitions will be considered for inclusion in the Economictimes.com Definition: A matrix organisation is a structure in which there is more than one line of reporting managers. Effectively, it means that the employees of the organisation have more than one boss! Description: The matrix organisation structure is complex but helps in achieving the ultimate goal i.e. reaching higher productivity. It has various benefits. This type of structure is used in organisations which have diverse product lines and services. It breaks the monotony and gives more flexibility to the organisation. Employees work with colleagues of different departments who have their expertise in different functions. When different people from diverse departments work together, it helps solve problems in a more efficient way. It does lead to overall development of employees as each one is exposed to different functions apart from their core job. Here employees are assigned a job or a project outside their own department for a relatively temporary period. These teams are made up of people with diverse expertise who have come together and formed a team to attain a specific goal. However, there are some challenges as well. In matrix organisation structure, ambiguity could come in, if you (employees) are not sure which manager to report to. This also means that employees might be confused about their role and responsibility. Apart from that, in the matrix organizational structure it becomes relatively difficult for the organisation to gauge the employee’s performance on a particular project. The matrix structure turns out to be a bit more expensive to the organisation than the traditional one, because it employs more managers.
In one of our previous articles, we discussed organizational chart best practices. Now let’s take a look at types of organizational chart structures which can be used in different scenarios. And you don’t have to worry about creating them too. Our organizational chart software supports all the types mentioned below. Organizational Structure Types1) Hierarchical StructureThe hierarchical model is the most popular organizational chart type. There are a few models that are derived from this model. In a hierarchical organization structure, employees are grouped with every employee having one clear supervisor. The grouping is done based on a few factors, hence many models are derived from this. Below are a few of those factors
These are some of the most common factors, but there are many more factors. You can find org chart examples for most of these types in our diagramming community. This is the dominant mode of organization among large organizations. For example Corporations, Governments, and organized religions are hierarchical organizations with different levels of management, power or authority. 2) Matrix StructureIn a Matrix organizational structure, the reporting relationships are set up as a grid, or matrix, rather than in the traditional hierarchy. It is a type of organizational management in which people with similar skills are pooled for work assignments, resulting in more than one manager to report to (sometimes referred to as solid line and dotted line reports, in reference to traditional business organization charts). For example, all engineers may be in one engineering department and report to an engineering manager. But these same engineers may be assigned to different projects and might be reporting to those project managers as well. Therefore some engineers might have to work with multiple managers in their job roles. 3) Horizontal/Flat StructureThis is an organizational chart type mostly adopted by small companies and start-ups in their early stage. It’s almost impossible to use this model for larger companies with many projects and employees. The most important thing about this structure is that many levels of middle management are eliminated. This enables employees to make decisions quickly and independently. Thus a well-trained workforce can be more productive by directly getting involved in the decision-making process. This works well for small companies because work and effort in a small company are relatively transparent. This does not mean that employees don’t have superiors and people to report to. Just that decision-making power is shared and employees are held accountable for their decisions. So in summary, when deciding on a suitable organizational chart, it is important to have an understanding of the current organizational structure of your company. 4) Network StructureNetwork organizational structure helps visualize both internal and external relationships between managers and top-level management. They are not only less hierarchical but are also more decentralized and more flexible than other structures. The idea behind the network structure is based on social networks. Its structure relies on open communication and reliable partners; both internal and external. The network structure is viewed as agiler than other structures because it has few tires, more control, and a bottom flow of decision making. Using a Network organizational structure is sometimes a disadvantage because of its complexity. The below example of a network org chart shows the rapid communication between entities. 5) Divisional StructureDivisional types of organizational charts have their own division which corresponds to either products or geographies. Each division contains the necessary resources and functions needed to support the product line and geography. Another form of divisional org chart structure is the multi-divisional structure. It’s also known as M-form. It’s a legit structure in which one parent company owns several subsidiary companies, each of which uses the parent company’s brand and name. The main advantage of the divisional structure is the independent operational flow, that failure of one company does not threaten the existence of the others. It’s not perfect either. There can be operational inefficiencies from separating specialized functions. An increase in accounting taxes can be seen as another disadvantage.  Creating org chart with pictures using Creately 6) Line Organizational StructureLine organizational structure is one of the simplest types of organizational structures. Its authority flows from top to bottom. Unlike other structures, specialized and supportive services do not take place in these organizations. The chain of command and each department head has control over their departments. The self-contained department structure can be seen as its main characteristic. Independent decisions can be taken by line officers because of its unified structure. The main advantage of a line organizational structure can be identified as effective communication that brings stability to the organization. 7) Team-based Organizational StructureTeam-based organizational structures are made of teams working towards a common goal while working on their individual tasks. They are less hierarchical and they have flexible structures that reinforce problem-solving, decision-making, and teamwork. Team organization structures have changed the way many industries work. Globalization has allowed people in all industries around the world to produce goods and services cooperatively. Especially, manufacturing companies must work together with suppliers around the globe while keeping the cost to a minimum while producing high-quality products. Other Types of Organizational ChartsThe ones shown above are the most commonly used types of Organizational Charts or organogram structure types as some call them. But there are plenty more models which have various advantages and disadvantages based on the situation and organization. You can easily experiment with different models using our org chart software. Have questions? Feel free to ask them in the comments or you can reach to us via our social media channels. In which structure is an employee most likely to have two or more bosses?Matrix. A matrix structure is a hybrid of the functional and divisional structures. It may involve employees reporting to different bosses depending on their current assignment.
What type of organizational structure could give many employees two managers?Because these teams have two managers, a matrix structure promotes duality and the sharing of resources. Employees working for companies using the matrix structure have the potential to widen their skill set since they might be assigned to various projects requiring different levels of expertise or skills.
What are the 2 organizational structure?How many types of organizational structures are there? In your research, you may at first read that there are two types of organizational structures: centralized and decentralized. However, using just these two classifications for every possible team structure may paint with too broad a brush.
Which structure has employees directly reporting to two managers?A matrix structure combines the functional and divisional structures to create a dual-command situation. In a matrix structure, an employee reports to two managers who are jointly responsible for the employee's performance.
|
