In a short essay, describe the matrix structure. What are its advantages and disadvantages?

What will be an ideal response?

Answer: The matrix structure is an organizational structure that assigns specialists from different functional departments to work on one or more projects being led by project managers. Each product is managed by an individual who staffs his or her product team with people from each of the functional departments. The addition of this vertical dimension to the traditional horizontal functional departments, in effect, "weaves together" elements of functional and product departmentalization, creating a matrix arrangement. One unique aspect of this design is that it creates a dual chain of command, which violates the classical organizing principle of unity of command. Employees in a matrix organization have two managers who share authority: their functional area manager and their product or project manager. The project managers have authority over the functional members who are part of their project team in areas related to the project's goals. However, decisions such as promotions, salary recommendations, and annual reviews typically remain the functional manager's responsibility. To work effectively, project and functional managers have to communicate regularly, coordinate work demands on employees, and resolve conflicts together.