Managing the Matrix: The Secret to Surviving and Thriving in Your Organization - Hardcover

Metcalfe, Dawn

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1118765370 ISBN 13: 9781118765371

Publisher: Wiley, 2014

Synopsis

This is a comprehensive guide to excelling in a complex matrix organization. Despite a growing frustration with its structure and the challenges it presents to managers, the matrix organisational structure remains widely used. Addressing increasingly important skills in our unstable global economy, How to Survive and Thrive in a Matrix Organization shares the knowledge, talents, and attitudes essential to succeeding in a matrix organisation. This book uniquely concentrates on surviving within a matrix organisation instead of addressing the design and management of one. With an emphasis on mending common developmental shortfalls, the book focuses on communication, influencing, coaching, negotiation, and conflict management.

Using this handbook as a reference, you can learn the benefits and primary challenges of matrix structures and which tools, techniques, and tips can enhance your operation within a matrix structure in the increasingly challenging and complex global environment. It addresses universal modern work problems, such as multiple reporting lines, lack of role clarity, confusion over accountability, constant restructuring, and circuitous decision making, that detract from job performance and diminish job satisfaction.

Author Dawn Metcalfe shares her real–life experiences as a successful performance consultant based in Dubai. This guide incorporates practical case studies from major international organisations, such as Acer, General Motors, Nokia, Proctor & Gamble, and Phillips. Ideal for leaders and managers working within a matrix organisation, How to Survive and Thrive in a Matrix Organization provides practical solutions to the complex problems that arise daily in these systems.

About this title

About the Author

Dawn Metcalfe is the Managing Director of Performance Development Services (PDS) and an experienced trainer, facilitator and coach who works across a wide range of industries.

Her clients are usually already highly effective and skilled people who wish to consider new tools that might help them as they face their next challenge.

Dawn has extensive experience of working with different cultures having lived and worked in the UK, France, Spain, Japan, China and now Dubai where she is based.

Dawn works regularly with board directors, senior managers and top management teams across the region to improve performance by changing the way individuals and groups see the world and the impact they have on it and others.

Performance Development Services (PDS) helps individuals, teams and organizations change behaviour and improve performance through 1:1 Executive Coaching, mentoring or delivering Leadership and Management Development Programmes.

From the Back Cover

Debra was not in a good mood as she entered Johann’s office for their third meeting. One of her colleagues had just been promoted and, although the guy who got it was good, she didn’t think he was any better than her. Well, except at one thing, he was always playing politics – sucking up to the more senior guys and volunteering to be on any committee going.

Debra knew the type – went to the same school, belonged to the same club – she didn’t have a hope against the kind of connections he had so she might as well give up. It seemed doing a good job just wasn’t enough around here.

Debra and Johann work in an environment with multiple and complex reporting lines – in other words, a matrix organization. There’s room to “slip between the cracks” – if a person wants to take advantage of confusion over who is managing performance; or if they can’t make the necessary transition to self-management. Communication can be difficult even when there is an apparently shared language.

Read how Debra and Johann work together to identify the skills needed to succeed in a matrix.

LEARN HOW TO

• Use Emotional Intelligence (EI) to develop the specific skills necessary to thrive in a complex matrix organization
• Navigate the inevitable politics rife in so many large scale companies
• Develop the key skills required to get ahead and build an effective team - communication, influencing, coaching, negotiation, conflict management
• Reduce stress and increase your chances of success

From the Inside Flap

Debra was not in a good mood as she entered Johann's office for their third meeting. One of her colleagues had just been promoted and, although the guy who got it was good, she didn't think he was any better than her. Well, except at one thing, he was always playing politics – sucking up to the more senior guys and volunteering to be on any committee going.

Debra knew the type – went to the same school, belonged to the same club – she didn't have a hope against the kind of connections he had so she might as well give up. It seemed doing a good job just wasn't enough around here.

Debra and Johann work in an environment with multiple and complex reporting lines – in other words, a matrix organization. There's room to "slip between the cracks" – if a person wants to take advantage of confusion over who is managing performance; or if they can't make the necessary transition to self-management. Communication can be difficult even when there is an apparently shared language.

Read how Debra and Johann work together to identify the skills needed to succeed in a matrix.

LEARN HOW TO

• Use Emotional Intelligence (EI) to develop the specific skills necessary to thrive in a complex matrix organization
• Navigate the inevitable politics rife in so many large scale companies
• Develop the key skills required to get ahead and build an effective team - communication, influencing, coaching, negotiation, conflict management
• Reduce stress and increase your chances of success

Edition details

• Publisher: Wiley
• Publication date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1118765370
• ISBN 13: 9781118765371
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 224