Overview of Classic and Matrix Structures

Chapter 1: Organizational Structure 🏢

Definition 📝

  • The way a company is arranged.

Purpose 🎯

  • It helps us to determine how tasks should be split and provided, who communicates with whom, and how frequently should we communicate.

  • It gives us a sense of hierarchy and reporting relationships.

Applicability 🧩

  • A very good representation of this is the Report Chart or Org Chart (as an abbreviation of Organizational Chart). This is a visual aid so we can comprehend the main roles and communication links to each member.

Chapter 2: Type Of Structure 🏢

Classic 📊

Definition 📝

  • Follows a top-down approach.

Examples 📌

  • Executives and CEOs are at the top, followed by directors or managers, and their direct reports.

  • In the military, where soldiers report to sergeants, who report to lieutenants, and so on.

How to manage this type of organization? 📃

What to do? 🤔

  1. Defining in advance what is expected

  2. Consult with functional managers to understand what resources you have and the capacity of each teammate.

  3. Familiarize with the internal processes.

Cons 👎🏽

  1. Authority may be somewhat limited due to competing priorities, approval chains, and other complexities, but

Matrix 🌐

Definition 📝

  • Matrix: where the PMs have people above them and also in adjacent departments who expect updates on work progress involving cross-functional collaboration and communication.

Examples 📌

  • Google, where primary functions have their reporting chains, but project teams consist of members from different departments.

Pro-Tip 😎

One can ask about a company's organizational structure to understand their role and communication expectations.

Project Management Office (PMO) 📊

Definition 📚

  • The PMO helps to coordinate everyone and every resource in the organization to work effectively.

  • Project Managers can work inside or outside the PMO.

Functions

  • 🎯 Strategic planning and direction

    By:

    • Deciding what projects are good and why 👍🏽

    • Addressing the bosses to tell which projects are a good choice and why it should receive support 🧑🏽‍💼

  • 💪🏽 Recommended practices: They indicate which are the best practices and processes for the organization

  • 🏢 Common culture of the project: By making sure that everyone follow the rules and method stipulated in the organization.

  • 🏭 Resource management: Teach the organization how to use the resources available effectively.

  • 📄 Documentation, files & project tools: Basically keeping track of the projects, learn from them and improving with the correct tools.