Matrix Management case studies

Clients of our training and consulting services often ask us for case studies and company examples of matrix management or the implementation of matrix organization structures.

Much of our work with clients is confidential and covered by non-disclosure agreements so we can’t offer them as case studies, and I dislike the “case study methodology” as I think it spends to much time analysing what someone else did. Every organization has its own culture, history and special situations that make transferring learning directly from one to another a challenge.

We prefer to create common scenarios and tools that clients can use to find the right solution for their own organization. These tools embed the relevant learning from a wide range of organizations.

Having said this, we try to be helpful and it can be interesting to read case studies on what other organizations have learnt. If you are planning an implementation, or want to improve your matrix management, it can’t hurt to read these case studies: Harvard has a number of summaries of case studies, (which you now have to pay for) including:

• ABB
• Acer America
• Becton Dickinson
• Corning Glass
• Eli Lilly
• General Motors
• Novartis Pharma
• Pinnacle Mutual Life Insurance Co.
• Procter & Gamble
• Philips

… as well as a couple of classic articles on matrix management and matrix organizations:

• Matrix Management: Not a Structure, a Frame of Mind
• Problems of Matrix Organizations

And, of course don’t forget to check out our other matrix management insights and matrix management training.

Hope you find these useful. Let me know if you find any other good case studies, articles or other matrix organization resources.