Healthy Tension

I have never liked Matrixed organization. I believe in simplicity and try my very best to keep things simple, I believe a Matrix organization is the anti thesis of simplicity. Alls not lost on the complexity of the matrix though… There are clear advantages, but of course there must be a reason for a significant number of fortune 100 companies to embrace the concept.

Think of an organization where the General Manager is responsible for everything from Marketing, Finance, Supply chain, Research, Product management, IT; the GM can not be expected to be an expert in all the Functional area. Yet she/he holds the reigns, sets the tone and direction. It would be pretty very difficult for the multifunctionals to feel connected and valued when the GM knows little about their craft?

A tight rope to walk, do the multifunctional align with the business or maintain a functional alignment. What more relevant a sense of business ownership or craftsmanship, they are both just as important! I sometimes feel like the Matrix generates that healthy tension?