The Challenge of Organization Design, Matrix in the Research Environment
MANNINEN, VIRPI (2008)
MANNINEN, VIRPI
2008
Hallintotiede - Administrative Science
Kauppa- ja hallintotieteiden tiedekunta - Faculty of Economics and Administration
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2008-03-20
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:uta-1-17813
https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:uta-1-17813
Tiivistelmä
This thesis is about the challenge of organization design in a research environment. The case study, conducted in a high technology company’s research organization, looks into the complex matrix organization from the program manager’s point of view. The purpose of this study is to describe and clarify the organizational setting in the case organization and to suggest some improvements and possible changes that would enhance the positive and diminish the negative issues in the organization. The main goal is to help the decision-makers to find ways to improve the organization further, so that the programs could deliver the best-of-class research results, despite the complexity of the organization and turbulence and continuous change in the environment, in which the people need to operate.
This case study follows action research strategy and the methods used in data collection are interview and qualitative survey. Content analysis is used for analyzing the data. Following the spirit of the action research strategy, the status analysis of the matrix and its functionality in the case organization are followed by further analysis with an approach where the collected data is used to analyze the degree to which organization supports the program management.
The study permits the conclusion that the matrix organization and its functionality in the case organization does not differ much from the similar kind of organizations studied before. The key findings can be stated as follows. No matter what the organization structure is, there is need for certain things to be in place in order to conquer the challenges: 1) clear roles and responsibilities 2) clear processes, 3) management tools that serve the needs of the users, 4) a person in senior management whose role is to make sure that the organization works as it should work, 5) training for the people to make sure that they have an understanding of the organization and how they are positioned there and how they are expected to work in the particular setting. In terms of taking advantage of the strengths in the research organization too, it needs to be understood that the people are the key to making things happen. Keeping the people motivated and performing well, requires ensuring a) that the individual competence needs are taken care of; b) that the freedom and flexibility in the working environment are ensured; c) that the co-operative culture is maintained by emphasizing the personal networks and encouraging people to interact across organizational boundaries; d) that the continuous renewal happens despite the organizational structure. It does indeed seem that it is always about the people, not only the structures or processes, in achieving success. In any effort at organization design and change this must be kept in mind if the success and high performance are pursued in the continuously changing circumstances.
Key words: Organization design, matrix organization, research environment, change management, program management
This case study follows action research strategy and the methods used in data collection are interview and qualitative survey. Content analysis is used for analyzing the data. Following the spirit of the action research strategy, the status analysis of the matrix and its functionality in the case organization are followed by further analysis with an approach where the collected data is used to analyze the degree to which organization supports the program management.
The study permits the conclusion that the matrix organization and its functionality in the case organization does not differ much from the similar kind of organizations studied before. The key findings can be stated as follows. No matter what the organization structure is, there is need for certain things to be in place in order to conquer the challenges: 1) clear roles and responsibilities 2) clear processes, 3) management tools that serve the needs of the users, 4) a person in senior management whose role is to make sure that the organization works as it should work, 5) training for the people to make sure that they have an understanding of the organization and how they are positioned there and how they are expected to work in the particular setting. In terms of taking advantage of the strengths in the research organization too, it needs to be understood that the people are the key to making things happen. Keeping the people motivated and performing well, requires ensuring a) that the individual competence needs are taken care of; b) that the freedom and flexibility in the working environment are ensured; c) that the co-operative culture is maintained by emphasizing the personal networks and encouraging people to interact across organizational boundaries; d) that the continuous renewal happens despite the organizational structure. It does indeed seem that it is always about the people, not only the structures or processes, in achieving success. In any effort at organization design and change this must be kept in mind if the success and high performance are pursued in the continuously changing circumstances.
Key words: Organization design, matrix organization, research environment, change management, program management