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Towards a guide to successful matrix management in organisations : with specific reference to project management

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Organisations are struggling to cope with the pace of change and the pressure is on for them
either to adapt or die. Consequently, project management has become the sought after
management process to deal with this unprecedented rate of change and for survival. Why is
project management so attractive recently? Is it because of its emphasis on teamwork and
multidisciplinary approach? Of course yes. Its holistic approach makes it very useful in
unfamiliar and risky projects in which information is either scanty or overwhelming. As the
business environment continues to become more chaotic, project management will continue to be
the management tool of the 21st Century.
The use of matrix organisation has been spreading in the last ten years in response to a number of
new needs. It has usually been a compromise between contradictory requirements and
particularly between pressures for a responsive and self-contained project or product organisation
and the greater efficiency, expertise and the economies of scale of a functional or departmental
structure. It has been seen as a way of dealing with greater environmental complexity and as a
more democratic alternative to traditional hierarchical structures.
This study project focuses on matrix management as a structuring tool for organisations in this
century. The literature study is conducted within the field of project management although
matrix management can fall in other fields of organisational development or strategic
management.
A guide to successful matrix management in organisations with specific reference to project management is examined by addressing questions like, why matrix management is
important for project management? What are the obstacles in organisations to the application of
matrix management? What are the rules and guidelines to make matrix management successful
in organisations? These and other questions on this subject are answered. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Organisasies sukkel om tred te hou met die vinnige tempo van verandering. Daar is voortdurend
meer druk op organisasies om aan te pas ten einde te oorleef. Om hierdie ongekende druk op
verandering en oorlewing te verwerk, het projekbestuur 'n gesogte bestuursproses geword. Is dit
omdat projekbestuur klem lê op spanwerk en multi-dissiplinêre benadering? Die antwoord is
vanselfsprekend ja. Die holistiese benadering van projekbestuur maak dit toepaslik in ongewone
en riskante projekte waar informasie kan wissel tussen uiters skaars of oorweldigend baie. Soos
wat die sake-omgewing meer chaoties word, behoort projekbestuur sy status as die
bestuurstegniek van die 21 ste eeu voort te sit.
Die aanwending van die matriksorganisasie het in die laaste tien jaar, in antwoord of verskeie
nuwe behoeftes, uitgebrei. Die organisasie-tipe is normaalweg 'n kompromis tussen teenstrydige
vereistes, en in besonder tussen die druk vir 'n lewenskragtige en selfonderhoudende projek- of
produkorganisasie, en die groter doeltreffendheid, kundigheid, en ekonomieë van skaal van 'n
funksionele of departementele struktuur. Die word gesien as 'n manier om met meer komplekse
omgewings oor die weg te kom, en ook as 'n meer demokratiese alternatief tot die klassieke
hierargiese struktuur.
Hierdie studie-projek fokus op matrikbestuur as 'n tegniek van die organisasie-ontwerp vir
hierdie nuwe eeu. Die literatuurstudie word beperk tot die veld van projekbestuur, alhoewel daar
ook in ander studievelde van organisasie-ontwikkeling of strategiese bestuur aandag aan
matrikbestuur gegee word. 'n Riglyn vir suksesvolle matriksbestuur in organisasies, met spesifieke verwysing na
projekbestuur, word ondersoek deur seker pertinente vrae te vra. Waarom is matriksbestuur
belangrik vir projekbestuur? Watter struikelblokke is daar in organisasies met betrekking tot die
toepassing van matriksbestuur? Wat is die reëls en riglyne vir die suksessvolle aanwending van
matriksbestuur in organisasies? Antwoorde op hierdie, en ander soortgelyke vrae rondom die
onderwerp, word met hierdie studie verskaf.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/50200
Date12 1900
CreatorsSpofana, M. L. (Merriman Lungile)
ContributorsBrown, C., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic & Management Sciences. Graduate School of Business.
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
Format51 p.
RightsStellenbosch University

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