Matrix mindsets: how authority, responsibility and information flows
We’re all familiar with org charts which show how authority flows through an organisation, and it’s tempting to assume that responsibility and information flow in the same top-down way.
But for matrix teams, it’s important to recognise that these three things work in different ways and require different mindsets.
Hierarchies for authority
Authority flows best through top-down, well-defined structures. Organisations needs authority. It isn’t a bad thing, but it does adhere to a certain structure to work effectively.
Unions for responsibility
In matrix teams, individuals shouldn’t have sole responsibility for anything. Where there are boundaries of one person responsible for one thing and another person responsible for another thing, there will always be gaps, and things will fall into the gaps where no one is responsible.
But with a responsibility union mindset, matrix teams can know that it’s the team that has the responsibility and spreads it across the members of the team, meaning they are encouraged to work together and there are no gaps for things to fall through.
Networks for information
Information flows best through networks, for matrix teams and any other kind of team. Information is more tangible than either authority or responsibility, it’s easier to pass to lots of others, and it’s easier for someone to know if they have it or not.