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ACCA Applied Knowledge · Business and Technology · Business organisational structure

Priya works in a matrix organisation. She reports to the head of her functional department and also to the manager of a product project she is assigned to. Which problem is most directly associated with this arrangement?

The main problem is conflicting instructions from two managers. In a matrix, staff report to both a functional head and a project manager, so priorities and authority can clash and unity of command is lost, while specialist expertise and project teamwork are actually strengths.

  1. AConflicting instructions from two managersCorrect
  2. BLack of any specialist expertise
  3. CExcessively long single chain of command
  4. DInability to form project teams

Explanation

A matrix gives employees two bosses, which can produce conflicting priorities and confusion over authority, a breach of unity of command. Matrix structures actually support specialist expertise and project teams. They do not create a long single chain of command.

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