A Socio-Biological Look at Matrix

Abstract

The article refers to Cro-Magnum Man, the origin of Generation I matrixing, and its Generation II evolution in complex organizations. Two aspects of the Generation I matrix, which originated during and after World War II, are project management and the concept of employees reporting to more than one superior. The Generation II approach focuses on supervisory autonomy for groups along a continuum of four “cells,” which are defined by task requirements and employee characteristics and take into consideration individual differences.