Disadvantages of a Matrix:
• A lack of clear responsibility;
• Clashes of priority between product and function;
• Functions lose control of the psychological contract;
• Career development can often be stymied;
• Difficult for one specialist to appraise performance of another discipline in multi-skilled
teams;
• Project managers are reluctant to impose authority as they may be subordinates in a later
project;
• Employees may be confused by reporting to two bosses;
• Managers will need to be able to resolve interpersonal frictions and may need training in
human relations skills;
• Managers spend a great deal of time in meetings to prioritise tasks.
• The complexity of the matrix structure makes it difficult to implement successfully.
Indeed some commentators are very critical of this form of organisation, and question whether it should
be adopted at all.