[Superman]

I work at a state agency. Technically, a "department." The department divides itself into "divisions." In a traditional structure, everyone involved in a "program" would be in one division. For example, my program has both administrative and an enforcement functions. My staff, at headquarters, processes documents, does studies, administers trainings, manages the computer system, sets budgets, etc. Other people, located throughout the state, receive and investigate complaints which are usually resolved informally but sometimes result in litigation. In litigation, the file comes to headquarters and I manage them with legal counsel.

In a traditional structure, all these people would be in the same division. Investigators would report to supervisors who would report to someone on my staff. I would be in control of investigations. In a matrix structure, such as what we have had for 25 years, the investigators and their supervisors are in a different division than my staff and myself. I do not have authority over them and neither does my boss. I can ask them to follow my policy and procedure direction, but it is up to them to follow it. Or not.

And so...traditional structure is a bunch of solid, vertical lines of supervision. With a matrix structure there are also vertical lines, but also horizontal lines which are informal. Dotted lines, so to speak. And the dotted lines are the ones that need to be functional in order to achieve accuracy and quality and consistency. The dotted horizontal lines are the most critical, but they have no actual authority. Pretty frustrating. My entire agency/department would like to get rid of this matrix thing and restructure back to the traditional. My victory will likely reverberate across the entire agency.