Martin Training Associates

The Matrix Management Institute™

Improving Strategy Execution in Matrix Organizations

Welcome to the leading organization for supporting your Matrix Organizations.
The Matrix Management Institute is the resource to go when you need to develop knowledge and ability to lead and work without authority across functions or need a partner in implementing Matrix Management across the organization.

Our Approach

After years of development and experience implementing Matrix Management 2.0™ we know that the standard “train” employee format doesn’t work. In order to be successful at implementing matrix across the organization, changes need to occur at every level (organizational, leader and team member).  We have seen too many organizations spend money on training without first dealing with the old paradigms in play. This results in wasted time and money at so many levels. It just doesn’t work.

Our approach is driven by the commitment to not waste your time or money implementing or developing skills that can’t be applied due to old paradigms. To achieve this we recommend starting with the Matrix Readiness Assessment and then structure an implementation process based on the results.

"Through the Matrix Management Institute we offer organizational leaders a partnership to develop the in-house capability to create alignment and focus and help everyone make required shifts necessary to be successful in a matrix organization."   Cathy Cassidy - CEO


Our History

The Matrix Management Institute is founded on the principles of leading and working without authority.  In the 1980’s, Paula Martin worked with George Kenning to develop the Kenning Principles. This resulted in the creation of The Buck Stops Here, a popular title that still resonates with leaders today.  These principles brought organizations specific rules and ideas about accountability and management to help them lead in an environment that had a paradigm of silos and authority.  Over the next decade, through our work helping organizations implement these principles and own experiences working in complex matrix organizations, we recognized leaders and team members were faced with challenges while implementing these principles because other systems in the organization had not changed. Out of these lessons learned and experiences, came New Matrix Management. A management system that is based on the theory that every organization is a system and to operate as effectively and efficiently as possible, this system must operate towards optimization of its most important part.

In 2003, we formed the Matrix Management Institute™ with a small group of experts from Martin Training Associates to continue our development of New Matrix Management and create Matrix OMS™ - a streamlined management system that brings you structure and process for implementation in a customizable format to fit any type of matrix organization.

Our Clients

Martin Training has a diversified client list that includes organizations ranging in size from small regional organizations to large, international corporations. The Matrix Management Institute serves any client interested in learning how to implement Matrix Management with a structured approach. Organizational Leaders can utilize our assessment and consulting services when they are ready or recently have re-organized the vertical dimension of the organization to improve work execution across the organization. Organizational Development Professionals can utilize our assessment and consulting services to meet their internal client needs or attend our Certified Matrix Management Professional™  program to learn how to lead the implementation of Matrix Management as an internal consultant. Learning and Development professionals can utilize our train-the-trainer programs or training-in-a-box products, offered through Martin Training Associates, to acquire valuable programs to help develop the knowledge and skills to lead and work in a matrix environment.

Our Team

Our team of consultants are experts in their fields and together have decades of experience working and implementing the principles of Matrix Management 2.0™.  Not only are they expert facilitators that can work with groups from team member to C-level, but they have real-life experience working in complex organizations like yours.

A Multi-Dimensional Implementation Approach

The Matrix Management Institute brings organizations Matrix Management 2.0™ - the organizational development system for cross-functional matrix organizations. Guided by the 5x5 matrix framework (see graphic below) and the MM2.0 Roadmap™.

 

 

This 5x5 framework has two dimensions: S.P.A.R.C.™ (the five keys of Matrix Management 2.0™) and the Levels of Organizational Matrix Development. These dimensions come together to ensure an organization is addressing the root causes of the challenges they have related to being at a specific level of matrix organizational development by implementing the right S.P.A.R.C.™ keys that will improve work execution across functions to achieve strategy.

Five Keys of Matrix Management 2.0™

The five keys of Matrix Management 2.0 are: Structure, Prioritization, Accountability, Relationship Management and Collaborative Leadership and they are needed to optimize the whole organization.

The Structure key focuses on organizational structure.  The goal is to identify the dimensions of an organization and create the right mix of horizontal structures needed to operate in an optimized way.

The Prioritization key focuses on prioritizing within and across the organization so everyone, at every level is clear and aligned to organizational priorities.  

The Accountability key focuses on the accountability system across the organization. The goal is to have a system that not only clarifies who is accountable for what, but positions everyone at every level to operate from a proactive mode of operation.

The Relationship Management key focuses on how relationships are managed to ensure everyone is operating from a win/win position.

The Collaborative Leadership key focuses on the skills needed in a matrix to be able to lead without authority.

Organizational Levels of Matrix Development

Not only is every matrix organization different, but at a different level of maturity to operate successfully.  From foundational readiness to leader and individual readiness our goal is to move every organization from the point they are to the end point of matrix success.


Through the five levels of matrix organizational development we achieve the goal of:

  • Implemented organizational systems and structures that position everyone at every level to be accountable for executing the strategic plan.
  • People who are committed and working proactively from an empowered adult state.
  • An enterprise-wide innovation culture.

The five levels of Matrix Development are:

Level 1 – Foundation: The organization has a horizontally focused foundation that is optimizing the most important vector of the organization.

Level 2 – Leading without Authority: Leaders of the organization are accepting accountability and working across horizontal structures and functions to deliver results unconditionally.

Level 3 – Working in a Matrix – Team members are able to negotiate and accept accountability and then deliver project and process results as empowered adults.

Level 4 – Executing Strategy – The organization is successfully executing projects and processes that deliver the strategic plan across all functions.

Level 5 – Enterprise-wide Innovation – The organization is creating and managing a portfolio of work that is innovative and everyone is focused on identifying and implementing solutions that go beyond problem solving.