John Drone toils endlessly at Hurts Corporation on his routine assignment and also on a number of project teams. His annual evaluation features input from his line manager and each of the project managers, all of whom have equal say in how his 12-hour work day is partitioned. John Drone is employed by a: A Functional organization. B Matrix organization. C Project organization. D Cross-functional organization.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is B Matrix organization.
Explanation:
In a matrix organization, employees report to more than one manager, typically both a functional manager and one or more project managers. This structure allows employees to work on multiple projects while maintaining their regular duties within their functional departments. John Drone’s situation matches this description because he has a line manager responsible for his routine assignment and several project managers who each provide input on his work. All these managers have equal influence on how his time is allocated, which is characteristic of a matrix system.
In contrast, a Functional organization groups employees strictly by their specialized roles or departments such as marketing, finance, or engineering. Employees in such an organization report to a single functional manager. Their work is usually focused on specific tasks within their department rather than multiple projects. Since John Drone has input from multiple project managers besides his line manager, this does not fit the functional structure.
A Project organization focuses exclusively on projects, and employees typically report to project managers only. There is little to no functional hierarchy, and employees often move from one project to another without a permanent functional role. John Drone’s ongoing routine assignment with his line manager suggests this is not a pure project organization.
A Cross-functional organization involves teams made up of members from different departments working together on projects, but it does not necessarily describe the reporting relationships or managerial input on an employee’s work allocation. Cross-functional teams are often part of a matrix or project organization but do not define the overall structure by themselves.
Therefore, John Drone is employed in a matrix organization because he balances responsibilities between his line manager and multiple project managers who jointly influence how his working hours are divided. This dual-reporting and shared authority are defining features of the matrix organizational structure.