What are the benefits and limitations of a Matrix Structure in businesses?

Benefits

+ Efficient information exchange: departments work closely together and communicate with each other to solve issues = enhances productivity and allows quick decision making

+ Flexibility: specialized information is changed quickly to respond to needs of customers and the organization

+ Increases motivation: the ability to contribute information before decisions are made = empowerment; feeling of being valuable = motivation

Limitation 

- Internal complexity: confusion of who is ones direct supervisor, one may receive different directions about the same thing. Causes division between employees and manager; miscommunication; dissatisfaction of employees

- Internal conflicts: sharing of employees may cause rivalry between managers. Causes hostility in workforce; decrease in productivity

- Expenses: expensive to maintain due to double management