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Research article
First published September 1998

Project Managers and Functional Managers: A Case Study of Job Satisfaction in a Matrix Organization

Susan G. Turner [email protected], Dawn R. Utley, Ph.D. [email protected], and Jerry D. Westbrook, Ph.D. [email protected]View all authors and affiliations
Volume 29, Issue 3
https://doi.org/10.1177/875697289802900304

Abstract

Information regarding job satisfaction within an organization using a matrix structure is limited. This paper provides empirical evidence regarding the difference in job satisfaction between project managers and functional managers in one matrix organization: a government research and development center. Key findings of this research include the identification of the factors that provide job satisfaction for both groups and the significant difference in job satisfaction between the groups. The perceived efficiencies provided by the matrix structure may be negated by the lack of job satisfaction experienced by the functional managers.

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References

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Published In

Volume 29, Issue 3
Pages: 11 - 19
Article first published: September 1998
Issue published: September 1998

Keywords

  1. cross-functional organization
  2. matrix organization
  3. job satisfaction
  4. project manager
  5. functional manager

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© 1998 Project Management Institute, Inc.
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Authors

Affiliations

Susan G. Turner
University of Alabama in Huntsville, Industrial and Systems Engineering and Engineering Management, Huntsville, Alabama 35899 USA
[email protected]
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Dawn R. Utley, Ph.D.
University of Alabama in Huntsville, Industrial and Systems Engineering and Engineering Management, Huntsville, Alabama 35899 USA
[email protected]
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Jerry D. Westbrook, Ph.D.
University of Alabama in Huntsville, Industrial and Systems Engineering and Engineering Management, Huntsville, Alabama 35899 USA
[email protected]
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Notes

Marshall Space Flight Center. She is completing a Ph.D. in industrial and systems engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Her areas of interest are engineering management, organization structure, and systems engineering. She received an M.S.E from the University of Alabama in Huntsville and a B. Ch.E. from Auburn University.
Industrial and Systems Engineering and Engineering Management Department of the University of Alabama in Huntsville, where she earned a Ph.D. She holds a B.S. in civil engineering from the Tennessee Technological University and an M.S. in industrial engineering from the University of Tennessee. Her area of interest is engineering management, in particular organization structure, teamwork, strategy, and motivation of the technical workforce.
Industrial and Systems Engineering and Engineering Management Department of the University of Alabama in Huntsville. His area of interest is engineering management with emphasis on quality, organization structure, and motivation. He received a Ph.D. from Virginia Polytechnic Institute, an M.S. from the University of Tennessee, and a B.E. from Vanderbilt University.

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