STRATEGIC DECISION-PROCESSES IN MATRIX ORGANIZATIONS

The matrix structure was developed to facilitate adaptiveness for orga nizations operation in uncertain environments. In the management liter ature one area of controversy is the appropriate approach to strategic decision-making for organizations operating in this type of environme nt. This paper reports the results of a study examining the relative e ffectiveness of the rational-analytic and incremental approaches to st rategic decision-making. Analyses of data from a sample of 27 matrix o rganizations indicate that strategic decision processes which are high in comprehensiveness (rational-analytic) produce more favorable strat egic results than processes which are more incremental in nature. Impl ication of these findings to theory development and management are dis cussed.