A social network analysis of internal communication in a matrix organisation - the context of project business

Empirical studies addressing the internal communication interface between the matrix organisation structures in the context of project business are scarce. In particular, there seem to be no studies on the early phases of project selling, even though those phases have a substantial impact on ultimate project success. This study addresses the gap by researching a well selected project selling case through social network analysis and content analysis of in-depth interview. The study offers an insight into the complexity of internal communication in a matrix organisation in the context of project business. The results indicate that internal communication is imbalanced in the matrix structures at the early phases of project selling. The study proposes that the matrix organisation is a rather inadequate agent for the improvement of internal communication flow in the early phases of project selling.

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