Marian Moriarty and Joe Jockel discovered Master the Matrix: 7 Essentials for Getting Things Done in a Complex Organization when their U.S. Census Bureau sponsors were struggling with the agency’s change to a matrix organization. This book’s guidance about the need to adopt unique behaviors to succeed in a matrix environment immediately captured the clients’ attention. They engaged the book’s author (Susan Finerty) to train the executives of the Bureau’s Economic Program’s Directorate (ECON) on these behaviors and to prepare 24 federal employees to conduct similar training for over 1100 of their peers. ECON conducted 22 full-day classes for managers and 44 half-day classes for professional staff and now delivers the training every six months to new managers and staff. As ECON steadily embeds these behaviors into its culture, it moves closer every day to unlocking the full potential of its matrix design. As individuals move to other positions within the Bureau, they carry the lessons with them and expand the application throughout the agency.

Matrix roles are everywhere. You may already be in a matrix, whether you realize it or not. If you have multiple bosses (i.e., “solid line” and “dotted line”) and/or depend on a variety of resources throughout the organization to perform your job, then you work in a matrix.

This book is based on the experience and ideas of over 100 matrix practitioners. The frameworks, ideas, and tips provided are shaped around a model and techniques that our team will explain. Primary topics include:

• Building partnerships
• Aligning goals
• Clarifying roles and responsibilities
• Making decisions
• Wielding influence

In addition, Joe and Marian will share how they applied this approach with their sponsors for your own use.

Joe Jockel has over 22 years of experience assisting organizations to align their people with changes to their strategy, processes, and technology. He provides consulting expertise in the areas of change management; organization assessment, design, and development; team building/effectiveness; training design, development, and delivery; stakeholder management, strategic planning, and performance measurement. Joe is currently a Principal in Organization Change Management at MITRE, and previously worked at IBM/PricewaterhouseCoopers and Jupiter Corporation (boutique consulting firm). His federal government clients include Census, VA, DoD, NASA, U.S. Mint, U.S. Forest Service, and Energy. Joe received his MA in International Affairs from The American University and his BS in Political Science from the U.S. Naval Academy.

Marian Moriarty has over 25 years of experience helping organizations and teams become more effective. She provides consulting expertise in the areas of change management; organization assessment, design, and development; team building/effectiveness; training design, development, and delivery; and communication plan development. Marian is currently a Principal and Group Leader at MITRE, and previously worked at Hay Group, Corning Clinical Laboratories (now Quest Diagnostics) and EDS. Her clients include Census, IRS, DoD, NASA, FDIC, BAE, MilkPEP (the “Got Milk” organization), IEEE Computer Society, and Southeastern Universities Research Association. Marian received her MBA in Organizational Behavior and Development from The George Washington University and her BS in Management Information Systems from Florida State University.

Jennifer Myers is passionate about helping the government solve their toughest workforce issues, and guides federal leaders to develop human performance strategies to support operational and organizational improvement. She has consulted on numerous federal government human capital and organizational change initiatives over the past 12 years, and holds two strategic HR certifications (SPHR, SHRM-SCP). Jennifer is currently a Principal in Organization Change Management and the Human Capital Strategy Capability Steward at MITRE, and previously worked at IBM Global Business Services and various publishing companies. Her federal government clients include Census, Congress, U.S. Mint, IRS, OPM, and NASA. Jennifer received an MBA from the University of Maryland (Smith School of Business) and a BS in Business from Miami University of Ohio.