Don't you think it is time to get rid of the matrix at the Lab? My administrative matrix organization provides no value at all. We have no representation and I never see my matrix supervisor. For that matter I never see my Division leader either. As far as I am concerned I am better appreciated by my program than my home organization. My value never gets communicated or is even valued by my matrix organization. Anybody out there have the same experience? Oh, by the way, I am in Computation.
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What the administrative organization does do is cost money in terms of higher overhead costs. In my 20+ years at the Laboratory, I've paid over one million dollars in overhead for the "privilege" of being in my administrative organization. And that is just me - one person. I certainly haven't received one million dollars of benefits. I've probably received less than $50K of benefit (e.g., hiring process when I was a new employee, a few training classes).
They do nothing but cost money and create unfunded work.
In the past if a matrix employee was bounced back managers would help place them. These days they merely become EBA and a burden on the Matrix until re-assigned to a Program where the money is. If EBA status too long, employee becomes Employee to Be on layoff A-list instead of Employee Between Assignments.
Matrix isn't a vibrant self-refreshing talent pool. New skills have to be matched to new Program requirements. It's too hard a sell when no one is buying. Big gap in re-tooled and trained. No money for that pesky detail.
Getting ranked in the Matrix is not great either. It's a campaign for the employee to have Program bosses communicate to the Matrix bosses the value the employee deliver. Too much middle-man inefficiency of he said she said, etc.
Few years back, NIF bounced back large numbers of Engineering employees. It looked and felt like an immigrant migration.
Our hierarchical organizations should be flattened out. Too many middle men and women outside of core missions contributing to excessive overhead costs.
Unfortunately, many lack luster employees are toured around the lab for placement because they can't keep stable work.
Which one are you?
Because some "brokers" that use to have secure careers in the matrix, then become the "lack luster" or non-utility employees in the core mission driven value system.
Funny how that works.
Otherwise known as fat in the system. Brokers beware. The game is exposed. Brush up your core mission applicable resumes or consider your other career options.