but is not closely involved in the day to day running of the branch. (Figure 3) While the branch manager does have scope to make decisions this is limited as compared to a completely separate business. Figure 33:7The Matrix StructureSometimes an organisation needs to run according to what projects they have to do. In these situations people usually work together in a team to achieve their projects goals. A person working on a project would have two bosses, the boss of the department that they work in and the leader or manager of the particular project that they are working on at the moment. A project may cover some or all of the organisations departmental areas. (Figure 4) For example in the aerospace industry (manufacture and development of aeroplanes and spacecraft) the government might ask for a space shuttle type aircraft to be developed and manufactured. Another government department might ask for a spacecraft to go to Mars. Obviously these craft would be very different. How could an organisation set itself up to complete both projects? Well it might set up two project groups. The Mars group and the shuttle group, both of which would utilise resources, staff etc from all of the different departments in the organisation. When the projects are completed, these project groups would be disbanded. Figure 4 4:0Continual Professional DevelopmentContinuing professional development is an essential element in any over-all strategy for lifelong learning. However, there are currently a number of political and economic pressures, which result in such development being seen increasingly in terms of discrete, usually accredited courses rather than as something embedded in on-going professional life. These pressures have certainly impacted upon the automotive sector and engineering disciplines where the author has allegiance.CPD means the whole range of activities, formal and informal, which professionals undertake to ...
