Changing conversations based on the Stacey matrix
This report is devised in the course 42433 Advanced Engineering Project, Program and Portfolio Management at the Technical University of Denmark in Autumn 2015.
The Stacey matrix model was proposed by Ralph Douglas Stacey. It gives the possibility to distinguish management decisions and deal with complexity and uncertainty in organization platform. The result is brought out by usage of the two dimension Stacey matrix. It allows to compare the level of agreement with the degree of certainty. The decision can fall into the following areas of the matrix for further analysis: Simple, Complicated, Political, Chaotic.
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The Big Idea: The strategic choice theory
Ralph Stacey defined management and organization dynamics in frame of the theory of strategic choice. In this view the organization changes over time in a direction chosen by the most powerful individual or small group of managers. The theory of strategic choice displays its theoretical origin in two main pillars; cybernetic system theory and cognitivist psychology. Cybernetic theory is highly focused on control and regulation of a system which helps to guide and return into the state of stabile equilibrium and reach the desired destination. The cognitivist psychology describes the nature of human behavior in this context.
In the aspect and understanding of strategic choice, an important parameter is to consider the cause and effect of uncertainty and conflict. These are the two main properties of decision making in the management of an organization including project, program and portfolio management.
The Stacey matrix model introduces the phenomenon of strategic choice in the organization management by taking uncertainty and management agreement into consideration.
Application of the Stacey matrix
Background
As antecedent representatives, Thompson and Tuden (1959) have already related to the effect of uncertainty on decision-making mode in a similar manner. They defined that uncertainty originate in the lack of clarity and the lack of agreement over objectives. Managers are mentioned as objectives. This alines with the theory of Ralph D. Stacey (2000). [1]
The Stacey matrix
If the causal connections are clear meaning a high or close certainty is faced beside having shared objectives in agreement, this provides the conditions for the managers for a simple decision-making case. In Figure 2, it is showed by the area called Simple. In this situation, the management take the decisions in a rational, logical way. When the aimed direction, destination and circumstances are clear at a company, this can be the case of certain decisions. The right answer exists and a simple fact-based, traditional management situation arises. Although, as they move away from this field, the application of rational logic will be impossible and they need to use different approaches.
When the causal connections are still clear, there is a high certainty but managers conflict then the decision has to be made on Political manner. This proposes that the one with the biggest power will dominate and the strongest individual who builds coalitions will control the decision-making. Here it is an important aspect to build relationships, negotiate and compromise in order to gain further steps.
When the managers agree on the desires aimed to achieve but the causal connections make the situation unclear and uncertain how to do it, then it falls into the zone of so called Complicated. The usage of judgmental or intuitive modes of decision making is necessary to execute. In this case, more than one right answer is possible, therefore, the feasibility is judged with the interaction and coordination of expertise. The reasoning is mostly analog. They need think in a literal way, taking trial-and-error cases into account to progress into decision.
The most problematic situation is when there is no agreement nor certainty, all is unclear and the objectives conflict. This level of complexity is referred as Chaotic. The atmosphere can be decried with the main factors of tension, turbulence and lack of any patterns. In an organization this is a situation which really needs to be avoid. Here the manager has to decide based on intuitive individual judgement combined with the political interactions of the group. [2]
Models of decision making in conditions of certainty
Technical rationality
Bounded rationality, bureaucracy and dominant coalitions
Trial and error - logical incrementation
Limitations of the Stacey matrix model
Annotated bibliography
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