Knowledge Network Structure Law and Legal Definition
A knowledge/network structure is similar to a matrix structure, but is significantly more stable and effective. Middle management is replaced by a team headed by a team leader. This team is composed of functional experts, however, fundamental recommendations to the executives are made by the team leaders rather than the functional middle managers. In a matrix structure, the solid reporting lines go to functional managers and dotted reporting lines go to team leaders. In a knowledge structure, the solid reporting line is to team leaders and the dotted reporting lines go to functional managers. The knowledge structure requires people to have great self-discipline. A major disadvantage of such a structure is that without the required self-discipline, teams can overstep their scope of action and adversely effect the rest of the organization.
