dotted line reporting

Definition

A secondary reporting relationship where you're accountable to someone who isn't technically your boss, creating a delightful matrix of conflicting priorities and unclear authority. Confusion by organizational design.

Example Usage

I have a dotted line to the CMO, which means I get blamed when marketing fails but have no actual authority to fix anything.

Origin

Organizational chart conventions from mid-20th century management theory

Fun Fact

Matrix organizations with extensive dotted line reporting have 30% longer decision-making times than traditional hierarchies.

Source: Organizational structure and management terminology

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