Fremont: The levels of communication in any organization are clearly defined and marked by dark, visible lines. But in case of special and high-focus projects, people with similar skills are pooled to work for the assignment. These people may have to report to different managers to get their job done. These secondary relationships between people are represented by dotted lines as there is no clear reporting pattern between the managers--neither manager is the boss of the other.

These dotted lines lead to ambiguity most of the time, as the accountability of a person is not limited to his immediate superior, but also to the person heading the project. The working relationship between these tow managers cannot be defined with dotted lines. These relationships call for a lot of confusion not just to the employee, but also to the managers. Thus, organizations should define the authority and responsibility of each of the concerned person, so as to go back on the track of clear and specific hierarchy.

How can an entrepreneur ensure that these dotted lines don't create problems while assessing the success of various teams? He should ensure that there is a proper chart, which defines the relationship between the employees and their managers. This should specify the limit of authority, the communication channels, and reporting patterns.

Since, organizations these days are project-oriented, the dotted line management is on a rise, but that doesn't mean that it should cause a problem for everyone due to unclear layout. Entrepreneurs should make sure that the dotted-line managers are treated as a part of the team itself, rather than a temporary setting (till the end of the project).

Care should be taken that the workers are not burdened under the leadership of multiple bosses with varied outlooks, as this would take a toll on them. The entrepreneur should ensure that the employees are made to come to terms with the setting (the dotted line management is a very efficient system during emergencies) and that their personal space is retained.

Overall, though the dotted line management is a growing trend, it is up to entrepreneurs and the companies to see how to make the complicated and maze-like structure a useful and efficient pattern, which is a win-win scenario for both the employee and the entrepreneur.