Caught in the Matrix: Accelerate Consulting Firm

Axel had been hoping for a promotion, but that hope now hangs by a thread. He has ended up in a hornet’s nest of conflicting goals and personalities within Accelerate, the consulting firm where he works. The problem emerged in a client project that has hardly begun—and that would normally not be this complicated. How can he handle the challenges he is facing, so that he can focus on managing the project and ensure that the client is satisfied? Axel needs to find out how he can regain the confidence of the client partner, Elias Ebner, and improve the relationship with Kristina Kaube, a junior consultant on his team. As for the leadership team of Accelerate, they may consider more broadly what role the organization plays in creating such situations and whether there are alternative organizational designs that may facilitate the work of project managers like Axel.