I think the best structure for a VFX facility is a matrix, the departments being the vertical elements of this matrix and the processes the horizontal elements.
The processes should be owned by the supervisors, with the help of the coordinators. The supervisors should use teams from the different departments in order to execute the processes needed to output the assets and shots needed for a project.
That means, as in any matrix-based organization, that each artist would report to two people, ie the head of his department and the supervisor on the project he's working on. If the idea of having everyone managed by two people is too unsettling, team leads may have the responsibility to answer those two managers, and to manage individual artists.
Having some generalists in more complex or fast projects can be very helpful in making the production processes more fluid and agile, but the value of seasoned specialists is very often much needed.
To make sure this works, generic processes for VFX shows should be defined, and reworked during pre-production phase to answer the specificities of each project. Having one person knowledgeable in process engineering and optimization would be a huge asset in this regard.
Besides these processes, some other things have to be thought about, most importantly the management of knowledge inside the company. I know the usage of Wiki and the writing of documentation in general is not a very popular activity among artists and TDs, but it should be encouraged by the upper management. Knowledge is an invaluage intangible asset, and steps must be taken in order to prevent it from being lost when one key actor leaves the company.
The environment of the organization should not be forgotten. Formal and informal networks (between employees and their colleagues in the field, and between companies themselves) should be maintained, as they can add a lot of value when it comes to the reputation of the company. And we all know that reputation help studios get new contracts and hire the necessary talent to complete the work.
Here's in short what I can say for now, please don't hesitate to comment or suggest other possible structures if I have forgotten something.
Very interesting question. I will make an analysis of my employer’s structure (and maybe add some insight about the structures of other companies I worked for) for my Conception and design of orgainzations course. I’ll share some ideas here.
Yes please do.. I look forward to that.