I also live in the dotted relationship world.

There is a difference in the modern office between line authority and technical authority. Line authority is where an office establishes and supports a direct line of responsibility and authority. Technical authority is where people in an organization realize that if they want to get good quality IT work done which will last and integrate with their current data and systems they must build some sort of working relationship with the technicians. Since people working at these levels do not have the authority to establish direct lines of authority, they establish dotted lines which the success of a company requires if they are to be successful.

The people who often establish these dotted line relationships are the problem solvers who are not managers. However, managers who are experienced in IT and true service related efforts, will often institute dotted line relationships as well. They know the value of these "working relationships" where "real work" is done.

Enough of a rant.