Cross Functional Team: What It Is and How It Should Work

In the past, teams worked by themselves without much input from other departments.

The problem with that was that there wasn’t much clarification when it came to understanding the bigger picture.

Nowadays, the concept of a cross functional team is pretty strong.

This represents a group of people with different skills who use different leadership qualities and work together to achieve an objective.

Human Resources Information Systems have been developed in order to make this a possibility.

The great news is that a team may be composed of engineers, designers, marketers, and salespeople all working towards the same goal.

In fact, in a recent survey, 53% of respondents answered that shifting to a team-based model did offer a significant improvement in performance.

In this article, we will be covering the definition of a cross functional team, its benefits, downsides, and how you can create one in your workplace.

Table Of Contents

What is a cross functional team?

Understanding what a cross functional team is composed of is crucial at this stage.

A cross functional team is composed of different members with different expertise who come together to achieve one main objective.

They work together by combining their knowledge and skills to get the job done which could not have been possible if they worked individually.

It also allows for different perspectives that help drive innovation in the organization.

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This is in contrast to a functional team in which members have the same focus and head towards the same objective.

Examples of cross functional teams would be agile development, scrum masters, project managers, developers, etc.

Product managers can also be included in this type of team using some of the best product management software to make the process even better.

Why are cross functional teams important?

Cross functional teams provide a competitive edge to organizations, especially in this changing business climate.

This structure enables companies to achieve goals faster by leveraging each other’s knowledge and experience.

Timely decision-making is another benefit of having cross functional teams since responsibilities are divided among different people.

Solid collaboration leads to better project management thus reducing time wastage and increasing productivity rates.

Moreover, a cross-functional team has a broader view of issues because its members interact with different groups from inside and outside the company.

They are also able to bring new ideas and unique perspectives to the table which can help make better business decisions

How to create a cross functional team

Companies usually structure their cross functional teams based on project requirements.

For example, an organization may have a team of developers, designers, a sales team and marketers who are all tasked with launching a certain product or campaign.

Members are carefully selected based on their expertise, strengths, and weaknesses which measure up against criteria set by the company for that particular task.

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Cross functional teams are built up through different stages which require inputs from other parties such as management, clients, and even customers themselves.

As mentioned earlier, companies need to consider cross functional teams to stay competitive especially during these changing times.

However, it is also important to be aware of the downsides and what measures can be put in place to mitigate them to have better results.

For instance, members may not be able to work together efficiently because they do not have a common goal, and sharing an objective would complicate things further.

In addition, having different team members from different backgrounds might lead to confusion and lack of focus which could result in loss of productivity.

Benefits of cross functional teams

A cross functional team can help you achieve your business goals faster through collaboration and sharing knowledge.

This structure enables companies to take advantage of each other’s strengths which helps drive innovation in the organization, particularly during these changing times.

Timely decision-making is another benefit of having cross functional teams since responsibilities are divided among different people. Solid collaboration leads to better project management thus reducing time wastage and increasing productivity rates.

Moreover, a cross-functional team has a broader view of issues because its members interact with different groups from inside and outside the company.

They are also able to bring new ideas and unique perspectives to the table which can help make better business decisions.

Team building also happens as a result of better communication skills that members bring together.

In addition, different skill sets mean that the functionality of the team increases.

New product development ideas take place and organizational goals are reached.

When everyone can see the bigger picture and subject matter experts are used, everyone wins.

Ultimately, due to the above reasons, the average cycle time might also get shorter. This means that the user experience also improves – which is ultimately the team goal.

Downsides of having a cross functional team

One downside of a cross functional team happens if the members of such a team cannot work together efficiently – such as in the case when they do not have a common goal or they do not share an objective.

In this case, this would complicate things further.

In addition, having different team members from different backgrounds might lead to confusion and lack of focus, which could result in loss of productivity especially during crunch time or deadlines.

This means that different teams and individuals need to be aware of the problems in their areas and look out for possible errors.

This also means having to spend more time communicating with different people which can take up a lot of bandwidth.

Organizations need to strike a balance between task delegation, team management, and integration.

Cross functional teams are built up through different stages which require inputs from other parties such as management, clients, and even customers themselves.

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In addition, having different team members from different backgrounds might lead to confusion and lack of focus which could result in loss of productivity.

Having said that, the pros far outweigh the cons.

This means that being strategic when setting up cross functional teams is a must. This is what allows companies to adapt quickly to changes without needing too much time for restructuring their structure.

For example, if your company is known more for its software products, it might be better off with engineers on board rather than say, accountants or financial experts.

It also helps that there are clear-cut roles designated by the company which allows everybody on board to know what their contributions are supposed to be.

Today’s businesses operate in extremely fast-moving environments where technology is changing every day and customers’ demands are vastly different from one another.

As new technologies emerge, some customers might be more receptive to using a certain product while others may have no use for it at all.

This means that companies would need to be flexible enough to make the necessary changes in their resources and structure, which is what cross functional teams help achieve.

Tips for making your work environment more conducive to teamwork and collaboration

The following tips are provided to make the process of creating a team less intimidating and more manageable.

Have a set of clear goals

Having a clear set of goals would ensure that communication is much easier among different team members.

Team members can have specific roles within the company according to their abilities which allows them to take up responsibilities appropriate for each one’s skill sets.

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It also ensures that all team members are excited about what they are doing and it keeps them motivated throughout the whole project or specific project phases.

Implement procedures that improve the quality of outcomes

This helps eliminate possible mistakes that may be committed by any individual thus ensuring better results overall.

This also ensures that everybody is on board with what is expected of them to maintain time management as well as increase productivity.

These would prove useful especially during times when deadlines crunch time approaches.

Identify specific roles for each team member

This ensures that everybody is aware of what they are required to do.

The number of members required as well as their specific roles within the organization would depend on the nature of the project as well as its objectives.

Companies need to have a structure in place so as not to lose focus and better allocate both human resources and others.

However, it is also necessary to ensure that there aren’t too many people involved because this may complicate things even further and lead to excessive bureaucracy and confusion.

Ensure all team members are excited about what they are doing

This helps create a more dynamic working environment which can help boost morale among employees who will feel like they play an integral role in achieving company goals.

Having people who are excited about their work is a major factor in increasing the productivity of employees.

Give your people the resources they need to do their jobs well

Providing employees with proper training and equipment allows them to focus more on doing their job well rather than struggling through it.

This also ensures that deadlines will be met by assuring that there are no roadblocks that may impede progress.

Add value to your work by managing expectations and asking pertinent questions when needed

This is very important because it helps evaluate whether or not a certain deadline can even be met in the first place based on certain constraints.

It also helps weed out any possible conflicts from arising plus it can help improve team dynamics too.

Cross Functional Team – FAQ

How does cross-functional collaboration happen?

Teams can collaborate via various tools nowadays, yet face-to-face discussions always make for better and more seamless communication.

This allows the key people to quickly get answers or even just clarifications on certain matters which they might have difficulty understanding.

The organizational structure also helps provide continuity to work done by certain individuals to ensure that there aren’t any hiccups that may lead to loss of time or productivity.

Cross functional team collaboration is vital in making sure that work is done properly to meet deadlines and that employees are happy because they feel like an integral part of the process.

It’s not always easy to develop cross functional collaboration, especially in large companies where there are different divisions each with its specific objectives.

It may take time to implement these changes, but the good thing about it is that you would know exactly what works best for your organization which can help improve productivity and job satisfaction over time.

What are agile teams?

Agile teams can adapt quickly and effectively to meet deadlines.

By using the best agile project management tools, they are able to get rid of some bureaucracy and also have a more dynamic working environment where everybody gets the opportunity to play an important role.

Cross functional teams require innovative solutions and continuous improvement. Each team member brings team accountability to their work which allows them to stay focused and not get sidetracked.

Team meetings and communication help reinforce these concepts and allow for creativity and innovation to grow. Using team meeting management software can also help with better communication.

This has the added advantage of allowing employees to feel more valued and increase productivity, thus increasing job satisfaction as well.

A good team leader needs to have the right leadership qualities as well as the right management skills to be able to encourage these things because it can help boost productivity and produce better results.

Also, agile teams span organizational boundaries and all of the different functional areas.

This means that marketing, engineering, business development, and UX design teams work together to assure that quality is maintained.

In addition, cross-functional collaboration allows small teams to handle larger projects because everyone can take a leadership role.

Team members become problem solvers which can help improve creativity and innovation as well as increase teamwork.

How do you combine different functional expertise in cross functional teams?

Cross functional teams don’t need specialists all the time because team members themselves become experts in their field and can handle multiple tasks.

When it comes to combining different expertise, this is only possible if every team member understands every process.

This creates a dynamic where stakeholders can be involved and work together towards goal achievement – this also means that different departments can collaborate better.

This is a driving factor for cross functional teams as they can adapt quickly and take on changes with ease.

Knowing this, it’s clear that cross functional team collaboration can be beneficial as it allows people from different departments to work together towards goal attainment, thereby increasing the probability of success.

A cross functional project cannot be done properly without communication and teamwork.

This is why it’s relevant for every team member to know about the other parts involved in order to avoid confusion and misunderstandings.

Even a small change in one area can have a ripple effect on the rest of the project so everybody should be aware of what they do.

What is the main problem with most organizations?

Most organizations have members working in silos that go in far too many directions: one minute they are talking about changes in marketing, and the next it’s a new machine they want to invest in for production.

This confuses people and might result in them not knowing whether their job is still relevant or if the company is doing well at all.

Working efficiently is what matters and constant changes aren’t the answer.

The concept of cross functional team works better because people know the boundaries and aren’t afraid to question things when necessary.

Everybody should feel confident in their abilities and not be shy about sharing ideas.

Giving people responsibility for their project success and allowing them to use their perspective in the decision-making processes allows for better problem-solving ideas.

In fact, most companies are starting to set clear objectives when it comes to employee engagement in this matter.

After all, customer satisfaction is what matters most; also, customers can only be better served by a happy and willing workforce.

Wrap Up.

In conclusion, cross functional teams can help your company in a number of ways, including ensuring that deadlines are met and better quality results are delivered.

Teams must be composed of members who have specific roles so as not to cause problems for other team members. This will allow them to work together more efficiently and without any major conflicts arising.

A cross functional team transforms teams into their best selves, allowing the members within them to deliver the best product possible within a set amount of time.

If you would like to learn more about how you can successfully use the right software to manage a team and achieve set goals, check out this article on the best resource management software available right now.