What is meant by a cross-functional team?

A Cross-Functional Team is a team consisting of people from different departments such as production, sales, and marketing. It could be a temporary or permanent workgroup formed to achieve the stated goal.

Example of a cross-functional Team

A good example of a cross-functional team could be a manufacturing company where production engineers, quality control specialists, and supply chain managers work together to design and implement a new production line.

Types of cross-functional teams

Cross-functional teams bring together employees with diverse skills from different departments to achieve a common goal. There are various types of these teams, such as:

  • Project-Based Teams: These are temporary teams brought together to work on a particular project and are disbanded after the project is completed.
  • Product Development Teams: Product development teams invest their collective focus on the development of a product, often involving members from sales, marketing, design, engineering, and customer support.
  • Crisis Management Teams: Crisis management teams are established in response to a crisis identified by an organization to respond to and manage the emergency.
  • Change Management Teams: The key objective of a change management team is to smoothen the organizational change and transitions. This type of cross-functional team consists of HR, subject matter experts, change managers, and communication specialists.
  • Innovation Teams: As businesses seek innovative ideas to scale, they often establish innovation teams dedicated to generating new ideas and solutions. These teams harness the creativity of individuals from R&D, marketing, and strategy.

Key Steps for Setting up a Cross-Functional Team

To build a high-performing cross-functional team, follow the below key steps:

  • Define Objectives: Clearly outline specific, measurable, achievable, and relevant team goals with the expected outcome and deadline.
  • Select Members: Choose individuals with diverse, relevant skills, expertise, and experience to contribute to project success.
  • Assign Roles: Clearly define each team member's specific role, responsibilities, and expectations to avoid confusion.
  • Establish Communication: Set up regular, open, and transparent communication channels and meetings for update sharing.
  • Track progress: Utilize a modern workforce management solution to schedule, track progress, and enhance the productivity of your cross-functional team.