What Are Cross-Functional Teams?
Cross-functional teams are units in a business which include members drawn from multiple departments in the business. The team may be assembled on a temporary basis to work on a specific objective and short term goal, or it may be a permanent unit which is designed to address ongoing issues in the business. Using cross-functional teams can be a highly effective business strategy for companies in many different industries.
Cross-functional teams are units in a business which include members drawn from multiple departments in the business. The team may be assembled on a temporary basis to work on a specific objective and short term goal, or it may be a permanent unit which is designed to address ongoing issues in the business. Using cross-functional teams can be a highly effective business strategy for companies in many different industries. The origins of the cross-functional team appear to lie in the 1950s, when companies first started exploring the idea of assembling teams with members drawn from multiple departments. By combining people with different areas of experience and skill, a company can create a very small functional unit which is capable of accomplishing a great deal. For example, a company working on the development of a new product can move the process along much more quickly with cross-functional teams than it would by stepping the product sequentially from department to department.
