What are cross-functional teams?
Cross-functional teams make collaboration possible beyond the interfaces between different (functional) units. They become connecting points that bring together the potential of different areas of expertise – for the development of new products and for working on complex problems within an organisation. Collaboration is based on reciprocity, with co-leadership for the task alternating between members and responsibility for steering and results carried jointly. This is how cross-functional teams make your organisation agile.
The capabilities
Cross-functional teams bring together the capability of interdisciplinary expertise for the development of new products and the processing of complex issues within matrix organizations. Collaboration takes place on an eye-level and on the basis of reciprocity when sharing responsibility and alternating co-leadership for the task at hand. This allows faster coordination processes to be developed within the team, while different perspectives enhance the problem-solving process and innovative strengths.
The challenge – organising & managing
We support you in clarifying the objectives, benefits and obstacles of effective collaboration, so that the cross-functional team realises its potential for interdisciplinary work:
- How can the organisation contribute in shaping the conditions for successful collaborations?
- How and where are decisions taken in order to avoid any back and forth between interfaces?
- How are differing objectives, tasks and people’s problem perceptions incorporated?
- How do resource conflicts and conflicts of interest arise through the dual affiliation between the division and the cross-functional team?
- How can consensus-based decisions be made?
- What can reduce the team’s effectiveness?
Our consulting services
In the initial phase, it is important to clarify the general conditions with the top decision-makers and interface partners. This applies to expectations, responsibilities and decision-making scope, motivations and availability of resources.
We will support and guide you conceptually during the implementation phase – including a commonly designed roadmap, facilitated clarification processes and work task clarifications across different hierarchical levels.
The make-up of a team should occur on a technical, organisational and social level. This creates transparency and prevents misunderstandings:
The mutual development of a collaboration space® facilitates managing collaboration dynamics such as misunderstandings, conflicts and stress in dual roles, common in cross-functional collaborations. Strategies, roles, expectations, rules and procedures, both internal and between interfaces are mutually addressed and outlined. Continuous reflection phases enable process optimizations.
Through the design and facilitation of kick-off workshops and team building practices, we will support you in identifying and eliminating interferences, backs and forth between interfaces or fruitless meetings. This is coupled with setting up reflexion processes through Action Learning, Peer Consulting and Coaching.