What are the strengths and weaknesses of the cross-functional teams?

Folks:

Before looking into “What are the strengths and weaknesses of the cross-functional teams”?

We have to understand that why we are using Cross-functional team and what is VALUE & POWER of this team. Cross-functional team deliverables varies due to the use of team. Team for Product development will work differently from change management or BPM team.

 

Commonly we use cross-functional team because of:

-          Value creation

-          Innovation

-          Motivated to fix problems

-          Knowledgeable about current procedures & systems

-          Collective intelligence

 

Definition

Common understanding about cross-functional team is that “An organizational team consisting of members at the same level of hierarchy in the organization but serving in different areas”.

Advantages: Can greatly increase creativity and problem solving with the use of cross-functional teams because of their composition. Members of cross-functional teams come with a diversity of experiences, expertise and knowledge. This diversity can help broaden perspectives and create a synergy - where interaction of the members create a greater effect than the sum effects of each member acting alone - leading to a high level of creativity. Disadvantages: The team can take significantly longer to develop cohesion because members come from different experiences and backgrounds.

 

Moreover, a team leader must take care in managing team relationships carefully because there may be a high level of conflict in these teams due to unit rivalry, egos and possible conflict between the interests of the various parts of the organization represented by team members.

Thanks

Cross- functional teams are usually charged with developing new products,or investigating and improving a company wide problems or process , members are usually comes from different departments or divisions, they can diagnose a problem from different and multiple perspectives simultaneously .
Cross-functional teams drive their strength from their diversity, however its weaknesses can be shown as following.
1- Group think,which reflected in their reluctant to agree on decision to maintain harmony by their decision rather than critically thinking about the problems or alternative approach
2- Group hate some of the cross functional team members are hating to work in group,thinking that will influence their active participation in group socialization and group work activity.3-Social loafing/ free riding
4- Risky shift in which members will take more risky course of action than individual can do.
Generally working in team will result in the following
1- Increase creativity2-Higher- quality decisions
4- Improve process
5- Improve communication

I think in a cross-functional teams environment, your will see diversity of skills, Conflict due to diffrent understandings and viewpoints, dificulity of teams managment and the One Purpose One traget.
kind regards, amine