Cross-functional teams: how to create a strong team
Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2025 4:06 am
HeadHunter and Robovoice found out that from 2021 to 2023, Russian companies' need for cross-functional employees has tripled. The number of companies creating cross-functional teams is increasing for a reason. Such teams are more flexible, productive, and multitasking. Today we will talk about why cross-functional teams are better and what is needed to create them.
You are reading the magazine Compass - a messenger for effective and safe teamwork.
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What is a cross-functional team
A cross-functional team is a group of experts with different namibia phone number list skills, knowledge, experience, hard and soft skills. Cross-functional teams work on common projects, each member uses their skills and experience. This is what makes such a team strong.
For example, a team may consist of a developer, a designer, a marketer, and a project manager. Each of them performs their tasks, helps others with related tasks, and contributes to the project.
Imagine that your team is developing a new app. The developers are responsible for the code, the UI/UX designers are responsible for the interface, and the marketer and copywriter are responsible for how to promote the product. Working together, they can share knowledge and experience to find solutions that meet the needs of users. For example, the marketer will tell the designer what buttons users want to see in the app, they will discuss this with the developer, and quickly change the appearance of the buttons.
Cross-functionality makes the work process more flexible, which is why this approach is often used in Agile .
The difference between a cross-functional team and a regular one. Functional teams consist only of specialists in one area. For example, only accountants can work in the finance department. They know everything about financial reports and taxes, their work does not directly affect the product or clients. This team is focused on narrow tasks.
This is what distinguishes a cross-functional team, in which experts from different fields are engaged in performing a large number of diverse tasks, solving various issues. They do not only keep records and deal with finances, like accountants. They develop the product, study and analyze user feedback, refine, test, and promote the product.
You are reading the magazine Compass - a messenger for effective and safe teamwork.
Learn more about Compass
What is a cross-functional team
A cross-functional team is a group of experts with different namibia phone number list skills, knowledge, experience, hard and soft skills. Cross-functional teams work on common projects, each member uses their skills and experience. This is what makes such a team strong.
For example, a team may consist of a developer, a designer, a marketer, and a project manager. Each of them performs their tasks, helps others with related tasks, and contributes to the project.
Imagine that your team is developing a new app. The developers are responsible for the code, the UI/UX designers are responsible for the interface, and the marketer and copywriter are responsible for how to promote the product. Working together, they can share knowledge and experience to find solutions that meet the needs of users. For example, the marketer will tell the designer what buttons users want to see in the app, they will discuss this with the developer, and quickly change the appearance of the buttons.
Cross-functionality makes the work process more flexible, which is why this approach is often used in Agile .
The difference between a cross-functional team and a regular one. Functional teams consist only of specialists in one area. For example, only accountants can work in the finance department. They know everything about financial reports and taxes, their work does not directly affect the product or clients. This team is focused on narrow tasks.
This is what distinguishes a cross-functional team, in which experts from different fields are engaged in performing a large number of diverse tasks, solving various issues. They do not only keep records and deal with finances, like accountants. They develop the product, study and analyze user feedback, refine, test, and promote the product.