CROSS FUNCTION TEAMS
AND COLLABORATION
A BUSINESS STRATEGY & MANAGEMENT FUNCTION
CROSS-FUNCTIONAL TEAMS AND
COLLABORATION LOOK IN BUSINESS
A cross-functional team is a
group of people with different
functional expertise working
toward a common goal. It may
include people from finance,
marketing, operations, and
human resources departments.
Typically, it includes employees
from all levels of an
organization.
Definition by:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossfunctional_team
WHO PRACTICES IN IT AND WHY?
Companies utilize
cross-functional
business programs
For more information: Cross-Functional Business Programs:
Critical Design and Development Considerations
http://www.bsu.edu/mcobwin/ajb/?p=233
• Companies, makes use of a cross functional
team to oversee the execution of strategic
initiatives for better product pull-through,
development of products and services,
improved facilities utilization, increased
standardization of practices, and contract
leverage across its diverse businesses
• Participation in cross-functional teams can
also vary dramatically depending upon the
specific goals sought by the teams. Some
cross-functional teams are broadly diverse,
composed, for example, of members from
internal research and development,
engineering, purchasing, plant operations,
and marketing joining forces with external
suppliers. This helps to insure direct
communication and allocation of resources
within production, supply, sales, and
shipment services.
BUILDING AND MANAGING CROSSFUNCTIONAL TEAMS
•
Implementing the right environment to enabling
collaboration and knowledge sharing, utilize
management tactics that can be particularly
supportive of distributed work.
•
Managing a diverse team with the right mix of skills
and competencies, addressing weaknesses promptly.
•
Relying on an effective methodology that defines the
work and establishes the proper handoffs from one
part of the team to another.
• By dealing with cultural change and the
organizational resistance to cross-functional work,
mission focus can be put as the high priority, rather
than individual/departmental accolades.
• Team members should document conversations with
providers, and managers should keep an active log of
risks and issues, assigning clear responsibilities.
For more information: Building and Managing CrossFunctional Teams
http://talentmgt.com/articles/view/building_and_managing_
cross_functional_teams/7
HOW DOES THE CROSS-FUNCTIONAL
PROCESS WORK?
Purchase
Request:
Starting with
initial purchase
request from
Costumer to
Requirement
Department
Purchase is
processed by
Requirement
Department
conformation
and quantity
is sent to
Materials
Management
THE CROSS-FUNCTIONAL PROCESS
Purchase
Performances:
Materials
Management then
verifies quantity and
adjust stock, this is
then communicated/
investigated by
Purchasing Dpt. for
restocking/allocation
of product analysis.
Finances Dpt. Sets
price according to
logistical interests: Cost,
Overhead,
Recoupment.
Collaborating with
Purchasing Dpt. to sign
Purchase Contracts ,
while Materials
Management checks
of the finished product
THE CROSS-FUNCTIONAL PROCESS
Product
Storage:
Materials
Management
produces a
product list while
insuring product
storage(shipping
and stowage of
overflow)
Finance Department
upon purchases
conformation and
checking of
inventory allocation
and sales can adjust
estimated price
listings
THE CROSS-FUNCTIONAL PROCESS
Settlement
Stage:
Materials
Management
produced all
products,
Purchasing
Department has
then accumulated
and invoiced,
providing payment
request
Finance Department
upon purchases
conformation and
prices, recalculates
working with
Purchasing
Department to
process final
payment ,
recouping asset
profit gain.
CROSS FUNCTION TEAMS AND COLLABORATION IN
ORGANIZATIONAL DEPARTMENTAL MAKE-UP
Cross-Function Structure Model
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
 Cross-Functional Business Programs: Critical Design and Development Considerations
Timothy W. Aurand, Northern Illinois University
Carol DeMoranville, Northern Illinois University
Geoffrey L. Gordon, Northern Illinois University
http://www.bsu.edu/mcobwin/ajb/?p=233
 Building and Managing Cross- Functional Teams
http://talentmgt.com/articles/view/building_and_managing_cross_functional_teams/7
 Business strategies: Work on global, cross-functional projects at the heart of what we do.
http://www.google.com/about/jobs/teams/business-strategy/
 Cross-Functional Collaboration: Discovering Its $ Value and the Genius of Google
http://www.ere.net/2011/01/17/cross-functional-collaboration-discovering-its-value-and-the-genius-of-google/
(Business Source Premier)
 Using cross-functional, cross-firm teams to co-create value: The role of financial measures
Industrial Marketing Management Periodical
 Cross-functional integration and functional coordination in purchasing and supply management: Antecedents and
effects on purchasing and firm performance
International Journal of Operations & Production Management
QUESTIONS ON CROSS FUNCTIONAL
TEAM WORK
Cross Function Teams and Collaboration
Questions:
1.
a)
b)
c)
d)
Cross Functional Business programing means to:
Collaboration between Departments
Working Individually
Working only in Departments
Working only by Managements Decree
2.
a)
b)
c)
d)
Cross Functional Business programing works best when mission focus is communicated by:
By Phil the mail boy
Company Emails
Interdepartmental Collaboration Meetings
Communicating solely to Management
3.
a)
b)
c)
d)
A weakness in Cross Functional Business programing is:
Lack of Development & Research
A break down addressing weaknesses promptly
Shifts in parodimes in department management
Weak Mission and Vision Statement
Answers:
1.
2.
3.
a)Collaboration between Departments
c) Interdepartmental Collaboration Meetings
b) A break down addressing weaknesses promptly