The matrix organization also has several disadvantages. Having employees report to more than one supervisor can cause confusion about who has authority in various situations. The Cross-Functional Team Structure. The cross-functional team is a group of employees from different departments who work together on a specific project. This organizational method is especially effective when developing an entirely new product or service.
Projects can be temporary or permanent.
Team members can include employees from many departments, including research and development, design, engineering, marketing, distribution, and others. Before forming cross-functional teams, managers analyze the work to be done to determine whether the team structure is the best one for the project. There are several factors that contribute to the success of cross-functional teams. Team members must be given specific information on the job each is required to perform. There are several problems associated with the cross-functional team structure.