What is cross-functional collaboration?
Cross-functional collaboration happens when employees from different departments come together to share knowledge and skill sets. Some projects may require skills from multiple departments to work. Cross-functional collaboration can happen organically, too: it can be a simple request for help from one team to another.
For example, a tech marketing team needs to know a new laptop’s specifications and design so they can promote the product accurately, as well as communicate its unique selling points (USPs). So, they enlist the expertise of the company’s product designers who are able to explain the laptop’s key functionalities, as well as any new specs that set it apart from its competitors, such as a better processor or battery life.
A growing need for cross-functional collaboration
This type of collaboration may be becoming more relevant in a faster-paced and changing market. As consumer needs and behaviours are in flux, it can be a challenge to keep up with what they want. Consumers are also increasingly expecting to receive products faster.
With cross-functional collaboration, however, businesses can help create faster turnaround times for products. They can also increase transparency over supply chains as well as have a better track of them.
Additionally, with customers also looking for more sustainable products, businesses may have to respond to this by changing their supply chains. Regulatory changes to supply chains may also mean that businesses have to learn to adapt more quickly.
Cross-functional collaboration can be a great facilitator of change in general. It can help different departments communicate more quickly, efficiently and transparently – when used well. With the increased flexibility cross functional collaboration brings, teams can become more ready for change. With remote working and hybrid working here to stay, this collaboration approach can also help foster more closely-knit relationships between teams.
Cross-functional collaboration technology
Cross-functional collaboration at its best can help keep teams working closely. However, it can benefit from being optimised with the right technology. This can be achieved with software like:
- Cloud-based storage systems
- Screen sharing technology
- Content management systems (CMS)
- Video conferencing tools
- Communication platform apps
- Portfolio management tools
- Project management systems
Using cloud software and online communications tools can be especially beneficial for remote teams. As teams may be collaborating via different locations and time zones, these tools facilitate easy real-time sharing.
The benefits of cross-functional collaboration
Introducing cross-functional collaboration can benefit businesses with several teams, especially those with remote teams. Cross-functional collaboration has some key benefits, which we will explore in this section.
1. Helps teams to work more harmoniously
Not all teams agree with each other on a project. Without strong cross-functional collaboration, this can be even more of an issue. Therefore, with the right approach, cross-functional collaboration can help teams to work more harmoniously.
Cross-functional collaboration can be used in a distributed leadership model. As Indeed’s article on how distributed leadership can reduce workplace anxiety, we found that senior leaders can benefit from fostering collaboration. By empowering employees to share ideas and knowledge, they can help them to develop leadership skills as well.
2. Teams can work more flexibly
Cross-functional teams can help a business to become more flexible. That’s because they may be better equipped to adapt to changes or new challenges as they emerge. This may also boost collaboration in general. This is because teams are better equipped to communicate issues and share knowledge bases in real-time.
3. Can boost employee engagement
Cross-functional collaboration can keep work fresh and interesting for teams. If they are called upon to share their knowledge with another team, this can be a great learning opportunity all around. It can also help them retain knowledge and feel a greater sense of purpose within the organisation.
Strong colleague relationships and a sense of purpose are strong components of employee engagement. It could, therefore, be useful to harness this with knowledge sharing via cross-functional collaboration. While this might not be the solution alone to low employee engagement, it might help employees feel they are playing a bigger part in a project.
The challenges of cross functional collaboration
While cross-functional collaboration has demonstrable benefits, there can be some challenges associated with it too. In this next section, we’ll explore some of these.
1. Managing remote cross-functional collaboration can be challenging
As more and more teams work together remotely, cross-functional collaboration can be made more difficult. If a team is working remotely, it can be difficult to track the overall progress of the project. However, there are cloud platform tools available that can track the progress of different teams, which could prove to be a good workaround.
2. May require training in new technology
Not everyone is an early adopter of new technology. Therefore, employers may have to provide training in project management, video conferencing and cloud computing. While it’s been established that upskilling in new tech can facilitate remote working, similar tech can be used for cross-functional collaboration too.
Our guide to upskilling explores the idea that the right training can empower employees. With a talent shortage in the UK, employers may have to take the initiative and train staff themselves. This could include preparing them for cross-functional collaboration, as well as remote working tools generally.
3. It can be harder to manage meetings
If teams are collaborating remotely and meeting via video conferencing tools, this could make them more difficult to manage. If there are too many members of staff involved in a discussion, this can lead to confusion about the meeting’s agenda. It can also make it difficult to keep track of the conversation.
One workaround for employers could be to ensure all employees receive the right material before the meeting starts. There could be a quick briefing of staff before they enter the meeting, so they understand what will be discussed. Knowing what their role will be in the meeting can also be strongly beneficial.
Having one-on-one meetings with key speakers before a general meeting can also be helpful, as it can provide an opportunity to set a meeting agenda in advance.
Cross-functional collaboration can be a great way to keep up with changes in an industry, including increased demand for sustainability, regulatory changes and supply chain issues. It can also help keep staff engaged and feel like part of the bigger picture.
This type of collaboration may require digital knowledge such as cloud-based computing platforms, video conferencing tools and project management. Therefore, employers may have to upskill their employees to get the most out of cross-functional collaboration.
