a cross-functional team

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a cross-functional team" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a group of individuals from different departments or areas of expertise working together towards a common goal. Example: "The project was successful due to the collaboration of a cross-functional team that included members from marketing, engineering, and design."

✓ Grammatically correct

Formal & Business

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

At Ford, marketing communications director Matthew VanDyke leads a cross-functional team involving IT, finance, marketing, and other functions.

Harvard Business Review

Here's the thing: you need to have a cross-functional team to understand what reputation means for each function.

Forbes

Internally, we've established a cross-functional team across the various divisions, including our Environmental Quality, Manufacturing, Purchasing, Research and Community Engagement functions, to get a holistic view of our water issues.

Forbes

2. Organize a cross-functional team with appropriate governance.

Harvard Business Review

Letting users develop the rules can help a cross-functional team sort through tough decisions.

Harvard Business Review

For instance, a cross-functional team works together on all hiring requisitions.

Harvard Business Review

A cross-functional team dedicates less than nine weeks to developing the unit's plan.

Harvard Business Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Ensamble Studio is a cross functional team founded in 2000 by Antón García-Abril and Débora Mesa.

Columbia University

Facebook deployed a "cross functional team of engineers, analysts and data scientists" as part of a detailed investigation into possible foreign involvement in the U.S. election.

The Washington Post

This change was only possible by leveraging a cross functional team encompassing operations, accounting, legal and regulatory.

Forbes

This month I connected with Dave to learn how he's supporting BGE with the right financial processes, and with the power of a cross functional team.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Before establishing "a cross-functional team", define its specific objectives and expected outcomes to maintain focus and measure success.

Common error

Don't automatically label a team as "a cross-functional team" without confirming its members represent diverse departments or specializations. Otherwise, you're misrepresenting its structure.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a cross-functional team" functions as a noun phrase. It identifies a specific type of team characterized by its members coming from different functional areas within an organization. This is consistent with Ludwig's examples that show how it is deployed in real sentences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Formal & Business

30%

News & Media

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Science

15%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a cross-functional team" is a noun phrase denoting a team comprised of individuals from various departments or areas of expertise, commonly employed to enhance problem-solving, innovation, and strategic alignment within organizations. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across professional, academic, and news contexts. While alternatives like "an interdisciplinary team" and "an integrated team" exist, the core concept emphasizes diverse skills converging for a unified objective. Remember that effective communication and clearly defined objectives are essential for maximizing the success of such teams.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an interdisciplinary team

Focuses on the collaboration of different academic disciplines, rather than functional areas within an organization.

a multidisciplinary team

Similar to interdisciplinary, but may imply less integration between disciplines.

an integrated team

Emphasizes the cohesive nature of the team's work, whereas "cross-functional" highlights the diverse origins of its members.

a diverse team

Highlights the variety of backgrounds and perspectives, not necessarily the functional roles.

a collaborative team

Focuses on the cooperative aspect of teamwork, rather than the specific composition of the team.

a project team

Specifies the team's purpose (a project) but doesn't inherently imply cross-functionality.

a task force

Implies a team assembled for a specific, often urgent, task.

a working group

A more general term for a group working on something, without the specific implications of "cross-functional".

a combined team

Highlights the merging of different teams, not necessarily across functional areas.

a joint team

Suggests collaboration between separate entities, rather than departments within a single organization.

FAQs

What is the purpose of "a cross-functional team"?

The purpose of "a cross-functional team" is to bring together individuals from different departments or areas of expertise to work collaboratively towards a common goal, leveraging diverse perspectives and skills.

What are the benefits of using "a cross-functional team"?

Benefits include improved problem-solving, increased innovation, better decision-making, and enhanced communication across different parts of an organization. A well-managed team can also lead to greater efficiency and better alignment with overall business objectives.

What skills are important for members of "a cross-functional team"?

Key skills include communication, collaboration, problem-solving, adaptability, and the ability to understand and appreciate different perspectives. Empathy and a willingness to learn from others are also crucial for success.

What can I say instead of "a cross-functional team"?

You can use alternatives like "an interdisciplinary team", "a multidisciplinary team", or "an integrated team" depending on the context.