Describe a time in your professional life when a cross-functional team worked together to achieve an organization’s goal.What are the benefits and challenges?Review and consider the team collaboration scenario described by two of your peers. One way to respond to each of your peers is to share your thoughts on the types of collaboration shared by your peers. Another approach would be to provide your perspective on the strategies that you have seen cross-functional teams use to accomplish goals.For assistance with your assignment, please use your text, Web resources and all course materials.Must have three posts: A Main Post and two replies to peers.First post: Either your main post or a reply to others must be posted before midnight CT (Central time) on Friday of each week.I launched a painting business last year and needed a website. A cross funtional team will combine resources to acheive a common goal or interest. Each member contributing her/ his expertise in the matter. Teams work better when they are diverse, this increases the perspective angle that the project is completed with. Not one person knows every aspect of the project after all, and if they do, it is still recomended that they work with a team. Ideas are created or improved upon when there are different trains of thought behind them. The team that I compiled included a website designer, a researcher and an industry expert. While I do know how to paint and would be the person performing all of the services offered on the website, an industry experts input would guide me through the service offers on the website. I did not want to promote a service for a certain price, or offer a service that could jeapordize my bottom line or company reputation.I was advised on commercial painting services, how they are invoiced and given advice based on the industry experts personal experience. This way I knew what to expect and could make a better decision and decide weather commercial painting services were to be part of my service offering or not.The website designer had the expertise of working with web design and coding software that I didn’t. Yes, you can find plenty of website builders out there which allow you create your own landing page or domain, and even a logo. However, sourcing the correct site alone is time consuming. I could follow the advice of someone who has used a certain website builder because it was easy to use, however what is easy for them may not be easy for me. A professional logo also required email dialogue and sourcing a supplier, again time consuming.The web designer created my website, provided me with a domain and an awesome company logo in two weeks. Great timing considering I used those two weeks to register my business with the county, and tax office. Purchase supplies that I needed to perform my service offerings or run my business. I was also able to continue to work throughout the same time, which created revenue for me to run the business with.Cross functional teams save time, money and prevent setbacks which could drastically alter a projects outcome. Working together gives the project a unique perspective, and utilizing expertise creates efficeincy. A time in my professional life when a cross-functional team worked together to achieve an organization’s goal was during a product launch project. The goal was to successfully introduce a new product into the market and increase sales within six months.The cross-functional team consisted of individuals from marketing, finance, and human resources departments, each bringing their unique skills and ability to the table. The marketing team oversaw creating a comprehensive marketing strategy and promotional campaigns. The finance team managed budgeting and financial analysis to ensure the project was financially workable. The human resources team supplied support in terms of hiring and training the added staff needed for the product launch.One of the major benefits of working in a cross-functional team was the diverse perspectives and ability that each team member brought. This allowed for a more integrated approach to problem-solving and decision-making. By tapping into the knowledge and skills of each team member, we were able to develop a well-rounded marketing strategy that considered both financial constraints and human resource requirements.However, there were also some challenges that we met. One of the main challenges was communication. With team members coming from different departments, we had to overcome communication barriers and ensure that everyone was on the same page. This required effective communication channels and regular updates to keep everyone informed about the progress and any changes in the project.Another challenge was coordinating and aligning the efforts of different team members. Each department had its own priorities and deadlines, and it was crucial to align these with the overall project timeline. This required effective project management and coordination skills to ensure that everyone was working towards the same goal and meeting the established milestones.In terms of collaboration strategies, our cross-functional team used regular meetings and brainstorming sessions to foster collaboration and idea-sharing. We encouraged open communication and encouraged team members to supply input and feedback. This allowed us to use the diverse abilities within the team and produce innovative solutions.Additionally, we also used project management tools and software to track progress, assign tasks, and watch deadlines. This helped in streamlining the workflow and ensuring that everyone was accountable for their responsibilities.In reviewing the team collaboration scenarios described by my peers, several types of collaboration were employed. Peer A highlighted the importance of effective communication and collaboration tools in their cross-functional team. This aligns with my own experience, as clear communication channels and the use of project management tools were crucial to our project’s success.On the other hand, Peer B emphasized the need for trust and respect among team members. This is indeed an important aspect of collaboration, as it fosters a positive working environment and encourages open dialogue.In conclusion, cross-functional teams can be highly effective in achieving an organization’s goals by using diverse abilities and perspectives. While there may be challenges in terms of communication and coordination, using effective collaboration strategies and tools can help overcome these obstacles. By working together towards a common goal, cross-functional teams can drive innovation and success within an organization.
