What are cross-functional teams

Cross-functional teams unite professionals with diverse expertise working collaboratively toward shared product goals. Unlike traditional departmental structures, these teams bring together designers, developers, product managers, and other specialists to work side-by-side throughout the product development lifecycle.

More and more organizations today are shifting from traditional hierarchical structures to cross-functional teams, reflecting modern needs for agility and innovation. This evolution began as organizations recognized that siloed departments and lengthy approval chains hindered rapid product development. Modern cross-functional teams eliminate these barriers, enabling quick iterations through direct collaboration and shared ownership, leading to faster market response and improved product and business outcomes.^[1]