Guide to Cross Functional Teams - PMI ACP Exam

What is a Cross Functional Team?
A cross functional team is a group of individuals with diverse functional expertise who collaborate towards a common goal. It involves bringing together people who perform different roles in an organization, for instance, sales, marketing, engineering etc. to work collaboratively and utilize their diverse skills to achieve desired outcomes.

Why It's Important
Cross functional teams foster innovation, accelerate decision-making process, and enable better problem solving by pooling together varied perspectives. It's vital for Agile Project Management as it fosters adaptability, promotes seamless communication, and facilitates a quick response to changes.

How It Works:
In a cross-functional team, each member brings their unique knowledge and skillset, contributing towards various aspects of a project. Collaboration, communication, and mutual respect are key elements in working of such teams.

Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Cross Functional Teams
Knowing the principles and working of Cross Functional Teams is important for PMI-ACP Exam.
- Understand the concept thoroughly, don’t treat it as a memorizing exercise.
- Remember, not everyone in the team has the same skill set.
- Responses highlighting benefits of diverse skill sets, improved communication and collaboration stand a better chance of scoring.
- Spot scenarios in questions where cross-functional teams could be utilized to resolve issues.
- Questions may relate to overcoming challenges within cross-functional teams, remember that open communication, respect, and each team member’s contribution are part of the solutions.