Cross-Functional Teams

5 minutes 5 Questions

A Cross-Functional team is a group of people with various functional expertise working towards a common goal. In the Scrum method, it's important because the individuals on the team can work independently from one another on various aspects of a project to reach the desired outcome. This allows the team to respond faster to changes, reduces need for hand-offs and dependencies, increases knowledge sharing, fosters innovation and improves the quality of the product by considering different perspectives. Each development team in Scrum should be cross-functional and self-organizing.

Guide to Understanding Cross-Functional Teams in Scrum (PSM I)

Cross-Functional Teams:
These are teams made up of individuals with different skills and expertise who work together towards achieving a common goal. A narrow interpretation of 'cross-functional' defines these teams as having members from different organizational units or departments or groups. However, broader interpretation emphasizes different skills, knowledge, and perspectives that team members bring.

Importance:
Cross-functional teams provide multiple perspectives on a problem, which is integral in agile approaches like Scrum for delivering high-quality products. They also foster innovation, learning, and cooperation, thereby improving team performance and productivity.

How it works:
In a cross-functional team, members self-organize to decide who does what, rather than this being dictated by their functional roles. Team members share responsibilities, learn from each other, and work towards collective success, enhancing their ability to address complex tasks.

Exam tips: Answering Questions on Cross-Functional Teams
- Understand the roles: The exam may ask about specific roles within a cross-functional team. Prepare by thoroughly understanding what each role entails.
- Real world examples: Cases and examples of cross-functional teams can help you see these principles in action, and how the underpinning theory translates to a real world scenario.
- Pitfalls: Recognize the potential pitfalls of cross-functional teams. Anticipating challenges can help you better answer exam scenarios that relate to overcoming these.
- Review the guide: Thoroughly review the Scrum Guide's section on cross-functional teams as many exam questions are derived from this document.
- Practice: Use practice exams to get a feel for the type of questions you might encounter, and to identify any gaps in your understanding.

Test mode:
PSM I - Managing Scrum Teams Example Questions

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Question 1

A cross-functional team is consistently falling short of their sprint goals due to a lack of clear accountability for tasks. Which of the following would be the most effective way to address this issue?

Question 2

In a cross-functional team, team members are losing motivation due to the monotonous nature of their tasks. How can this situation be improved?

Question 3

A cross-functional team is facing challenges in collaboration due to varying levels of technical expertise among members. What is the most effective approach to bridge this gap and enhance teamwork?

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