Understanding the Role of the Function in Cross-Functional Teams

In today’s dynamic business environment, the traditional hierarchical model is evolving to accommodate more fluid and adaptive structures. One such structure is the cross-functional team, which brings together individuals from various departments to achieve a common goal. However, the success of these teams hinges on a clear understanding of the role of the function and the team within the organization.

The shift in functional managers’ roles

When employees are primarily allocated to cross-functional teams, the role of functional managers shifts significantly. Instead of direct operational oversight, their focus becomes more strategic, supportive, and developmental.

Functional managers are crucial for maintaining long-term organizational health, expertise, and employee growth. They are responsible for building a robust, skilled, and future-ready workforce that can effectively contribute to multiple cross-functional endeavours.

Key responsibilities of functional managers

Functional managers have several key responsibilities that ensure the smooth operation and success of their teams:

1. Guardian of functional expertise: Ensuring that there are enough suitably trained members to meet the organization’s needs. This includes skills planning, recruitment, and ensuring employees are up to date with industry standards and best practices.
2. Establishing and recognizing functional excellence: Managing recognition programs that celebrate contributions to functional expertise, innovation, and knowledge sharing.
3. Functional performance management: Evaluating and developing the performance of function-specific technical competence and skills.
4. Standardization and governance: Creating and enforcing policies, procedures, tools, and standards relevant to the function.
5. Career development and mentoring: Supporting long-term career growth, professional development, and succession planning for employees within the function.
6. Conducting purely functional work: Supporting the business in areas like recruitment, payroll, infrastructure management, and brand management
7. Input to cross-functional team goals: Providing input on the functional expertise required to achieve team goals and ensuring individual capabilities align
8. Technology and tool adoption: Making decisions about new software, systems, or tools to enhance functional efficiency or capability.

The role of the horizontal axis in a cross functional or matrix organization

While business functions represent traditional vertical structures, horizontal structures are designed to ensure that people are effectively deployed to deliver specific outcomes like projects and cross-functional processes. Typical responsibilities on the horizontal axis include defining project goals, monitoring progress, managing timelines and budgets, and resolving team-level operational issues.

Shared responsibilities and leadership tasks

In a matrix or cross-functional organization, some tasks require collaboration between functional and cross-functional leaders. These shared responsibilities include performance management, goal setting, communication, development and coaching, resource allocation, recognition and rewards, and conflict resolution.

Conclusion

The role of the function in cross-functional teams is pivotal for organizational success. By clearly defining the responsibilities of functional managers and ensuring effective collaboration between vertical and horizontal structures, organizations can achieve a balance that fosters innovation, agility, and high performance. Understanding and optimizing the role of the function is essential for navigating the complexities of modern organizational design.

In our cross functional training programs we focus on developing a shared understanding of the role of the vertical and the horizontal and clarity about which leadership tasks are performed by which axis. If you’d like to find out more, please contact us