Cross-functional team

What is a cross-functional team?

In scrum, a cross-functional team is a self-managing group with the diverse skills needed to deliver incremental value every sprint. Because this group has all (or most) of the necessary expertise within the team, they can reduce handoffs and reliance on external dependencies, creating a more efficient, effective, and collaborative workflow while breaking down silos within the organization.

Cross-functional team members can include developers, testers, designers, and any other roles required to achieve the sprint goal. All team members share ownership of the work and responsibility for the outcome. Together, they decide how to organize and execute their work within the sprint framework. 

Cross-functional teams have diverse skills, but that doesn't mean everyone has to be an expert in everything. Instead, the team aims to have a mix of competencies. Teams may have specialists, and they often have "T-shaped" professionals, who are individuals who have deep expertise in a certain domain along with a broad range of other skills. Your T-shaped colleagues are ready to step in and move work to done when someone with deeper expertise in that area is unavailable.

Why cross-functional teams are important

Cross-functional teams help organizations deliver value to customers more consistently by reducing delays and improving responsiveness. With a range of skills in one group, they can stay focused on solving the right problems and delivering work that creates real impact for customers or the business.

Faster value delivery and decision-making

When a team has the skills it needs in-house, it can move more efficiently without waiting on other departments. Such a streamlined approach supports steady progress and helps the team hit their sprint goals more reliably.

Improved collaboration

Working side by side throughout the sprint encourages open communication and quick problem-solving. Team members stay aligned, which helps them catch issues early and avoid confusion that might cause delays or rework. Because they can respond to problems right away, they don’t waste time waiting on others or ramping up external teams. That immediacy lowers the time and effort needed to make progress.

Increased agility

Cross-functional teams are better equipped to adjust when plans change. They can reorganize their work, make trade-offs, and keep momentum without getting stuck waiting on outside input.

Frequently asked questions

How is a cross-functional team different from a traditional team?

In a traditional team, specialists are grouped by function, such as designers, developers, or testers, and they often work in separate departments. As work moves between these groups, handoffs can slow progress and create bottlenecks. In a cross-functional team, the members have all (or almost all) of the skills needed to complete work within the team, reducing dependencies and improving collaboration. By working closely together, team members can address challenges more efficiently and keep projects moving forward.

Do cross-functional teams mean every team member must be skilled in everything?

No, team members bring different areas of expertise, but they collaborate closely and may develop complementary skills over time. The goal is not for everyone to do everything but for the team to have all the skills needed to achieve their goals without relying on external groups.

Can a cross-functional team include specialists?

Yes, a cross-functional team can include specialists as long as the team, as a whole, has the necessary skills to deliver a product increment. Team members work together and maintain an open collaboration flow to complete the sprint goal.

How does a cross-functional team support agility?

A cross-functional team can respond to changing priorities, customer feedback, and shifting business needs more easily because it has all the necessary expertise within the team. Instead of waiting on approvals or depending on other departments, team members collaborate directly to make decisions and adjust their work as needed. Their ability to adapt quickly keeps projects moving and ensures a steady flow of value.