Jiri’s Notepad

Pete Beherns has some good intro on cross-functional teams:

In Winning at New Products, Robert Cooper outlines a study that evaluated the relative effectiveness of different project management structures for product development. They evaluated five types of structures:

1. Functional - the project is divided into segments, which are assigned to relevant functional areas or groups.
2. Functional Matrix - A project manager with limited authority is designated to coordinate the project across different functional areas. The functional managers retain responsibility and authority for their specific segments of the project.
3. Balanced Matrix - A project manager is assigned to oversee the project and shares the responsibility and authority for completing the project with the functional managers; there is joint approval and direction.
4. Project Matrix - A project manager is assigned to oversee the project and has primary responsibility and authority for the project. Functional managers assign personnel as needed and provide technical expertise.
5. Project Team - A project manager is put in charge of a project team composed of a core group of personnel from several functional areas. The functional managers have no formal involvement.

I suspect each of them can be the ‘right’ solution. Overall success depends probably more on each actor understanding and working towards joint objectives and appreciating role of other parties.