Developing and Managing Cross-Functional Teams: A Multi-Case Study of Brazilian Manufacturing Companies



Document title: Developing and Managing Cross-Functional Teams: A Multi-Case Study of Brazilian Manufacturing Companies
Journal: Journal of technology management & innovation
Database: CLASE
System number: 000534574
ISSN: 0718-2724
Authors: 1
2
3
Institutions: 1Universidade Federal de Uberlandia, Management and Business College, Uberlandia, Minas Gerais. Brasil
2Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos, Department of Industrial Engineering, Sao Carlos, Sao Paulo. Brasil
3University of Tennessee, Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management, Knoxville, Tennessee. Estados Unidos de América
Year:
Season: Jul
Volumen: 9
Number: 2
Pages: 1-16
Country: Chile
Language: Inglés
Document type: Artículo
Approach: Analítico, descriptivo
English abstract The growth of industries and the strong economic base in Brazil require improvements and adaptations in business processes. Cross-functional teams (CFT) may help to companies achieve these improvements. This research looks at characterizing CFT according to application processes, structures, objectives and impacts, considering the context of demand planning and related processes. In-depth interviews with 22 managers were performed in three Brazilian manufacturing companies. A framework to characterize CFT and respective impacts is proposed, including elements such as: procedures, context and goals, power distribution, impacts on cross-functional integration, impacts on teams' performance and on organization's performance. One significant managerial finding is that effective and efficient CFTs need balanced distribution of power among members by effectively establishing and structuring the team. By doing this, managers may observe positive impacts on inter-functional integration and in firm's results. Moreover, teams should permanently perform joint planning to predict unfavorable situations, improve communication and mutual understanding
Disciplines: Administración y contaduría
Keyword: Economía industrial,
Empresas,
Equipos multifuncionales,
Oferta y demanda,
Integración multifuncional,
Impacto de integración,
Brasil
Keyword: Industrial economics,
Enterprises,
Cross-functional teams,
Demand and supply,
Cross-functional integration,
Impacts of integration,
Brazil
Full text: Texto completo (Ver HTML) Texto completo (Ver PDF)