There exist many types of work teams that can assist an organization in realizing its success. Functional team is an example of work teams that focus on performing specific functions within a company. In most cases, functional teams integrate members of the same department or those employees who work together. Functional teams play a great role in enhancing efficiency since there is sharing of common knowledge and skills. Besides, there is proper coordination among the members since they know each other well. The only disadvantage of these teams is that they may lack diversity in their career growth since they involve members with similar competencies.
Another type of work team is the cross-functional team which involves the members of different departments working together. This implies that employees with different expertise work together towards a common goal. Cross-functional teams enhance efficiency within an organization since each expert may offer his or her ideas that may be vital to the organizational success. Besides, it promotes efficiency across the functional divisions of the organization. The only disadvantage is that such teams discourage specialization. Also, it makes management be very difficult since people from separate areas are integrated Beyerlein, 2000).
Finally, a virtual team is another type of work teams in which a group of individuals operating in away from each other work together via the use of technology. In most cases, the separation of the individuals working together in this team goes beyond the organizational boundaries. This team is cost effective; it has increase productivity and offers an organization more opportunities to develop. However, such teams have various disadvantages such as high technology costs, social isolation and lack of trust and collaboration among the employees. A functional team is better than the others since members work together towards enhancing success in their functional area (Beyerlein, 2000).
References
Beyerlein, M. M. (2000). Work teams: Past, present, and future. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic.
