Cross functional teams: A key for improving systems thinking in an organization

Abstract

To improve systems thinking in micro, small and medium-sized organizations, the main efforts should be aimed towards enhancing the capacity and competence for analyzing, understanding and optimization of established systems in an organization. As Katzenbach and Smith elaborated expertly in 1993, a cross functional team represents a composition of multiple people with various organizational functions regardless of hierarchy, but tactically chosen for their complementary skills and committed to a common organizational vision and goal (Katzenbach & Smith, 1993). This paper explores the thesis that cross-functional teams are a key pillar in the development of the systems thinking capacity of any small to medium organization. The author will review the relevant and available literature defining teams, cross functional teams, will provide an insight into the works of various contemporary authors in systems thinking thus providing a descriptive analysis on the thesis.