|
Cross-Functional
Team Components
Cross-Functional
On paper, the formula is simple: Choose the right team to
develop a new product and give it all the right resources.
But knowing what comprises the right team is the real challenge,
according to TEC new product development expert Nick
Webb.
"The key is ensuring that all functions within the organization
are well-represented," he says. This includes:
|
Engineering |
|
Operations |
|
Manufacturing |
|
Sales |
|
Marketing |
|
Finance |
|
Customer Service |
"In many cases, a company assigns engineers with the
responsibility to develop new products and they work in isolation,"
says fellow TEC expert Mitch Goozé.
"This leaves them at a disadvantage, since the majority
of engineers have little interaction with customers."
In addition to the cross-functional team, successful companies
(a) include customers, suppliers and distributors on the team
or (b) solicit their input during the earliest stages of the
process. (See "The Voice of the Customer" in Additional
Resources at right.)
The cross-functional team is dedicated to the project, accountable
for it from idea to launch and aided by a powerful "product
champion" (sometimes the CEO, more often a senior executive).
[top]
|
