Types of Teams (Advantages & Disadvantages) Teams can be divided into four main categories: project teams; self-managed teams; virtual teams; and operational teams. Depending on the purpose of your team, its location and organizational structure, you can choose which type. Each type of team has its own strengths and weaknesses. Each type of team has its own strengths and weaknesses. To make the most of your team, you need to understand the main characteristics of each type of team. This type of team allows for you to organize work in a clear, measurable, and limited time. You can clearly assign roles, responsibilities and deadlines. You can also assign clear roles, responsibilities, and deadlines by choosing both experienced and inexperienced workers.

Functional Teams These teams are permanent, and always include members from the same department with different responsibilities. Everyone reports to the manager, who is responsible for everything. These types of teams are more likely to be found in companies that incorporate traditional project management.Sometimes, in order to complete a project, several departments need to work together. For example, the marketing department starts the work on a new product. The idea is then passed to research and development for its feasibility. Finally, the design department is responsible for giving the product a unique look and feel. Finally, the manufacturing department makes the product. This is called “baton passing”. It requires a manager that has oversight of the entire project and ensures that there are no obstacles when it comes to transferring work from one team to another.Advantages and Disadvantages of Functional Teams Advantages:Handles routine work Line management has control of projects Pools technical and professional expertise Disadvantages:Difficult communication across areas Pushing the decision-making process upwards Inflexible Cross-functional Teams Cross-functional teams are made up of members from various departments. These teams are able to tackle specific tasks that require different expertise and inputs. Even though cross-functional teams are becoming increasingly popularworldwide, a recent studyhas proven that a whopping 75% of all cross-functional teams are dysfunctional.Advantages and Disadvantages of Cross-functional Teams Advantages:Greater speed of task completion Can handle a wide array of projects Source of unconventional ideas Disadvantages:Takes a long time to develop cohesion Management can prove to be challenging Diversity can cause conflict Matrix Teams These teams are characterized by a “two-boss system”, where an individual reports to a different manager for various aspects of his work. This team is the result of theMatrix management system. Let’s say Jeff was asked to design a product for which marketing had an idea and R&D had deemed it feasible. Jeff suddenly has two bosses because he was included in the project. The first is a project manager who is only concerned with the design, while the second is his functional line manager, who is responsible for Jeff’s training, career development and routine tasks. [Find our cheat sheet with all these types of teams on one page at the bottom of this post]While this approach helps the top management retain control over the project without being included in day-to-day decisions, employees are often faced with challenges of dual command: Jeff now has to report to two managers, who might give him conflict instructions, which causes confusion and frustration.Advantages and Disadvantages of Matrix Teams Advantages:Acceptable to traditional managers Flexibility for assigned person