Proposal for best practices for cross-functional collaboration
Raivio, Heidi (2022)
2022
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202205108422
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202205108422
Tiivistelmä
The objective of the study was to propose best practices for cross-functional collaboration for the case company. The case company has recognised a disconnect in collaboration between teams. The Covid-19 pandemic years and the increasing demands from customers has made the disconnect more evident and the case company is determined to improve its operation.
Design research using a qualitative method was chosen as the research approach for this study because the approach supported the nature of the study. The study was conducted in four stages. The first stage was a current state analysis to collect data and gain understanding of the current situation and find the strengths and weaknesses. Chosen weaknesses were utilised in the second stage together with knowledge from relevant literature to create a conceptual framework. In the third stage an initial proposal, based on the outcomes from the previous stages was co-created together with stakeholders. The fourth and final stage of the study was a validation stage where senior management provided feedback to the initial proposal. The initial proposal was adjusted according to the feedback to form the final proposal.
The weaknesses found in the current state analysis concerned the entire company as many of them were related to a siloed structure in the case company. The weaknesses were categorised according to a structure found from literature to be able to target all necessary areas in the case company. The same categories: Values, Leadership, Roles, rewarding and development, Collaborative factors, and Environmental factors were used in the proposal.
The outcome of this study, the final recommendations provide a set of practical actions to improve cross-functional collaboration in the case company. When implemented, they will rise the feeling of community amongst employees and enable and encourage collaboration.
Design research using a qualitative method was chosen as the research approach for this study because the approach supported the nature of the study. The study was conducted in four stages. The first stage was a current state analysis to collect data and gain understanding of the current situation and find the strengths and weaknesses. Chosen weaknesses were utilised in the second stage together with knowledge from relevant literature to create a conceptual framework. In the third stage an initial proposal, based on the outcomes from the previous stages was co-created together with stakeholders. The fourth and final stage of the study was a validation stage where senior management provided feedback to the initial proposal. The initial proposal was adjusted according to the feedback to form the final proposal.
The weaknesses found in the current state analysis concerned the entire company as many of them were related to a siloed structure in the case company. The weaknesses were categorised according to a structure found from literature to be able to target all necessary areas in the case company. The same categories: Values, Leadership, Roles, rewarding and development, Collaborative factors, and Environmental factors were used in the proposal.
The outcome of this study, the final recommendations provide a set of practical actions to improve cross-functional collaboration in the case company. When implemented, they will rise the feeling of community amongst employees and enable and encourage collaboration.