Cross-functional team in a project with an agile management : Effective strategies and common challenges in a cross-functional team while using agile project management

Abstract: Background: Project Management is an overall methodology that is used for the execution of specific activities which require resources and planning from the organization. A new project methodology, agile project management was introduced when specific tasks required rapid response to constantly changing conditions. In an agile project management, the cross-functional team consists of team members from various departments in the organization with different knowledge levels. The distribution of knowledge level and various work roles in the cross-functional team can bring up important strategies as different challenges as well. Therefore, it is a great of importance from the management level consider different strategies in order to overcome the challenges. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to present the effective strategies and common challenges of the involvement of cross-functional teams in an agile project to obtain a better understanding about when to implement it and how these can be useful from a managerial perspective.Method: The current study follows qualitative research by performing an interview qualitative study with participants from different professional backgrounds and companies from Sweden by performing semi-structured interviews.Conclusion: The results present the four themes were identified which are: communication, knowledge sharing, leadership as the effective strategies and, identified challenges as the common challenges in a cross-functional team while using agile project management.