Building cross-functional teams and encouraging collaboration

The siloed nature of traditional organizational structures can hinder the effective implementation of complex business processes. Leaders can drive change by fostering cross-functional teams that bring diverse skills and perspectives together within a value stream to deliver specific components of an integrated increment. Recall from Chapter 8 (BLAST) and Chapter 9 (BASE) that integrated increments take the form of minimum viable products (MVPs), minimum valuable increments (MVIs), and minimum valuable releases (MVRs). Encouraging collaboration through BLAST teams and teams of teams enhances problem-solving and innovation, making the organization more adaptable to change.

Traditional organizational structures often compartmentalize expertise within distinct departments, leading to what is commonly referred to as silos. These silos can create barriers to communication and workflow, impeding the organization’s ability...