Close

Becoming a cross-functional product team


Building great software products is a team sport – which means it ain't easy. Anyone who has tried to align cross-functional teams around the "what"s and "why"s knows just how hard it can be. 

Here's a hand-picked collection of plays that'll help build a shared understanding of your team's goals and keep momentum high so your team is happier, healthier, and more effective.

Blocks forming a square around a yellow circle

Top 4 plays for project management

These plays help keep your team focused, your stakeholders informed, and your project moving right along.

Papers icon

5 Whys

Typically, this technique is used for root-cause analysis after a problem is discovered. But! Cross-functional product teams can use it to dig into the problem space around a feature they're building or customer pain point they're trying to solve. 

journey mapping

Journey Mapping

At the start of this exercise, your team will problem or project from a designer's perspective, a developer's perspective, a tester's perspective, etc. By the end, you'll all be seeing it from the customer's perspective.

Team with signal illustration

Demo Trust

Your team members have different skills, priorities, and problem-solving styles. Which is great... until you can't decide which direction to go. Use this play to get high-level guidance from leadership. 

Different waves of communication

Project Poster

Cross-functional projects are more complex than solo projects. Use this play to think through the problem you're solving, strategic fit, risks, assumptions, and possible solutions. 

 

also recommeded

Project Team Health Monitor

Use the Health Monitor to self-assess against eight attributes common amongst high-performing teams, then track your progress over time.

Gather your project team for an honest discussion about how you're working together.

 

guided health monitor

Want even more Playbook?

Drop your email below to be notified when we add new Health Monitors and plays.

Thanks! Now get back to work.

Got feedback?

Drop a question or comment on the Atlassian Community site.