At first, cross-functional dev teams might seem chaotic - engineers swapping hats between backend and frontend, or even occasionally stepping into new dev territories. It’s tempting to dismiss this approach as inefficient or impractical, especially when specialists have been the go-to model for decades. But that’s a mistake. Some of the most effective teams today thrive on flexibility, breaking silos, and solving problems across disciplines.
Cross-functional teams unlock a level of productivity that specialists can’t match. And the good news? You don’t need to overhaul your organization overnight to see the benefits. It starts with a shift in mindset, some smart changes, and the willingness to experiment.
Here’s what makes cross-functional teams work—and how they consistently outperform traditional setups.
Traditional vs. cross-functional dev teams
Imagine a team of six engineers:
- 2 backend developers
- 2 frontend developers
- 1 iOS developer
- 1 Android developer
Now, here's some context:
- Team 1: A group of engineers who are highly specialized, each focusing exclusively on tasks within their expertise.
- Team 2: A group of engineers with the same core expertise, but equipped with cross-functional skills, enabling them to contribute to other technologies when needed.
- For this example, we’ll assume that a cross-functional engineer is 50% less productive when working outside their primary technology (though in practice, this gap is often much smaller).
- To keep things straightforward, we’ll measure effort in hours, but you could just as easily use metrics like features, screens, requests, or bugs—the conclusions remain consistent.
- Each engineer will be modeled with a monthly salary of €5,000.
- We’ll also explore a scenario where cross-functional engineers earn 20% more, bringing their salary to €6,000 per month.
Example 1: the differences in delivering features
To highlight the impact of cross-functional skills, let’s look at how two different teams—one specialized and one cross-functional—handle the same feature delivery with the following workload:
- Backend development: 400 hours
- Frontend development: 120 hours
- iOS development: 200 hours
- Android development: 120 hours
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In this scenario, the cross-functional team delivers faster, even with higher salaries for engineers who bring additional skills to the table. Why? Because the flexibility to distribute work prevents delays caused by bottlenecks in any single area.
Example 2: managing absences
Now, let’s consider a variation of the previous example. The team is tasked with implementing the same feature. However, there’s one crucial difference: one of the iOS developers is on a two-week holiday. This scenario provides valuable insight into how a cross-functional team can adapt to unexpected resource constraints, ensuring smoother delivery despite challenges, compared to a traditional team structure.
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In this scenario, the traditional team faces significant delays as the iOS tasks come to a halt during the developer’s absence. In contrast, the cross-functional team quickly adapts by redistributing the workload across team members, ensuring steady progress and ultimately saving both time and money.
Beyond delivery: the case against specialized teams
Some might argue, “this only applies to delivery teams—specialized tech groups are better suited for certain tasks”. While that might seem valid for very small teams, larger organizations often face alignment and coordination challenges that specialized teams struggle to overcome. Here are a few examples:
- Misaligned APIs: The backend team completes an API and passes it to the mobile team. However, during implementation, the mobile team discovers the API doesn’t meet their requirements. By the time the backend team, now focused on other priorities, can address the issue, weeks have been lost, creating unnecessary delays.
- Unbalanced priorities: When teams focus solely on their specific responsibilities—backend devs on backend tasks, mobile devs on mobile tasks—there’s no one ensuring the final product delivers a cohesive and user-friendly experience. The result? A disjointed product that frustrates users.
- Competing goals: The database team optimizes for performance independently of the backend team developing a new feature. When integration problems arise, the database team has already moved on, leaving unresolved issues and delaying the project further.
Cross-functional teams sidestep these issues by aligning around shared delivery goals rather than isolated tasks, ensuring smoother collaboration and better outcomes.
Addressing common questions
Transitioning to a cross-functional mindset often raises important questions, from when to expand your skills to how this approach benefits both individuals and teams. Here’s a closer look at some of the most common concerns and why cross-functional expertise is worth the effort.
Are the examples of cross-functional work accurate? Can’t I focus on other tasks, like tech debt, while I’m blocked?
While it’s true that you can address tech debt or similar tasks when blocked, the ultimate priority is delivering value to users as quickly as possible. Cross-functional skills eliminate many bottlenecks, enabling faster problem-solving and directly benefiting clients and users alike.
When should I start using different technologies?
Build a solid foundation in one technology before branching out. Mid-level developers typically focus on mastering their primary area before learning additional skills, often as a key step toward promotion. Don’t rush—depth in one technology always comes first.
My performance isn’t as strong in other technologies compared to my primary expertise. Is that a problem?
Not at all—it’s completely normal. Even if your productivity is lower initially, contributing across areas is far better than waiting for tasks in your primary specialty. Plus, over time, your skills in other technologies will improve. Today’s AI tools and code copilots make switching between technologies easier than ever. Good engineers with strong fundamentals can adapt, and the learning curve is part of the process.
I specialize in one technology. How can I start contributing to other areas, given my current lower performance in those?
Here’s how to begin expanding your expertise:
- Implement small examples in a new technology during downtime.
- Watch tutorials or read foundational materials about the technology you’re exploring.
- Pair program with experienced teammates who can guide and review your work.
- Attend workshops or participate in hands-on training sessions focused on the technology.
Why should I be cross-functional? What are the benefits?
Cross-functional engineers enjoy several advantages:
- Better compensation: Companies value efficiency and flexibility, and cross-functional skills translate directly into higher pay.
- Job security: Adaptable engineers are more competitive in dynamic markets and can easily transition across roles.
- Career growth: Cross-functional knowledge often leads to faster career progression, including opportunities in management and leadership roles like CTO, due to a broader understanding of software systems.
Why aren’t all companies cross-functional? Many still rely on single-technology specialists.
Companies that aren’t tech-first or prioritize innovation may be slower to adopt cross-functional models. These organizations, often support-focused rather than product-driven, are comfortable with longer delivery cycles. Additionally, outsourcing firms may need specialists for narrowly defined tasks, especially in cost-competitive markets.
Final thoughts
Being cross-functional doesn’t mean giving up your specialization—it means building flexibility into your skillset. Teams with cross-functional abilities work faster, avoid bottlenecks, and foster a culture of shared responsibility. It’s a faster, more efficient way of working, and the impact is clear in the results.
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