What is a Dedicated Team Model?

A dedicated team model, also known as an agile or cross-functional team, is a collaborative group of individuals working together towards a common goal. Unlike traditional hierarchical structures, dedicated teams are designed to be more flexible and adaptable, allowing for better collaboration and communication between team members.

The Benefits of Dedicated Teams

Dedicated teams offer several benefits over traditional hierarchical structures. These include:

• Improved communication and collaboration: By working together on the same project or product, team members can better understand each other’s needs and goals, leading to more effective communication and collaboration.
• Increased productivity and efficiency: Dedicated teams are designed to be more flexible and adaptable, allowing for faster decision-making and problem-solving. This can lead to increased productivity and efficiency, as team members can quickly adjust their work to meet changing needs or requirements.
• Enhanced innovation: By bringing together individuals with diverse skills and experiences, dedicated teams are better equipped to generate new ideas and solutions. This can help organizations stay ahead of the competition and drive business growth.
• Better customer experience: Dedicated teams often include members with direct experience working with customers or clients. This can help ensure that projects or products meet customer needs and expectations, leading to a better overall customer experience.

Case Study: General Electric’s Digital Industrial Business

General Electric (GE) is an excellent example of a company that has successfully implemented a dedicated team model to drive business success. In 2015, GE announced its “Digital Industrial Business,” which aimed to leverage technology and data analytics to improve the performance of their industrial products and services.

To support this initiative, GE created dedicated cross-functional teams consisting of individuals from engineering, marketing, operations, and finance. These teams worked together to design and develop new products and services that leveraged advanced technologies such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, and robotics.

By working together, the teams were able to identify opportunities for improvement in their manufacturing processes and create innovative solutions that improved efficiency and reduced costs. As a result of this approach, GE’s Digital Industrial Business has grown significantly, generating over $1 billion in revenue in 2020.

Optimizing Team Engagement with a Dedicated Team Model

Now that we have discussed the benefits of dedicated teams let’s explore how organizations can optimize team engagement with this approach. Here are some tips:

1. Define clear roles and responsibilities: To ensure effective collaboration and communication, it is essential to define clear roles and responsibilities for each team member. This includes identifying who will lead the team, who will be responsible for project management, and who will be responsible for specific tasks or functions.
2. Foster a culture of transparency: Dedicated teams are designed to be more transparent than traditional hierarchical structures, with team members sharing information openly and frequently. Encourage this by providing a safe space for team members to share their ideas, opinions, and concerns. This can help foster trust and improve communication, leading to better business outcomes.
3. Encourage experimentation and risk-taking: Dedicated teams are designed to be more flexible and adaptable than traditional hierarchical structures. Encourage team members to experiment with new ideas and approaches, and celebrate successes along the way. This can help foster an environment of innovation and creativity, leading to better business outcomes.
4. Provide ongoing training and development: As technology and business landscapes evolve rapidly, it is essential to provide ongoing training and development opportunities for team members to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and tools. This can help ensure that teams are equipped with the skills they need to succeed and contribute to the organization’s growth.
5. Celebrate successes and recognize achievements: It is important to celebrate successes and recognize achievements along the way, both as individuals and as a team. This can help foster a sense of accomplishment and motivate team members to continue striving for excellence in their work.
6. Encourage open communication and feedback: Open communication and feedback are critical for optimizing team engagement with a dedicated team model. Encourage team members to provide constructive feedback on the team’s performance, both positive and negative. This can help identify areas for improvement and ensure that everyone is working towards the same goals.