Question

Typically, direct contact and liaison roles provide sufficient coordination when more than two functions or divisions share many common problems.

Answer 1

When more than two functions or divisions share many common problems, direct contact and liaison roles may not produce enough coordination. In these cases, a more complex integrating mechanism, the team, may be suitable. One manager from each pertinent function or division is allocated to a team that meets to resolve a specific basic problem; team members are accountable the solutions recommended. Teams are progressively being used at all organizational levels.