Definition: A multidisciplinary team is a group of people that have different but complementary skills who work towards a shared objective. The term refers to teams where various experiences and abilities are combined with the purpose of achieving common purposes.
What Does Multidisciplinary Team Mean?
This kind of team can be useful within any context. In companies, team members are usually appointed by a superior with the aim of carrying out a project or special task. If the work requires diverse functions and specialties to be done each member contributes with his particular talent to the group.
When various abilities are applied it is possible to have a more comprehensive and enriched approach to a topic, problem or project. Different disciplines usually have distinctive ways of thinking, analyzing and creating solutions but put together they can develop a more productive output.
In order to guarantee fluid work and satisfactory results, clear roles and boundaries for each participant must be set since the beginning. Each person has to know how the team will work, which one is his specific role and what to expect from others. But at the same time, it is indispensable to maintain a common vision and a sense of shared goals.
Example
Lye & Hanson is a retails store’s chain specialized in formal clothing for special events. The firm wanted to design and implement tailored software to improve its key competitive advantage, which was customer advice and service, by supporting store personnel when providing ideas and solutions to clients. It would also allow on-line interaction with clients. The CEO thought that a multidisciplinary team was required to guarantee an excellent product.
Employees from marketing, customer service, store management and information technology departments formed the project’s team. An external graphic designer was also supporting the task and the Service Manager led the team. The multidisciplinary group successfully accomplished the task and provided the company with an innovative, value-added solution.
