Agile, network, steering teams | Differentiating cross-department collaboration types to eliminate the 'toxic us-versus-them mentality'

Collaborative working always seems like a good idea.

Innovative idea sharing, seamless communication, freeing employees from the friction of cross-department silos…what’s not to like?

Then comes the headache of making it work in practice. Most employers have historically well-defined employee hierarchies that entrench workers within their departments. It’s no surprise that per S&P Global’s Work Execution survey, 72% of employees say they struggle with collaboration. Many workers simply do not have the tools, temperament, or time to facilitate collaboration themselves.

Different types of cross-department collaboration

Provided you have decided that cross-department collaboration is something your organization would benefit from – keep in mind that for some companies, a flatter hierarchy isn’t necessarily the right option – consider there are different structures for collaboration to take place.