One of the forms that work teams can take is that of a multidisciplinary team, which is defined as a team made up of professionals from different disciplines. different academic and professional backgrounds. This type of team has certain advantages over more traditional teams (made up of professionals from the same field of work). However, they also present certain difficulties of their own, so it is important to know how to manage them correctly.
As the name suggests, a multidisciplinary team is a type of team, which is characterised by bringing together professionals from different disciplines.. In this way, people with very different academic careers and work experiences can be found in the same team. This type of team is designed to provide a greater perspective in the work process because, despite the fact that the members belong to different fields of work, they all have different backgrounds. work together to solve a specific problem together. In other words, despite their differences, they have a common project, which is what constitutes the raison d'être of the team in question.
A priori, multidisciplinary teams are considered to have more advantages than disadvantages, which is why, in many cases, the creation of this type of work teams is specifically sought for certain specific projects. Some of the most important advantages usually associated with this type of work teams are the following:
Logically, the first advantage of a multidisciplinary team is that it has a broader perspective than a unidisciplinary team. Each person in the multidisciplinary team has his or her own perspective, different from that of the rest of the team, which, when working together, can contribute to problem solving. In this way, by having a broader perspective as a whole, they also have a broader perspective than a unidisciplinary team. greater resolution capacity.
As there are professionals from different fields, the different tasks can be distributed according to the training of each one, which leads to a higher performance of each of the individuals that make up the group and, consequently, there is a greater number of professionals available. much more efficient pace of work in all senses of the word.
This is another advantage often associated with multidisciplinary teams. By having professionals from different fields, monitoring is carried out jointly as a result of the greater autonomy that each professional has in his or her specific field. In other words, although there are individual areas of work, these plots must move forward to be on a par with the rest, These others cannot be held up by the delays of other team members, as each of them is responsible for his or her own area.
However, despite the fact that in general, it can be considered that the multidisciplinary teams work better Although they offer more advantages than unidisciplinary teams, they also have their own drawbacks, which are important to know how to deal with on a day-to-day basis. Some of the most relevant disadvantages of this type of team are the following:
As a multidisciplinary team has very distinct individual work plots, it is common for members to tend to compare their own work with that of their colleagues. This, while it may motivate the individual to improve in his or her own field, can also be a source of motivation. source of frustration and conflict, both on a personal level and within the team itself.
On the other hand, multidisciplinary teams can lead to episodes of high competitiveness as a result of the fact that some members try to give more value to their sector or discipline than to the others. Because of this, it is essential to have well-defined protocols for action, as well as an authority within the group that allows each participation within the team to be given the corresponding value and importance.
Finally, another disadvantage of a multidisciplinary team is that, by fostering greater communication within the team itself, the relationships evolve to a term that is closer to personal than professional. When this happens, it is important to know how to manage it correctly, otherwise it could jeopardise the success of the project, as well as the internal processes of each of the project's tasks.
As can be seen, although a multidisciplinary team has many advantages, it also has its own characteristics that must be dealt with. Thus, managing a multidisciplinary team can be more complex than managing a unidisciplinary team. Some of the most useful management tips are as follows:
First of all, it is essential that multidisciplinary teams have a leader or authority that it is the reference person in managing them. In this way, their judgement will be the qualified voice when it comes to resolving any problems or discrepancies that may arise.
On the other hand, it is also essential that all members of the team are clear about the joint project objectives and the work of the team, as well as their own objectives within the team, which must always be subject to the final objectives of the project as a whole.
As mentioned above, one of the drawbacks of this type of work equipment is that it is particularly favourable to the development of sympathies within it. Thus, one of the aspects that can best help to manage them is to correctly define the working environment in order to be able to differentiate it from other areas. In this way, it will be possible to clearly differentiate the function to be performed during working hours of which may be carried out outside working hours, including in cases where friendships arise within the multidisciplinary team itself.
