Final answer:
Shifting power dynamics in cross-functional teams can lead to leadership ambiguity, making it important to establish clear roles and maintain open communication to ensure effective collaboration and conflict management.
Step-by-step explanation:
Managing cross-functional teams can be challenging because of the shifting power dynamics that happen due to the varying expertise each member brings to the team. This shift can result in leadership ambiguity, where it's unclear who has authority or responsibility in certain areas.
It's crucial to understand that leadership ambiguity may lead to a lack of direction, difficulties in decision-making, and potential conflict within the team, as authority and expertise fluctuate depending on the task at hand.
To mitigate these issues, efforts must be made to clearly define roles and foster open communication to encourage effective collaboration and maintain team unity. In this setting, negotiation skills, trust-building, and flexible management approaches are important to manage and prevent disputes and conflicts effectively.