Why are agile teams considered cross-functional?

Agile teams are considered cross-functional primarily because they possess a diverse skill set that allows them to deliver value independently. This means that team members have various competencies—such as development, testing, and design—enabling them to complete entire work items or user stories without relying heavily on external resources or teams. This independence fosters better collaboration and faster delivery, as the team can manage the work from start to finish, respond quickly to changes, and continuously integrate feedback throughout the development cycle.

In a truly cross-functional agile team, members are empowered to take on multiple roles as needed, which enhances flexibility and adaptability. This aspect is fundamental to agile methodologies, as it promotes a culture of self-organization and accountability.

The other options represent characteristics that may or may not apply to agile teams, but they do not capture the essence of why agile teams are cross-functional. For example, while some teams may not rely on external QA teams or may operate without certain roles like product owners or scrum masters, these factors do not define cross-functionality itself. Cross-functionality is fundamentally about the team's collective skillset and ability to deliver complete value independently.