Crossrole

Crossrole is a term used in organizational design and information systems to describe roles, responsibilities, or permissions that span multiple defined positions within a team or system.

In human resources and project management, cross-role arrangements place individuals to perform duties across two or more roles. This can improve coverage, foster skill development, and support cross-functional collaboration, but it requires clear responsibility boundaries and governance to avoid role ambiguity.

In information security and software systems, cross-role usage refers to users who possess permissions across more than one role. While this enables workflows that cut across traditional silos, it raises risks related to segregation of duties and auditability, prompting controls such as least privilege and monitoring.

Implementation considerations include role mapping, access reviews, and documentation of who performs which functions. Organizations may employ formal policies, training, and periodic audits to balance flexibility with accountability.

Examples include a product developer who also performs quality assurance, or a project manager who handles vendor selection in addition to planning tasks.

See also: Role-based access control, Segregation of duties, Job rotation.