Employees from about the same hierarchical level, but from different work areas, who come together to accomplish a task are known as?

The correct choice is cross-functional teams. This term refers to a group composed of individuals from various departments or functional areas within an organization, who collaborate to achieve a common goal or task. The distinct characteristic of cross-functional teams is that they bring together diverse expertise and perspectives, allowing members with different skill sets and knowledge to contribute to the project at hand.

Such teams are valuable because they can enhance problem-solving, encourage innovation through the sharing of ideas, and improve decision-making by incorporating multiple viewpoints. This collaborative approach is increasingly effective in a complex work environment where tasks often require input from various specialties.

In contrast, functional teams consist of individuals from the same department or area of expertise, focusing on tasks specific to their function. Self-managing teams, on the other hand, operate with a degree of autonomy and have the authority to make decisions regarding their work processes without external supervision. Meanwhile, virtual teams consist mainly of members who collaborate remotely, utilizing technology to communicate and work together effectively despite geographic separation. Thus, while there are benefits to functional, self-managing, and virtual teams, the scenario specifically describes the collaborative nature of cross-functional teamwork.