Coordination- Nature, Criteria, Objectives and Purpose

What is Coordination?

Coordination is the ability to work together effectively and efficiently towards a common goal. It is the process of bringing together and uniting various organizational components to accomplish predefined goals. It is a planned and rational procedure. The process of coordination is when an executive establishes an organized plan for a team effort among his subordinates and ensures the order of activity with the aim of a single goal. To reduce waste of effort and prevent mistakes, effective coordination requires clear communication, defined goals, shared responsibility, and efficient utilization of resources. Effective coordination enables efficient use of resources, maximizes productivity, and enhances overall performance.

 

It might involve using a variety of methods and approaches to achieve a common goal while making sure that everyone is aware of their roles and responsibilities and that the actions and choices of one team do not adversely affect those of other teams. The working hours of the various departments are regularly adjusted to the situation. Coordination is important because it helps prevent conflicts, duplication of efforts, and inefficiencies. Coordination is important in complex organizations or situations where the work of different stakeholders is interdependent. The ultimate goal of coordination is to achieve the desired outcomes in a timely and cost-effective manner. Coordination consists of three major elements, namely, balancing, timing, and integrating.

“Coordination is the integration of the activities of individuals and units into a concerted effort that works towards a common aim.” – Pearce and Robinson

“Coordination is the orderly arrangement of a group effort to provide unity of action in the pursuit of a common purpose.” – J.D. Moony

“Coordination is the process whereby an executive develops an orderly pattern of group efforts among his subordinates and secures the unity of action in the pursuit of common purpose.” – McFarland

Nature of Coordination

There are several key features of Coordination. Depending on some key characteristics, some of the features are as follows:

1. An extent of Interdependence: Coordination is necessary when there is an extent of dependency among several tasks, functions, or people. It acknowledges that an individual’s or a group’s activities can have an impact on other people’s conduct as well as be influenced by them. Effective coordination makes it possible to manage this dependency and ensures that all components function in unity.
2. Communication: Communication is another important element of coordination. It involves communication among team members in the form of information sharing, idea exchange, and delivery of instructions or criticism. When everyone is on the same page and able to coordinate their activities appropriately, it makes coordination clear and easier.
3. Collaboration: Collaboration between several individuals or organizations is frequently involved in coordination. To accomplish a shared goal, there is a need for collaboration among individuals who combine their skills and resources. Working together makes it easier to coordinate tasks, settle disputes, and take advantage of different viewpoints and experiences.
4. Flexibility and adaptability: Coordination is a task that necessitates flexibility and adaptation. Changes in circumstances and unexpected events may need changes. The capacity to react efficiently to changes, make required adjustments, and reallocate resources as necessary is important for the coordination of activities in dynamic situations.
5. Planning and organizing: Effective planning and organizing are directly related to coordination. It involves identifying objectives, assigning roles and tasks, allocating resources, and setting deadlines. Both individuals and groups may coordinate their efforts towards common goals by using a well-structured plan offered for coordination.
6. Monitoring and feedback: Providing feedback, analyzing performance, and tracking progress are all aspects of coordination. Regular evaluation makes it possible to spot problems or weaknesses in coordination and take the necessary action. With the use of feedback systems, both individuals and teams may grow in their ability to work together.

Overall, coordination involves coordinating and combining individual or group efforts to accomplish common objectives. To guarantee that all components function together, efficient communication, teamwork, planning, adjustment, and regular monitoring are necessary. The essence of management is to achieve goals through the efforts of others.
 

Coordination- The Essence of Managing

Coordination is the essence of management because integrating and unifying human efforts is management’s fundamental goal. As managerial duties are essential for ensuring coordination, they are the pinnacle of the management process. To efficiently achieve the agreed-upon goals, coordination is necessary at all levels of management, from upper management to primary supervisors. The entire management process is tied together by coordination, which connects all of its components. Every function of management is an exercise in coordination. Planning becomes more efficient through coordination, while organization, staffing, directing, and control become more regulated. It can be further explained as follows:

 

1. Planning is a coordinating activity that helps establish common objectives for the company. The numerous planning elements, including policies, strategies, procedures, schedules, and goals serve as a way to combine the efforts of various departments.
2. The relationships between various positions and work units are defined by an effective e structure. It involves grouping activities into uniform departments. Roles and links between authorities won’t be clear without the integration of numerous actions.
3. The staffing function of management seeks to put the right person on the right job. The various functions of staffing, e.g., manpower planning, recruitment, selection, training, appraisal, etc., are performed to match job requirements to the employee’s skills. This facilitates unity in task distribution among individuals.
4. The staffing function of management seeks to put the right person on the right job. The various functions of staffing, e.g., manpower planning, recruitment, selection, training, appraisal, etc. are performed to match job requirements to the employee’s skill. This facilitates unity in task distribution among individuals.
5. When performing the directing function, a manager makes an effort to motivate people to act in a way that advances their goals. It is a deliberate effort to link and involve the human part of the business with the financial and technological aspects of the business to achieve both organizational and personal goals.

Thus, the process of management facilitates coordination. No function of management can be performed efficiently unless it contributes to coordination. The manager’s primary responsibility is to resolve conflicts resulting from different approaches, efforts, or interests and to coordinate personal objectives with organizational goals.

Criteria for Effective Coordination

According to Henri Fayol, a well-coordinated organization should meet the following requirements:

1. All departments should operate collectively with one another in harmony.
2. The specific contribution that each division and subdivision of the department is required to make to a group effort, should be communicated.
3. The various departments and subdivisions should regularly change their work schedules according to the circumstances.

These three requirements are not always fulfilled, and the lack of coordination is evident in the following ways:

1. No department is aware of or interested in learning about the others.
2. Watertight compartments exist within and across divisions and officers of the same department, as well as between departments.
3. Not everyone thinks about the common interests of the company. This is due to a result of lack of coordination among employees or personnel.

Objectives and Purpose of Coordination

The objectives of coordination might change based on the situation and specific goals of an organization or programme. However, the following are some of the common coordinating objectives:

1. Integration of Efforts: The primary goal of coordination is to combine the efforts of individuals or groups working inside an organization structure to achieve a single objective. It makes sure the various jobs and activities are coordinated and aligned to prevent conflicts.
2. Efficiency and Resource Optimization: Coordination makes sure that resources are distributed efficiently among various groups, departments, and functions. Organizations may reduce waste, reprocesses, and increase operational efficiency by coordinating activities.
3. Goal Alignment: Coordination makes it easier for people or organizations to match their goals with the company’s overall objectives. It makes sure that everyone is aware of and working towards the same goal with the help of teamwork.
4. Contact and Information Sharing: To ensure effective coordination, all stakeholders must be encouraged to freely communicate and share important information. This helps organizations make rapid decisions, solve problems, and react quickly to changes or difficulties.
5. Conflict Resolution: Coordination facilitates locating and settling disputes that may develop as a result of various priorities, viewpoints, or methods. It encourages cooperation and a peaceful workplace where conflicts are dealt with in a positive way.
6. Flexibility and Adaptability: Coordination enables organizations to successfully adjust to new problems, opportunities, or uncertainties, especially in a dynamic and changing environment. It provides flexibility for changing strategies, reallocating resources, or reorganizing priorities as necessary.

Such objectives emphasize how essential coordination is for promoting cooperation, simplifying processes, and attaining shared goals within an organization or job. Without coordination, there would be a disorder, waste of resources, and duplication of work, which would make the efforts of the organization less effective.