Coordination

Time Allotted: 2 hours

Intended Learning Outcomes from the lecture:
After the student has studied this lecture, he /she should be able to:

• Identify concept of coordination

• Discuss importance of coordination
• Explore Principles for effective coordination
• Differentiate between different types of coordination
• Describe management techniques in coordination
• Explain how Coordination is the essence of management
• Discuss problems of co-ordination
• Explain how coordination is needed at all levels of management
and is the responsibility of all managers
 Outlines
• Introduction
• Concept of coordination
• Importance of coordination
• Principles for effective coordination:
• Types of coordination
• Management techniques in coordination
• Coordination in the essence of management.
• Problems or hindrances of co-ordination
• How coordination is needed at all levels of management and is the
responsibility of all managers
Introduction

Coordination is the process of linking or connecting the various

activities of an organization. Every department in an organization functions
independently. But, the activities of one department, influences or affects
the activities of another department. Every department has its own goals.
But, what is important is the contribution of the various departments to the
goal of the organization. Co-ordination ensures that all the departments
contribute to the achievement of the goal or the objective of the
organization. Co-ordination is concerned with the task of unifying the
activities of the departments of an organization, in order, to achieve the
common goal.

Definition
• According to Henry Fayol “ to co-ordinate is to harmonize all the
activities of a concern so as to facilitate its working and its success.
• Mooney and Reelay, define coordination as the orderly arrangement
of group efforts to provide unity of action to achieve common goals.

Importance of co-ordination

1. Creative force : Group efforts when coordinated create a result greater

than the sum total of the individual and isolated.
2. Unity of direction : Co-ordination ensures unity if direction by way of
securing spontaneous collaboration on the part of different departments.
3. High employee morale : co-ordination enhances the general level of
employee morale and provides satisfaction
4. Coordination helps to achieve objectives quickly: Coordination helps
to minimize the conflicts, and other organizational problems.
 5.Coordination makes optimum utilization of resources:
Coordination helps to bring together the human and material resources
of the organization.

Principles for effective coordination:

Mary Parker Follett’s Principles of Co-Ordination:

1. Principle of Direct personal contact: Coordination is best achieved

through direct communication and personal contact with people.
2. Principle of Early beginning: Coordination can be achieved more
easily in early stages of planning and policy-making.
3- Principle of Continuity: Co-ordination is a continuous process. Co-
ordination it should start from planning and continue through organizing,
directing, and controlling.
4. Principle of Reciprocal Relationship: Co-ordination is based on
mutual relationship.
5-Principle of Mutual Trust: The managers should have respect for the
feelings of subordinates and also the employees must have proper regards
and esteem for their superior
6. Principle of Unity of Command:
This principle states that a hierarchy should be followed in the flow of
direction of orders and instructions. Command should come from one
boss along the line of authority.
7-Principle of Unity of Direction: This principle states that there must
be one plan coming from one boss.
8- Principle of Clarity of Objectives: All employees should have
proper knowledge of the objectives in clear terms.
Types of coordination:
On the basis of scope or coverage, there are two types, namely: Internal
and external:
A-Internal coordination
• Internal Coordination: It is the establishment of relationship of
among managers, executives, divisions, subdivisions, and other
workers. This type of coordination happens within the organization.
• There are two types of internal coordination includes Vertical 

horizontal:

i. Vertical coordination: Superior coordinates his work with his

subordinates and vice versa.

ii. Horizontal coordination: Horizontal Coordination refers to

coordinates between persons of the same status. Coordination
between the departmental heads, supervisors, co-workers

B-External Coordination : It is the establishment of relationship of

among managers, executives and workers with general public outside
organization with customers.

Management techniques in coordination

1. Coordination by rules or procedure: Rules and procedures act

as work guide to subordinates for taking decisions in course of their
normal activities.
2. Coordination departmentalization: Coordination can be
achieved by departmentalization.
 3. Coordination by simple organization structure: The lines of
authority and responsibility from top to the bottom should be clearly
defined.

4. Coordination by committees: Nowadays managers achieve

coordination by creating interdepartmental committees.
5. Coordination by conference: conferences are organized at
regular intervals to provide a platform for discussion of various
problems faced by different departments.
6. Coordination by special coordinators: coordinator is to collect
information regarding problems; analyses list various alternatives
available, and suggest steps to be taken.
7. Coordination by leadership and supervision: Leadership of top
management can achieve coordination through contacts with people.

Coordination in the essence of management.

Coordination is not a separate function of management. It is the essence of

management. The coordination is needed to perform all the functions of
management.

(i) Coordination in planning : In planning, coordination is needed

between overall plan of the organization and the departmental plans.

(ii) Coordination in organizing: In organizing, coordination is required

between resources of an organization and activities to be performed.

(iii) Coordination in directing: In directing, coordination is required

among orders, instructions, guidelines and suggestions.
(vi)Coordination in controlling: In controlling, coordination is required
between the standard and the actual performance.

Problems or hindrances of coordination

In practice, coordination in the organization faces certain problems
listed below:

1. lack of knowledge, the superior and subordinate communication gap

will be raised.
2. Autocratic attitudes of supervisor and not accept feedback from the
subordinates.
3. Without mutual respect among the subordinates, the coordination may
not survive.
4. Unclear objectives to manager in an organization, then the
coordination will not be successful and effective.

Coordination is needed at all levels of management and is the

responsibility of all managers
Coordination is required in all group efforts, in every organization at
all levels of management. It is not the responsibility of top management
only. Managers at all levels are responsible for achieving coordinated
efforts in their respective departments or units.

The need of coordination at various levels of management may be

described as follows:
(i) At the top level management: It has to take care that there is
coordination between organizational goals and the goals of the units.
 (ii) At the middle level management: That is the departmental
managers, who have to coordinate their departmental plans with the
plans of other departments.

(iii) At the lower level management: Coordination is required between

the actual operations with the plans made.

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